Norwell, Massachusetts facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Norwell, Massachusetts
Town
Jacobs Farmhouse, Norwell Historical Society
Seal
Location in Plymouth County, Massachusetts
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Plymouth
Settled	1634
Incorporated	February 14, 1849
Government
• Type	Open town meeting
Area
• Total	21.2 sq mi (54.8 km2)
• Land	20.9 sq mi (54.1 km2)
• Water	0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)
Elevation	81 ft (25 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	11,351
• Density	535.4/sq mi (207.14/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code	02061
Area code(s)	339/781
FIPS code	25-50145
GNIS feature ID	0618347

Norwell is a town located in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, in the United States. In 2020, about 11,351 people lived there. The town's southeastern edge follows the North River.

Norwell's History and Beginnings

Norwell was first settled in 1634. It was part of a larger area called Satuit, which later became Scituate. In 1849, Norwell officially became its own town. It was first known as South Scituate.

In 1888, the town changed its name to Norwell. This was done to honor Henry Norwell. He was a merchant who sold fabrics and other goods. He gave money to help keep the town's roads in good condition.

Early settlers came to Norwell for farming. Later, the town became a major center for shipbuilding. This industry grew along the North and Northwest rivers. From the 1700s to the early 1800s, Norwell built many ships. These included large warships, trading ships, and whaling vessels. The historic center of town is called the Norwell Village Area Historic District.

Today, Norwell is a wealthy residential community. It has modern schools, shops, churches, and libraries. It also has health facilities and a wildlife preserve. The town has three industrial parks.

Norwell's Geography and Location

Norwell covers about 21.2 square miles (54.8 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. About 30% to 38% of the town is made up of wetlands.

Norwell is on the South Shore of Massachusetts. It shares borders with several other towns:

• Hanover and Rockland to the west.
• Pembroke to the south.
• Marshfield and Scituate to the east and northeast.
• Hingham to the north.

Norwell is about 14 miles (23 km) east of Brockton. It is 17 miles (27 km) north of Plymouth. It is also about 20 miles (32 km) south of Boston.

Much of Norwell's eastern border is along the North River. This is where many shipbuilding companies used to be. The town also has many brooks and ponds. These include Third Herring Brook, Accord Pond, and Jacobs Pond. The northern part of Norwell is hilly. A section of Wompatuck State Park also extends into the town.

Population and People of Norwell

In 2000, Norwell had 9,765 people living there. There were 3,250 households and 2,710 families. The population density was about 468 people per square mile (181/km²).

Most of the people in Norwell were White (97.58%). There were also smaller numbers of African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 0.63% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average household had about 2.94 people. The average family had about 3.27 people. About 42.2% of households had children under 18. Most households (74.6%) were married couples.

The median age in Norwell was 40 years old. About 28.6% of the population was under 18. About 12.6% were 65 or older.

The median income for a household in Norwell was $113,944. For a family, it was $122,222. The income per person was $48,440. A small percentage of families (1.4%) and people (1.9%) lived below the poverty line.

Education in Norwell

Norwell has a school department that serves about 2,200 students.

Elementary Schools

There are two elementary schools for students from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade:

• Grace F. Cole Elementary School (western part of town)
• William G. Vinal Elementary School (eastern part of town)

Norwell Middle School

Norwell Middle School is located near the Town Hall on Route 123. It serves students in grades 6 to 8. Each grade has two teams of teachers.

Norwell High School

Norwell High School is near Assinippi. It serves students from ninth to twelfth grade. All high school and middle school students get iPads from the school district for their studies. Norwell High School is known for its strong academics.

School Sports and Clubs

Norwell High's sports teams are called the Clippers. Their colors are blue and gold. Their main rival is Hanover High School. The football teams play each other every Thanksgiving Day.

Norwell High is also known for its successful FIRST robotics team, Team 348. They often do well in competitions. The school also has a very successful math team. Its theater company, the Fourth Wall Players, has won awards.

Norwell's girls' lacrosse team is well-known. They have won three Division II state championships. Both the boys' and girls' soccer teams also perform well. In 2017, the boys' team was a finalist in the Division III state tournament. In 2018, the girls' soccer team won their first Division III Massachusetts state title. In 2021, both soccer teams won the Division III state championship.

Other Education Options

Norwell does not have private schools. High school students can choose to attend South Shore Regional Vocational Technical High School in Hanover for free. The closest college is Massasoit Community College in Brockton.

Transportation in Norwell

Massachusetts Route 3 passes through Norwell twice. There are no exits directly in Norwell from this highway. However, nearby exits lead to routes that enter the town. The main road through Norwell is Route 123. It runs from east to west and ends in Scituate. Routes 53 and 228 also go through Norwell.

Norwell does not have train or airport services. The closest train service is the Greenbush line of the MBTA commuter rail in Scituate. This is about one mile from Norwell. The closest regional airport is Marshfield Municipal Airport. For national and international flights, the closest airport is Logan International Airport in Boston.

Norwell Pathways

In 2015, Norwell started building "pathways." These are paths for walking and biking. They are designed to connect the high school, middle school, and the town center. The goal is to allow residents and students to travel safely without walking on busy roads.

The pathway project has had some disagreements. However, voters approved money to build part of it. The pathway now stretches from South Street to the town center. Residents can use this forested pathway or the traditional sidewalk along Main Street.

Notable People from Norwell

Many interesting people have connections to Norwell:

• Gleason Archer – A Christian theologian who spent summers here.
• Gleason Archer, Sr. – Founded Suffolk Law School.
• Jan Brett – A famous children's author and illustrator.
• William P. Brooks – An American agricultural scientist.
• John Cheever – An author, buried in Norwell.
• Drew Commesso – A hockey player.
• Jennifer Coolidge – A well-known actress.
• Jeff Corwin – A naturalist and TV host on Animal Planet.
• Charles N. Gardner – A Medal of Honor recipient from the Civil War.
• Hannah Packard James – A librarian.
• Eric Maleson – An Olympic Bobsled Athlete in the 2002 Olympics.
• Les Sampou – A folk singer and songwriter.
• John R. Stilgoe – An American historian, born in Norwell.
• Susan Tedeschi – A blues musician.
• Dan Wetzel – A sportswriter.
• Laura Wilson – A photographer who grew up in Norwell. Her son is actor Owen Wilson.

Images for kids

• 

  The Bryant–Cushing House, built around 1698.

See also

In Spanish: Norwell (Massachusetts) para niños