Welcome to Dedham

 

Dedham is a proud old town that has seen change but likes celebrate its history. Settled in 1635 by people from Roxbury and Watertown, Dedham was incorporated in 1636. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest by Westwood and on the southeast by Canton. Some of the history that is celebrated is the oldest timber framed house, Fairbanks Home and the Endicott Estate along with the mom and pop shops in Dedham Square. 

Distance to Boston: 8 miles

Total Area: 10.6 sq. miles

Population: 25,364 (2017)

Density: 2,355 per sq. mile

 

Needham History

In the 1640’s development began when the colonists explored the area. They made their living as farmers. Although farming in Needham was not always easy. After petitioning to the House of Representatives, Needham was officially established as a town on November 6, 1711.

Early settlers relied primarily on agriculture and grazing in the 1700s. Saw and grist mills were opened along the Charles through the 18th century. Extension of the rail and land speculation encouraged settlement, and the town saw the growth of industrial employment and production at the same time during the mid-19th century.

Knitters from the English Midlands, displaced by economic changes in their country, migrated to Needham and the surrounding towns to reestablish their businesses. The most famous of these was the William Carter Company, which still produces fine knitwear (though no longer in Needham). Needham manufacturers made knit goods, underwear, hats, shoes, and silk.

Land speculation, housing development and knitted underwear continued to be the foundation of Needham’s economy into the 20th century. The construction of Rout 128 in 1931 opened portion of the town to development as part of the high-tech highway in the post-World War II electronic industrial boom.

The creation of one of the nation’s first industrial parks in 1950, the later addition of high technology firms, the improvement of access to Route 128 and Boston, and Needham’s fine schools and public services have contributed to the Town’s emergence as one of the more desirable suburbs of Boston. (www.needham.gov)

***Please click on the picture below for the website to find out more information about Needham, MA.

Demographics (Active link)

 

Population      25,272

Population density (sq mi)      2,462

Median age       42.4

Male/Female ratio      0.9:1

Married      59%

Speak English       83%

Speak Spanish       6%

Dedham, MA has a population of 25,272 and is the 1,711th largest city in the United States. The population density is 2,462 per sq mi which is 175% higher than the Massachusetts average and 2618% higher than the national average. The median age in Dedham is 42 which is approximately 8% higher than the Massachusetts average of 39. In Dedham, 59% of the population over 15 years of age are married, 83% speak English and 6% speak Spanish. 68% of Dedham residents were born in Massachusetts, 17% were born out of state, 2% were born outside of the United States and 14% were foreign born.

 

 DEDHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The mission of the Dedham Public Schools, in partnership with the community, is to promote excellence in learning, self-discipline, and motivation. Vision Statement: Each graduate of the Dedham Public Schools will confidently pursue personal excellence through continued independent inquiry and learning and exhibit socially responsible decision-making within a dynamic and diverse global community. Dedham High School was founded in 1851 by the oldest public school system in th country. In 2017, it earned a silver medal from the U.S. News & World Report and was ranked as the 48th best high school in Massachusetts.

 

Here's the list of publics schools in Dedham (active link):

Dedham High School
Grades 9 - 12
140 Whiting Avenue
Dedham, MA 02026

Dedham Middle School
Grades 6 – 8
70 Whiting Avenue
Dedham, MA 02026

Greenlodge School
Grades 1 – 5
191 Greenlodge Street
Dedham, MA 02026

Oakdale School
Grades 1 – 5
147 Cedar Street
Dedham, MA 02026

Riverdale School
Grades 1 – 5
143 Needham Street
Dedham, MA 02026

Avery School
Grade 1 – 5
336 High Street
Dedham, MA 02026

Early Childhood Center
Pre-Kindergarden – Grade 1
322 Sprague Street
Dedham, MA 02026

 

DEDHAM PRIVATE SCHOOLS

(Please click on the name of the school for their website)

 

Dedham Counry Day School
Pre-K - 8
90 Sandy Valley Road

Noble and Greenough School
7 – 12
10 Campus Drive

Monsignor Haddad Middle School
K – 5
Roman Catholic; Co-ed
110 May Street

 

House of Worship

(Please click on the name of the place for their website)

Cornerstone Assembly of God
754 Greendale Avenue
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 449-3035

First Parish Unitarian Church
23 Dedham Avenue
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 444-0823

Grace Lutheran Church
543 Greendale Avenue
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 444-3315

Needham Presbyterian Church
1458 Great Plain Avenue
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 444-3728

St. Bartholomew Parish
1180 Greendale Avenue
Needham, MA 02492

Temple Aliyah
1664 Central Avenue
Needham, MA 02492
(781) 444-8522

Temple Beth Shalom
670 Highland Avenue
Needham, MA 02494
(781) 444-0077

 

Transportation

Needham is situated in the Greater Boston Area, which has excellent rail, air, and highway facilities. State Route 128 and Interstate Route 495 divide the region into inner and outer zones, which are connected by numerous “spokes” providing direct access to the airport, port, and international facilities of Boston.

Major Highways

Principle highways are State Routes 128 (the inner belt around Boston), 135, and Interstate Route 95, which shares the same roadway as State Route 128.
Needham can be reached using Exits 18 and 19 off of Route 95/128. Exit 18 enters Needham in the southeast corner with access to Great Plain Avenue. Exit 19A access Needham’s New England Business Center and Exit 19B accesses Highland Avenue.

Rail Commuter (active link)

Rail service is available to Back Bay Station and South Statin, Boston, from:

• Needham Heights (travel time to BBS 37-38 min.; 14 MBTA parking spaces)
• Needham Center (travel time 33-34 min.; 36 MBTA parking spaces)
• Needham Junction (travel time 27-30 min.; 170 spaces)
• Hersey (travel time 24-27 min.; 322 spaces)

Bus (active link)

Needham is a member of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). The MBTA provides fixed route services between Needham Junction and Watertown Square. Bus Route 59, which connects Watertown Square in Watertown, MA with Needham via Newtonville.

Other 

The Norwood Memorial Airport (active link), a Reliever (RL) facility, is easily accessible. It has 2 asphalt runways 4,001’x150’ and 4,007’x150’

 

Needham Child Care Providers

(Please click on the name of the school for their website)

A to Z Childcare & Preschool     
126 Gould Street, Needham
781-444-6541

 

Carter Center for Children, Inc.
800 Highland Ave, Needham
781-449-4771

 

Chestnut Children’s Center 
168 Chestnut Street, Needham
781-455-7144

 

First Baptist Church Nursery School  
   858 Great Plain Ave, Needham
781-449-8471

 

First Bridge Preschool 
   1132 Highland Ave., Needham
781-453-0400

 

Grace Christian Nursery School 
   543 Greendale Ave., Needham
 781-449-0732

 

Kindercare Child Care Center
1000 Highland Ave., Needham
781-449-0774 
 206 A St., Needham
781-455-8723

 

Little Corner Schoolhouse  
426 Hunnewell St., Needham
617-244-1877

 

Little Ducks Childcare 
190 Parish Road, Needham
781-400-5451

 

Needham Children’s Center, Inc. 
23 Dedham Ave., Needham
781-449-4486

 

Needham Extended Day Program
 1155 Central Ave., Needham
781-444-3333

 

Pine Village Pre-School   
 65 4th St., Needham
781-244-2440

 

Noah’s Ark Preschool 
   1154 Great Plain Ave., Needham
781-444-2510

 

Riverside Early Intervention Program
   255 Highland Ave., Needham
781-449-1884

 

Temple Beth Shalom Children’s Center  
670 Highland Ave., Needham
781-449-3016

 

The Charles River YMCA Preschool
863 Great Plain Ave., Needham
781-444-6400

 

The Saltbox School 
43 Gayland Road., Needham
781-444-8558