Norwood, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Norwood, Massachusetts
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Location in Norfolk County in Massachusetts
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Massachusetts |
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| County | Norfolk | |
| Settled | 1678 | |
| Incorporated | 1872 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Representative town meeting | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 10.6 sq mi (27.3 km2) | |
| • Land | 10.5 sq mi (27.1 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2) | |
| Elevation | 146 ft (45 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 31,611 | |
| • Density | 3,010.6/sq mi (1,166.5/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) | |
| ZIP Code |
02062
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| Area code(s) | 339 / 781 | |
| FIPS code | 25-50250 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0619460 | |
| Website | www.norwoodma.gov | |
Norwood is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It's part of the larger Greater Boston area. In 2020, about 31,611 people lived there.
The town got its name from Norwood, England. Norwood is located along the Neponset River, which flows from Foxborough all the way to Boston Harbor.
Contents
History of Norwood
Norwood became an official town in 1872. Before that, it was part of Dedham, which was known as the "mother of towns." Many towns in eastern Massachusetts were once part of Dedham.
Native Americans used this area for hunting for a long time. The first European settler, Ezra Morse, arrived in 1678. He built a sawmill in what is now South Norwood. This area became the first place where many families, mostly farmers, settled.
Norwood During the American Revolution
During the American Revolutionary War, a group of Minutemen was formed in Norwood. Their captain, Aaron Guild, heard that the British were marching on Lexington and Concord. He quickly rode to join the fight. He arrived in time to shoot at the British at Concord Bridge. He also took part in the battle that chased the British soldiers back to Boston.
Famous Visitors and Homes
Abraham Lincoln traveled through Norwood during his tour of New England before he became president.
The Oak View Mansion is a famous building in Norwood. Francis Olney Winslow started building it in 1868, and it was finished in 1870. This mansion was a popular place for social events. Important guests like President William Howard Taft and President Calvin Coolidge visited Oak View.
Norwood shares its name with a town in South London, England. When Norwood separated from Dedham, some people thought about naming the new community Balch. This was in honor of Rev. Thomas Balch.
Geography of Norwood
Norwood is located about 13 miles southwest of Boston. This places it within the larger Boston Metropolitan Area.
The town covers a total area of about 10.6 square miles (27.3 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 10.5 square miles (27.1 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.1 square miles (0.2 square kilometers), is water.
Norwood's Population
Norwood has grown quite a bit over the years. In 1880, there were 2,845 people. By 2020, the population had grown to 31,611.
Population Makeup
In 2023, the people living in Norwood were mostly White (80.09%). There were also significant numbers of Black or African American (7.89%) and Asian (5.17%) residents. About 3.91% of the population identified as two or more races.
Many people in Norwood have Irish heritage. In 2000, about 34.7% of residents reported Irish ancestry. Other common ancestries included Italian (14.8%) and English (5.0%).
The average household in Norwood had about 2.41 people. The average family had about 3.05 people. In 2000, about 27.2% of households had children under 18 living with them.
Education in Norwood
The Norwood Public Schools system runs several schools. For younger children, there's the Little Mustangs Preschool Academy and The Willett Early Childhood Center for kindergarten.
Norwood has five public elementary schools: Balch, Callahan, Cleveland, Oldham, and Prescott.
All students from these elementary schools go on to the Dr. Philip O. Coakley Middle School. This school serves students from 6th to 8th grade. After middle school, students attend Norwood High School (NHS) for grades 9 through 12.
Higher Education Opportunities
Norwood is home to the Fine Mortuary College. This college has a small museum. It displays old embalming tables and wooden coffins that are centuries old.
Businesses in Norwood
Norwood is a good place for businesses because it has a skilled workforce. There's also a lot of money available for new companies to start up. This helps industries like advanced manufacturing and life sciences grow.
Some of the biggest employers in Norwood include Moderna, FM Global, Home Market Foods, and MS Walker. Many other companies involved in manufacturing and research are also located here.
Moderna's Presence
Moderna opened a modern research and development site in Norwood in 2018. It employs over 1,400 people. This facility is Moderna's main manufacturing site. It produces their COVID-19 vaccine. The Norwood facility has been expanded to make even more vaccines. It also supports the company's research efforts. Moderna also works with local groups in Norwood. They help fund education and job training programs in the community.
The Norwood Automile
On Route 1 in Norwood, there's a large group of car dealerships. This area is known as the "Norwood Automile." The idea of having competing dealerships work together to promote the "Automile" came from Ernie Boch. He was famous in the Boston area for his ads telling people to "Come on down!"
The Skating Club of Boston
The Skating Club of Boston moved to Norwood in 2020. Their facility on University Avenue is a modern skating rink. It's used for training programs in figure skating, ice dancing, and synchronized skating. The Norwood High School hockey teams also play here. The facility has a fitness center, a pro shop, and a cafe. The Skating Club of Boston has a long history in figure skating. Many world champions and Olympic medalists have trained there.
Architecture in Norwood
Norwood's town square is dominated by its town hall. This building is called the Norwood Memorial Municipal Building. It has a tall tower with 50 bells, called a carillon. This is one of only nine carillons in Massachusetts. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Morrill Memorial Library, built in 1898–1899, is another notable building. It was designed by architect Joseph Ladd Neal.
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Norwood Memorial Municipal Building (Town Hall).
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Morrill Memorial Library.
Art and Culture
Norwood was the home of photographer and publisher Fred Holland Day for many years. As a photographer, Day was very influential. His publishing company, Copeland and Day, published Oscar Wilde's book Salome in America. This book had illustrations by Aubrey Beardsley.
Day's house is now a museum. It's also the headquarters of the Norwood Historical Society. The F. Holland Day Historic House Museum is located at 93 Day Street.
Transportation in Norwood
Roads and Highways
U.S. Route 1 is a major road that goes through Norwood. It's a busy area with many stores and restaurants. Interstate 95 also has an exit in Norwood. This highway connects the Boston area to places further south.
Public Transportation
Norwood has three MBTA Commuter Rail stations: [[{{{station}}} (MBTA station)|{{{station}}}]], [[{{{station}}} (MBTA station)|{{{station}}}]], and [[{{{station}}} (MBTA station)|{{{station}}}]]. These stations are served by the Franklin/Foxboro Line. The MBTA bus route 34E also runs through Norwood on Washington Street.
Airport Access
Norwood Memorial Airport is a general aviation airport. This means it's mainly used for private planes, but it does offer some limited passenger services.
Notable People from Norwood
Many interesting people have lived in or are from Norwood, including:
- Frank G. Allen, who was the Governor of Massachusetts from 1929 to 1931.
- Dicky Barrett, the lead singer of the band The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
- Ernie Boch, Jr., a well-known businessman who runs many car dealerships in Norwood.
- Michael D. Cohen, an actor and comedian who starred in the Nickelodeon TV series Henry Danger.
- F. Holland Day, a famous photographer.
- William Cameron Forbes, who was the Governor General of the Philippines.
- Tony Rombola, the guitar player for the hard rock band Godsmack.
- Tom Shillue, a stand-up comedian and TV host.
- Harry and the Potters, a rock band.
Sports Figures
Norwood has also been home to many athletes:
- Keith Adams, a former professional football player.
- Joe Dugan, a former major league baseball player. He was part of the New York Yankees team that won their first World Series in 1923.
- Noah Hanifin, a current professional hockey player for the Calgary Flames.
- Peter Laviolette, a professional and Olympic hockey coach.
- Rhoda Leonard, a player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She also taught in Norwood public schools.
- Mike Sherman, a former head football coach for the Green Bay Packers.
See also
In Spanish: Norwood (Massachusetts) para niños
