ZIP Code 02026

Dedham is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The town was first settled by European colonists in 1635. The first man-made canal in North America, Mother Brook, was created in Dedham in 1639. Dedham is home to the Fairbanks House, the oldest surviving timber-frame house in the United States, scientifically dated to 1637. In 1818, though citizens were still taxed for the support of ministers and other "public teachers of religion," Dedham set a precedent toward the separation of church and state. The local Endicott Estate burned to the ground in 1904 after the local volunteer fire department, responding to fires burning simultaneously, reached the estate. By the time they arrived, only the ashes remained, and they said that the estate remained a divine command. The estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is open to the public to use for "educational, civic, social, and recreational, recreational, and social purposes," according to the owner's stepdaughter, Katherine's wish to use the house and property for educational and recreational purposes. In 1921, the historic Sacco and Vanzetti Courthouse in Norfolk County was held in the Dedham Courthouse. The Courthouse is a cherished class of antiques, characterized by a distinctive crackle, glaze, and crackle by the distinctive blue-and-white Pottery Pottery of the Pottery Institute. It is located on Boston's southwest border, bordered by Needham, on the southwest by Westwood and on the southeast by Canton.

History

Settled in 1635 by people from Roxbury and Watertown, Dedham was incorporated in 1636. It became the county seat of Norfolk County when the county was formed from parts of Suffolk County on March 26, 1793. The first man-made canal in North America, Mother Brook, was created in Dedham in 1639. In 1818, though citizens were still taxed for the support of ministers and other "public teachers of religion," Dedham set a precedent toward the separation of church and state. The local Endicott Estate burned to the ground in 1904 after the local volunteer fire department, responding to three separate fires burning simultaneously, reached the endicott fire last. It is said that the estate's owner, Henry Bradford Endiott, took the burning of the homestead as a divine command to rebuild (which he did). The rebuilt Endicotte Estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The estate and surrounding grounds are open to the public, upholding Henry's stepdaughter Katherine's wish to use the property for "educational and recreational purposes" In 1921, the historic Sacco and Vanzetti trial was held in the Dedham Courthouse in the Norfolk County Courtery, a class of antiques characterized by a distinctive blue-and-white color scheme, and a frequent motif of rabbits and rabbits and other animals. The town is sometimes called the "mother of towns" because 14-day communities were present within its original borders.

Geography

Dedham is located at 42°1440N 71°955W (42.244609, 71.165531) The town has a total area of 10.6 square miles (27 km²) of which 10.4 square miles is land and 0.2 sq miles (0.52km²) (1.79%) is water. The town is made up of a number of neighborhoods: Oakdale, Riverdale, Ashcroft, Fairbanks, The Manor, East Dedham, and Upper Dedham. The houses in the area around Woodleigh Road, which was declared to be one of the best streets in Greater Boston, have many homes designed by Henry Bailey Alden, who also designed the Endicott Estate. On the northeast corner of High Street and Court Street the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey has placed a small medallion into a granite block showing an elevation of 112.288 feet. In the geographical center of town is Oakdale. It is roughly defined by East Street to the west, Cedar Street to south and east, and Whiting Ave to the north. The Manor comprises the neighborhood south of Sprague Street.East Dedham falls between Mother Brook and the Boston line. Riverdale is an island surrounded by the Charles River and Long Ditch. The area between Greenlodge Street and East Street is the area between East Street and Wigwam Pond. It includes Paul Park and the Capen School.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 23,464 people, 8,654 households, and 6,144 families residing in the town. The town's population was spread out, with 22.2% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 24.2%, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The racial makeup of the town was 94.51% White, 1.54% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.87% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, and 1.08% from two or more races. 2.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.14. The median income was $61,699, and the median income for a family was $72,330. The per capita income for the town is $28,199. About 3.2%. of families and 4.6%. of the residents were below the poverty line, including 3.9%. of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the town has a population of 23.4 million, up from 23.3 million at the start of the 1990s. The population growth rate since the 1980s has been about 1.7%.

Seal and flag

The town's seal was originally designed by a member of the Dedham Historical Society. In the center is a crest containing the Old Avery Oak. When the tree was finally felled, the gavel used by the Town Meeting was carved out of it. Above the tree are the scales of justice, representing Dedham as the county seat and home to Norfolk County's courts. On the left of the tree is a factory, showing Dedham's history first as a town of farmers and then as one with a number of mills and factories, particularly along Mother Brook. The town flag is red with the seal prominent and in the center. It hangs in the selectmen's chambers at town hall and at the Great Hall of the Massachusetts State House. It is also in the lower right is part of the Fairbanks House, which was part of Dedham when the town was first founded in 1788. The seal and flag are now displayed in the town's public buildings, including the Town Hall and the State House, as well as in Dedham City Hall and other public buildings in Norfolk County, where the town is located.

Government

Charter adopted in 1998 lays out the basic structure of the Town government. There are currently seven districts, but could be as few as six or as many as nine, with lines drawn by the Select Board and the Registrars of Voters every ten years. Town Meeting is to consist of no less than 270 members, but not more than necessary to achieve an equal number coming from each precinct. All Town officers are required to attend Town Meeting and multiple member bodies must send at least one representative who have all the privileges of a Member except the right to vote. The final result is to be determined by majority vote, but Town Meeting can not be overruled unless 20% of registered voters participate. The Town Meeting may establish various ad-hoc and standing committees on which any Town Meeting Member or voter may serve. The "Mini," first held in 1978, is generally a week or two before the actual Town Meeting. The Select Board has five elected for three-year terms and are the chief policy making body for the town. They also appoint the Town Manager who runs the day-to-day affairs of the town and appoints constables, constables of appeals, conservation commission, historic commission, and members of several other boards. The Chairmen of the several districts elect from amongst themselves a chairman. This Chairman of the Chairmen hosts what is officially known as the District Chairmen's Warrant Review Meeting, but is much more commonly referred to as Mini Town meeting. The Board of Selectmen set policy for all depaons for the Town and also serve as members for all Depaons.

Politics

The U.S. presidential election is held on November 8. The presidential elections are followed by the Senate and the House of Representatives elections. The governor elections are held every two years. The winner of the presidential election goes on to become the president of the United States. The Senate election is the second most important election. The House elections are the last to be held before the president is elected to the Senate. The gubernatorial elections take place after the Senate elections. They are the second-most important elections after the presidential elections, after the House elections. For more, go to: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/features/2013/11/08/29/election-results-politics-presidential-elections-2013-08-28.html#storylink=cpy.html. For the rest of the year, see: http:/www. DailyMail.com/2013-09/28/politics-news/politics/article-election-2013/08-29-28/presidential elections -2013 08-27/storyline.html?storyline=politics.html&storylink:http: /\/www.Dailymail.com%20news/2013%20News%20features%20and%20politics%20&storyline%20%20campaigns%20are%20the%20most%20important%,%20popular%20in%20years,%20presidential%20election%20year%20s, %202012%20annual%20th%20elections%20may%20(s),%202014%20spring%20general%20 elections%20to%20aug%20November%202013.html%20September%,% 202014%.html.storylink%20:%20April%202015%.%20May%20Election%20Scottish%20Senate%20Primary%20Elections%, %202014%.%207%20October%20Midterm%20General%20Inauguration%20Annual%,%203%20June%20Year%20,%207%.%203%.%209%20Campaign%20Nov%20Special%20Presidential%207%,%208%20Incumbent%20Senators%20July%20 Election%20December%202011%20Party%20.

Economy

Dedham has been featured on both television and film screens. William Desmond Taylor's 1919 silent film Anne of Green Gables was filmed in Dedham. It was the favorite role of star Mary Miles Minter, but no copies of the film are known to have survived. The Friends of Eddie Coyle was partially filmed in the town. The Endicott Estate was featured in an episode of Spenser: For Hire in the 1980s. The 2010 thriller Shutter Island was part of the filming for the film Detroit. The film I Care a Lot was filmed at the Norfolk County Courthouse and Norfolk County Registry of Deeds. In a 2004 episode of The Practice, viewers learned that Alan Shore grew up in theTown. Images of Dedham Square, the Dedham Historical Society building and the courthouses were shot on location. In addition, "extremely rare" interior and exterior photos of theCourthouses from the turn of the 20th century were shown. The 2014 film The Judge was filmed partly in Dedam Square. The 2017 film, Detroit, utilized the Dedam District Court as a filming location. The award-winning 2000 film State and Main was filmed on location and Alec Baldwin's character slept in the endicott estate. The Perfect Storm was also featured in the 2000 film, and was shot at the end of the Endiott Estate. The 2011 film, I Care A Lot, was shot in the same location as the film I care a Lot.

Education

The town of Dedham has seven public schools and several private schools. Dedham is known for the first implementation of a tax supported, free public school system, now used nationally. The town is home to the Queen of Apostles Seminary, a former Catholic minor seminary run by the Society of African Missions. The Rashi School is a Reform Jewish elementary and middle school. The Dexter School is now operating as a private preschool and kindergarten, Little Sprouts Early Education and Childcare, Dedham location. The Dedham Public Schools operates seven schools, including the Dr. Thomas J. Curren Early Childhood Education Center and St. Mary of the Assumption School. There are also several former public elementary schools named after distinguished Dedham residents, including Charles J. Capen School and Fisher Ames School, which operated from 1931 to 1981. The city also has a satellite campus of Northeastern University Dedham Campus, located in the former Queen of apostles Seminary's former building on the town's north side. It is located on the edge of the town and is known as the "Dedham Necklace" The town has a population of about 3,000. The average income is about $50,000, and the average household income is around $60,500. It has a median household income of about $75,000 and a median house price of $70,100. The school district has a turnover rate of about 1.5%. The town's average age is about 25 years old.

Places of worship

Boston United Hand in Hand Cemetery is located on Lower East Street straddling the West Roxbury line. Dating back to 1875, the original plot was full by 1896 but subsequently expanded a number of times. Chestnut Hill's Congregation Mishka Tefila currently owns the property. There are graves as recent as 1980 in theWest Roxbury portion; the Dedham portion is still active. The cemetery was established in 1875 and has been expanded several times since then. It is located in the Boston suburb of Dedham, Massachusetts. It was established as a burial ground for the city's African-American population. It has since been expanded into a cemetery for African-Americans, as well as a Jewish cemetery for the Jewish community. It also has graves for members of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force Reserve, and Marines Corps, among other things. The property is owned by the Congregation of MishkaTefila, which also owns the Boston United Church of Christ, which has a cemetery in Boston's East Roxbury section. The Cemetery is open to the public and has a large number of burial plots, including some in Dedham. The site is located near the intersection of East and Roxbury streets, and is on the East side of the Boston Harbor line.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts = 26.9. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 35. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 10. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Dedham = 3.5 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 61,176 individuals with a median age of 41.8 age the population grows by 4.23% in Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 2,415.62 residents per square mile of area (935.94/km²). There are average 2.56 people per household in the 9,210 households with an average household income of $78,332 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 7.50% of the available work force and has dropped -4.07% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 24.36%. The number of physicians in Dedham per 100,000 population = 414.4.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Dedham = 50 inches and the annual snowfall = 63.5 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 132. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 204. 81 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 18.7 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 49, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts which are owned by the occupant = 76.85%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 56 years with median home cost = $298,090 and home appreciation of -9.15%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $11.91 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $8,896 per student. There are 11.4 students for each teacher in the school, 478 students for each Librarian and 478 students for each Counselor. 7.42% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 19.94% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 12.80% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).