Norfolk, Massachusetts
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Norfolk, Massachusetts | |
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| — Town — | |
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| Coordinates: 42°07′10″N 71°19′32″W / 42.11944°N 71.32556°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Norfolk |
| Settled | 1795 |
| Incorporated | 1870 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Open town meeting |
| Area | |
| - Total | 15.2 sq mi (39.3 km2) |
| - Land | 14.8 sq mi (38.4 km2) |
| - Water | 0.4 sq mi (0.9 km2) |
| Elevation | 212 ft (65 m) |
| Population (2007) | |
| - Total | 10,646 |
| - Density | 719.3/sq mi (277.2/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 02056 |
| Area code(s) | 508 / 774 |
| FIPS code | 25-46050 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0618326 |
| Website | http://www.town.norfolk.ma.us/ |
Norfolk is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States with a population of 10,460 people in 2,818 households at the 2000 census. Formerly known as North Wrentham, Norfolk broke away to become an independent town in 1870.
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[edit] History
Norfolk is a rural suburban town on the periphery of metropolitan Boston, located on an upper valley of the Charles River. There were a half dozen small farms in the town after 1669, the result of a determined effort to populate the colonial frontier. This was seen as a difficult task despite the good agricultural lands, fresh water fishing and fish runs because the settlement was so remote.
It was abandoned during the King Philip's war, and when Norfolk was re-established settlers relied on agriculture and cattle grazing with some considerable lumbering and planting of orchards. After 1812, three cotton manufacturing companies were established at Stony Brook, and later in the 19th century George Campbell's paper mill was opened at Highland Lake making heavy wrapping and building papers.The town saw a rapid increase in population after 1925 when a hospital and a state prison were built in Norfolk on the Walpole line. Major residential development took place before 1940 in the Pondville and Clark Streets section of town with scattered new housing along Seekonk and Main Streets, and suburban residential building has continued since.
It is located in eastern Massachusetts, bordered by Millis and Medfield on the north, Walpole on the east, Foxborough and Wrentham on the south, and Franklin and Medway on the west. Norfolk is 30 miles southwest of Boston; about 28 miles north of Providence, Rhode island; and about 205 miles from New York City.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 15.2 square miles (39.3 km²), of which, 14.8 square miles (38.4 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (2.30%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 10,460 people, 2,818 households, and 2,412 families residing in the town. The population density was 705.1 people per square mile (272.1/km²). There were 2,861 housing units at an average density of 192.9/sq mi (74.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 88.97% White, 4.90% African American, 0.31% Native American, 1.18% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.43% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.88% of the population.
There were 2,818 households out of which 50.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.1% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.4% were non-families. 10.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.08 and the average family size was 3.36.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 36.9% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 5.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 142.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 157.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $86,153, and the median income for a family was $92,001. Males had a median income of $60,926 versus $40,825 for females. The per capita income for the town was $32,454. About 0.8% of families and 1.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.2% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Education
As of 2006, there are three public schools located within the town. They are the H. Olive Day Elementary School, the Freeman-Centennial Elementary School, and King Philip Regional Middle School. Students go on to attend King Philip Regional High School in Wrentham, MA or, specialty high schools such as Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School in Franklin, MA and Norfolk County Agricultural High School in Walpole, MA. A new public library building recently opened on town hill. Inside the new library in 2009, a one-room school house, the original public library building, was reopened as a meeting room and historical landmark.
[edit] Transportation
The Norfolk Airpark (FAA airport code 32M) has one 2700 foot north-south runway and is about 2 miles west of the town center. It was closed in recent years, however, and is in disrepair. Plans for new developments have been proposed, specifically residential projects. As of the present, there is debate within the town regarding the fate of the old airport as it would be a source of unnecessary noise.
The Norfolk MBTA commuter rail station is in Zone 5 and is located at 9 Rockwood Rd. Norfolk, MA.[2]
[edit] Town Emergency Services
The Norfolk Police Department is a fairly small department which is located in the center of town. It is run by a total of 25 police officers including the chief of police. The police department also has a total of 21 special police officers and 3 police matrons. The towns fire department is also fairly small. It's run by a total of 23 authorities which includes the fire chief. (Fire chief is also Forest Warden) Out of the 23 authorities that the Norfolk Fire Department is operated by, 18 are also EMT's (Emergency Medical Technicians) and Paramedics. The police and fire communications department (also known as police dispatch) is operated by a total of 4 full time dispatchers and 6 part time dispatchers. All of these emergency services are located in the center of town on Main Street. For more information on these services, you can click on the following links.
Police: http://www.virtualnorfolk.org/public_documents/norfolkma_police/index
Fire: http://www.virtualnorfolk.org/public_documents/norfolkma_fire/index
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[edit] Media
The Norfolk Boomerang is Norfolk's weekly newspaper that was established in 2005. It is independently owned and operated. It is published on Fridays and is for sale in stores and by subscription. It is the only media source that focuses on Norfolk and Norfolk only. The newspaper's website is http://www.norfolkboomerang.com. The town is also served by a small radio station, WDIS AM 1170, started in 1978.
[edit] Other information
Crime Level = Low
Tax Rate = $13.87 per $1,000
Property Classification = 95% Residential 3% Commercial 1% Industial 1% Personal
Paved Road Miles = 75 miles
[edit] References
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ MBTA > Schedules & Maps > Commuter Rail > Norfolk
[edit] External links
- Norfolk municipal home page
- King Philip Regional School District home page
- Norfolk Community page
- The Norfolk Boomerang's Website - Norfolk's Community Newspaper
- Library web page
- Town web cam
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