Foxborough, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Foxborough, Massachusetts
Foxboro
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Gillette Stadium, Memorial Hall, Patriot Place, sign in Foxborough, Congregational Church and the Orpheum Theatre
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| Nickname(s):
The Gem of Norfolk County
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Location in Norfolk County in Massachusetts
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Massachusetts | |
| County | Norfolk | |
| Settled | 1704 | |
| Incorporated | June 10, 1778 | |
| Named for | Charles James Fox | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Open town meeting | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 20.92 sq mi (54.1 km2) | |
| • Land | 20.88 sq mi (52 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.9 sq mi (2.11 km2) | |
| Elevation | 285 ft (87 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 18,618 | |
| • Density | 2,163.66/sq mi (835.36/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) | |
| ZIP Code |
02035
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| Area code(s) | 508/774 | |
| FIPS code | 25-24820 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0618320 | |
Foxborough is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. It's part of the larger Greater Boston area, located about 22 miles (35 km) southwest of Boston. In 2020, about 18,618 people lived there.
While the official spelling is "Foxborough," you'll often see it written as "Foxboro." This shorter spelling is even used by the United States Postal Service.
Foxborough is famous for being home to Gillette Stadium. This huge stadium is where the New England Patriots football team (from the National Football League) and the New England Revolution soccer team (from Major League Soccer) play their games.
Contents
History of Foxborough
Foxborough was first settled in 1704 and became an official town in 1778. It was named after Charles James Fox. He was a British politician who strongly supported the American Colonies before the American Revolution.
Long ago, Foxborough was known for having the world's largest straw hat factory. This factory was built in 1886. Later, the building became a shoe factory, and then another hat factory. Sadly, it burned down in a big fire in 1936. Today, a park stands where the factory once was.
For many years, Foxborough was made up of small neighborhoods. These included places like Foxvale, Quaker Hill, and Lakeview. They slowly became more connected to the main town in the early 1900s.
The town became a major sports hub when Schaefer Stadium opened in 1971. This stadium became the home of the New England Patriots football team. Later, the stadium was bought by Robert Kraft. He also bought the Patriots team, keeping them from moving to another city. In 1996, Kraft started the New England Revolution soccer team, which also played there.
In 2002, Gillette Stadium opened, replacing the old Foxboro Stadium. Next to the stadium, the Patriot Place shopping area was built. It finished in 2009 and has many restaurants and stores.
Foxborough has also hosted big international soccer events. It held several games during the 1994 FIFA World Cup. It will host games again for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Gillette Stadium.
Geography of Foxborough
Foxborough covers a total area of about 20.9 square miles (54.1 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 20.1 square miles (52.0 square kilometers). The rest, about 0.8 square miles (2.1 square kilometers), is water.
The town is located at these coordinates: 42°3′54″N 71°14′52″W / 42.06500°N 71.24778°W.
Climate in Foxborough
| Weather chart for Foxborough, Massachusetts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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3.8
36
18
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3.7
40
21
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4.8
48
28
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4.4
59
37
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3.7
70
47
|
4.1
78
57
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3.9
83
62
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3.9
81
61
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3.7
73
53
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4.4
62
42
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4.5
52
33
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4.5
41
24
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| temperatures in °F precipitation totals in inches |
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Metric conversion
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Foxborough has a humid continental climate, which means it has four clear seasons. This is typical for Massachusetts and New England. Summers are usually warm or hot, rainy, and humid. Winters are cold, windy, and snowy. Spring and fall are generally mild, but the weather can change a lot.
July is the warmest month, with average high temperatures around 83°F (28°C). January is the coldest, with average low temperatures around 18°F (-8°C). Temperatures can sometimes go above 90°F (32°C) in summer or below 10°F (-12°C) in winter.
The town gets a fair amount of rain and snow throughout the year. Winter months tend to have a bit more precipitation. Strong storms called Nor'easters can bring heavy rain or snow, especially in winter. Thunderstorms are common in summer, sometimes with strong winds or hail. While not very common, tornado warnings have been issued in the area. Foxborough is also somewhat at risk from Atlantic hurricanes and tropical storms in late summer and early autumn.
| Climate data for Foxborough, Massachusetts | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 68 (20) |
70 (21) |
90 (32) |
96 (36) |
96 (36) |
97 (36) |
102 (39) |
102 (39) |
97 (36) |
87 (31) |
78 (26) |
76 (24) |
102 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 36 (2) |
40 (4) |
48 (9) |
59 (15) |
70 (21) |
78 (26) |
83 (28) |
81 (27) |
73 (23) |
62 (17) |
52 (11) |
41 (5) |
60.25 (15.69) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 18 (−8) |
21 (−6) |
28 (−2) |
37 (3) |
47 (8) |
57 (14) |
62 (17) |
61 (16) |
53 (12) |
42 (6) |
33 (1) |
24 (−4) |
40.25 (4.58) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −19 (−28) |
−16 (−27) |
−4 (−20) |
14 (−10) |
28 (−2) |
37 (3) |
42 (6) |
39 (4) |
30 (−1) |
20 (−7) |
4 (−16) |
−14 (−26) |
−19 (−28) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.78 (96) |
3.68 (93) |
4.81 (122) |
4.39 (112) |
3.65 (93) |
4.08 (104) |
3.91 (99) |
3.91 (99) |
3.66 (93) |
4.35 (110) |
4.46 (113) |
4.52 (115) |
49.2 (1,250) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 15.0 (38) |
11.9 (30) |
9.6 (24) |
2.6 (6.6) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
2.1 (5.3) |
11.5 (29) |
52.8 (134) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 11.0 | 9.5 | 11.6 | 11.8 | 12.3 | 11.3 | 10.2 | 9.4 | 8.9 | 10.1 | 11.3 | 11.1 | 128.5 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 7.3 | 5.9 | 4.8 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 5.2 | 25.7 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 164.3 | 169.5 | 213.9 | 228.0 | 266.6 | 288.0 | 300.7 | 275.9 | 237.0 | 207.7 | 144.0 | 142.6 | 2,638.2 |
| Source 1: Weather Channel | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: NOAA (extremes 1904–present) | |||||||||||||
People of Foxborough
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1850 | 1,880 | — |
| 1860 | 2,879 | +53.1% |
| 1870 | 3,057 | +6.2% |
| 1880 | 2,950 | −3.5% |
| 1890 | 2,933 | −0.6% |
| 1900 | 3,266 | +11.4% |
| 1910 | 3,863 | +18.3% |
| 1920 | 4,136 | +7.1% |
| 1930 | 5,347 | +29.3% |
| 1940 | 6,303 | +17.9% |
| 1950 | 7,030 | +11.5% |
| 1960 | 10,136 | +44.2% |
| 1970 | 14,218 | +40.3% |
| 1980 | 14,148 | −0.5% |
| 1990 | 14,637 | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 16,246 | +11.0% |
| 2010 | 16,865 | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 18,618 | +10.4% |
| 2022* | 18,488 | −0.7% |
| * = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data. Source: |
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In 2000, there were 16,246 people living in Foxborough. About 97% of the people were White, and smaller groups included Black, Native American, and Asian residents. About 1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many households in Foxborough had children under 18 living with them. Most families were married couples. The average age of people in town was 38 years old.
Education in Foxborough
Public Schools
Foxborough has its own public school system, called Foxborough Public Schools (FPS). Over 3,000 students attend these schools, from preschool all the way to 12th grade.
The public schools in Foxborough are:
- Charles G. Taylor Elementary School (Kindergarten to 4th grade)
- Vincent M. Igo Elementary School (Pre-Kindergarten to 4th grade)
- Mabelle M. Burrell Elementary School (Kindergarten to 4th grade)
- John J. Ahern Middle School (5th to 8th grade)
- Foxborough High School (9th to 12th grade)
Foxborough High School offers many different sports. These include golf, track and field, football, soccer, basketball, wrestling, hockey, lacrosse, baseball, and softball.
The high school's mascot is the Warriors, and their colors are navy blue and gold. In October 2023, the school board decided to remove the old Native American logo for the mascot. However, they voted to keep the name "Warriors." Foxborough High School's main sports rival is Mansfield High School.
The football team has won many league titles and five state championships (in 1987, 1988, 1991, 2006, and 2023). The cheerleading team has also done very well, reaching national competitions several times. Other teams like golf, wrestling, and field hockey have also had great success.
Foxborough High School is also known for its excellent music program. It has a string orchestra, chorus, marching band, concert band, and jazz band. The Jazz Ensemble has even been recognized in national competitions for many years.
Private Schools
- Foxborough Regional Charter School (FRCS) is a public charter school for students from Kindergarten to 12th grade. It focuses on preparing students for college.
- The Sage School is a private school for gifted students. It teaches children from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade.
Fun Places to Visit in Foxborough
- Foxboro Grange Hall – This historic building is listed on the National Historic Register.
- Gillette Stadium – This is the home stadium for the New England Patriots football team and the New England Revolution soccer team.
- Patriot Place – Right next to Gillette Stadium, this is a large outdoor area with lots of shops, restaurants, and entertainment.
- F. Gilbert Hills State Forest – This huge forest covers over 1,000 acres (4.1 square kilometers) in Foxborough. It's a great place for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding. You can also see some unique stone structures there.
- Memorial Hall – This stone building in the center of town honors those who served in the armed forces. It also has a collection of historical items about the town.
Famous People from Foxborough
Many interesting people have connections to Foxborough:
- Sam Berns: An inspiring teenager who lived with progeria.
- Seth Boyden: Born in Foxborough, he became a famous inventor in New Jersey. He invented things like patent leather and malleable iron.
- Jeremy Collins: The winner of the TV show Survivor: Cambodia.
- Rob Gronkowski: A famous former football player for the New England Patriots.
- JoJo: Born Joanna Levesque, she is a well-known R&B singer and actress.
- Camille Kostek: A model who appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
- Tim Lefebvre: A talented bassist who has played with the Tedeschi Trucks Band and on David Bowie's last album.
- Tom Nalen: A former professional football player for the Denver Broncos.
- Nothing,Nowhere: Born Joe Mulherin, he is a rapper and singer.
- Nguyen Van Thieu: He was the president of South Vietnam from 1967 to 1975.
- Madame Nguyen Van Thieu: The last First Lady of South Vietnam.
See also
In Spanish: Foxborough para niños
