Framingham is a town located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 66,910, making it the most populous town in Massachusetts, and even more populated than Portland, Maine. (In Massachusetts, a municipality's status as "city" or "town" determines its form of government. There are cities in Massachusetts that are more populous than Framingham. A charter change to make Framingham officially a city has been proposed more than once, but each time defeated at referendum.) The town has eleven schools, the largest being Framingham High School, which supplies most of the town's high school education. Framingham is also home of Sudbury Valley School, democratic school. It's has been called "The town with it all".
Christa McAuliffe, the planned first teacher in space, grew up in the town of Framingham.
Framingham is famous for the Framingham Heart Study at Framingham State College, as well as for the Dennison Manufacturing Company , which was founded in 1844 as a jewellery and watch box manufacturing company by Aaron Lufkin Dennison, who became the pioneer of the American System of Watch Manufacturing at nearby Waltham Watch Company. His brother, Eliphalet Whorf Dennison developed the company into a sizeable industrial complex, which merged in 1990 into the Avery Dennison Company, with headquarters in Pasadena, California, and active corporate offices in the town. Framingham is also known for the former Framingham Union Hospital, now the MetroWest Medical Center. Teacher Christa McAuliffe was raised in the town and went to Framingham State, and was planned to go into space. Framingham also is the corporate headquarters for the Bose Corporation, TJX Corporation , and the MetroWest Daily News.
Framingham is also home to the Garden in the Woods, the largest landscaped collection of wildflowers in New England.
Pronunciation
The first syllable of the name is pronounced with a long a; that is, the name of the town is pronounced exactly like the two words "framing" and "ham." (pronounciation)
History
Framingham was first settled in 1650 and was officially incorporated in 1700 on land formerly known as Danforth's Farms, after landowner Thomas Danforth who was born in Framlingham, England. Why the "L" was dropped for the new town's name is not known. Framingham was home to Crispus Attucks, whose death was made famous in an etching of the Boston Massacre by Paul Revere. Framingham was also home to Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher in space, who died in the Challenger disaster. During the 1950's and 1960's, there was a large real estate boom to the suburban areas. This caused a large increase in homes being built. Thus, there are many split-level houses in Framingham, as well as colonial houses. Framingham is also mentioned for having a Carvel factory in the episode titled "Da Boom" of Family Guy. This is widely thought to refer to the Breyers Ice Cream factory, which is located within Framingham.
Crispus Attucks, from Framingham, was the first african-american to be killed in the fight for American liberty.
Geography
Framingham is located at 42°17'59" North, 71°25'35" West (42.299795, -71.426627). It is primarily a suburban area to the cities of Boston and Worcester. The town is connected to both cities via the Mass Pike (I-90) and Route 9. The region in Greater Boston west of the city that the town is in is called the MetroWest area.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 68.5 km² (26.4 mi²). 65.1 km² (25.1 mi²) of it is land and 3.4 km² (1.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 4.99% water.
The town of Framingham is often referred to as having two sections. There is South Framingham, which includes downtown, the Framingham Country Club, and the former General Motors plant where Chevrolet Celebrities were once built. There is also North Framingham, which has neighborhoods such as Nobscot, Saxonville, Framingham Center and the Golden Triangle. North Framingham is home to many of Framingham's premier shopping centers, including Shopper's World, one of the country's first shopping malls, along with well-known retail establishments such as Wal-Mart, Target, the Framingham Mall, one of the town's Stop and Shops, a few CVSs and much more. North and South Framingham are unofficially divided by MA Route 9.
Framingham is served by the local bus service LIFT. Bus service is also available to Logan Airport, which is located in East Boston, Massachusetts. Intercity busses operate to Boston, Hartford, Connecticut and New York. MBTA commuter rail operates to Boston and Worcester. Amtrak also operates service to Albany, New York, but most rail passengers will find it much easier to take a train to Boston, then take the commuter rail to Framingham.
Many businesses in Framingham's compact downtown are retail stores, selling imported clothing, Brazilian (and other imported) food, wood craft supplies, and furniture; there are also a number of restaurants. The downtown area is centered on the "Y"-shaped intersection of Concord St. and Union Ave., called Memorial Square. The town hall building, officially Memorial Hall, is located on the northwest corner of this intersection; it is dedicated to Framingham's war dead.
Framingham Center is a separate locus of development, located at the northern end of Union Ave. where it intersects Main St. Other centers include Nobscot and Coburnville, both north of Route 9.
Another popular area is the Golden Triangle area. This is the area in the shape of a triangle which borders are Route 9, Speen Street in Natick, and Route 30. This is the heart of the Framingham retail area, which includes many stores in strip malls.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 66,910 people, 26,153 households, and 16,581 families residing in the town. The population density is 1,028.4/km² (2,663.6/mi²). There are 26,734 housing units at an average density of 410.9/km² (1,064.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 79.77% White, 5.09% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 5.27% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 6.27% from other races, and 3.38% from two or more races. 10.86% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 26,153 households out of which 29.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% are married couples living together, 10.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% are non-families. 28.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.43 and the average family size is 3.02.
In the town the population is spread out with 21.4% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 34.5% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 88.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $54,288, and the median income for a family is $67,420. Males have a median income of $46,122 versus $35,941 for females. The per capita income for the town is $27,758. 8.0% of the population and 6.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 11.4% of those under the age of 18 and 6.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
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