Natick, Massachusetts
Natick is a town located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 32,170.
Natick is affectionately known by its inhabitants as the Home of Champions, recalling the performance of the town's firefighting team at the 1891 National Hook and Ladder competition.
The name Natick originates from the language of the Indian tribe known as the Massachusett, meaning "place of hills." The original settlement, on the southern side of Natick, is a hilly area. Often, residents confuse the southern side of town by labeling the area "south Natick", however, "south Natick" is not a separate entity. The name Natick is pronounced NAY-tick, not NAT-ick (IPA [neɪtɪk]).
History
Natick was first settled in 1651 by John Eliot, who settled a group of "Praying Indians" on both sides of the Charles river. The land was granted by the General Court, part of the Dedham Grant.
A school was set up, a government established, and the Indians were encouraged to convert to Christianity. During King Philip's War, the Natick Indians were sent to Deer Island. Many died of disease and cold, and the Indians who survived found their homes destroyed. The Indian village did not recover, and the land held in common by the Indian community was slowly sold off to white settlers to cover debts, and by 1725 most of the Natick Indians had drifted away.
The town was officially incorporated in 1781. Henry Wilson, the eighteenth Vice President of the United States, lived most of his life in Natick and is buried there. He is the namesake of one of Natick's two middle schools.
Natick is home of the 2005 division 2 superbowl champions
The Redmen finished the season 13-0 with a win over Foxboro high and finished the year ranked #2 in the state
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 41.6 km² (16.0 mi²). 39.1 km² (15.1 mi²) of it is land and 2.5 km² (1.0 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 6.04% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 32,170 people, 13,080 households, and 8,528 families residing in the town. The population density was 823.7/km² (2,132.9/mi²). There were 13,368 housing units at an average density of 342.3/km² (886.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.02% White, 1.63% African American, 0.11% Native American, 3.86% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. 1.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 13,080 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 34.3% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $69,755, and the median income for a family was $85,715. Males had a median income of $51,964 versus $41,060 for females. The per capita income for the town was $36,358. 2.8% of the population and 1.7% of families were below the poverty line. 2.4% of those under the age of 18 and 5.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Natick in TV and Film
In the cartoon Family Guy, Peter and his family travel to Natick in search of a Twinkie factory after an apocalyptic Y2K incident. The Hostess factory referenced in the episode did exist at one time - Continential Bakeries, but has been torn down and is being replaced by an extension of (Chicago based)General Growth's Natick Mall.
Famous Natickites
- Harriet Beecher Stowe, abolitionist and author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, married Natick native Calvin Stowe and lived for a time in Natick.
- Harold Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen To Good People, lives in Natick. Retired now, for twenty-four years he was rabbi at Natick's Temple Israel.
- Jonathan Richman as seen in the film There's Something About Mary grew up in Natick.
- Renowned statistician Eric Van also grew up in Natick.
- NFL and CFL veteran Doug Flutie attended high school in Natick, before going to Boston College. He still resides in Natick.
- Chief meteorologist Paul Dellegatto of FOX 13 in Tampa graduated from Natick High School.
Located in Natick
- The U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center (part of the Hanscom Joint Defense Complexes). This facility specializes in developing such supplies as field rations, personal protective field equipment, and uniforms for various extreme conditions.
- BJ's Wholesale Club Corporate Headquarters.
- Cognex Corporation Corporate Headquarters.
- The MathWorks Corporate Headquarters.
- Boston Scientific Corporate Headquarters. This site used to be the HQ for mini-computer manufacturer Prime Computer, Inc. Before Prime, Carling ran a Black Label brewery there.
- Retailer TJX Corporate headquarters.
- The Walnut Hill School is one of the nation's leading private secondary schools offering particular emphasis in the studio and performing arts.
- The Center for Arts in Natick, located in a converted firehouse, is a favored performance venue for musicians in jazz, folk, classical, and rock genres. TCAN also hosts theatrical productions by the TCAN players.
- Dug Pond is a small body of water used mainly for recreation.
External links
- Natick official website
- Natick Retail
- Natick Historical Society
- Brief history of Natick
- The Natick Resolution Text and video performance of an 1859 speech by Henry Clarke Wright supporting John Brown at a Natick town meeting. Produced by the Antislavery Literature Project.
- History of Natick at the Jackson Homestead
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