Editing Millis, Massachusetts

{{About|the town of Millis|the census-designated place|Millis-Clicquot, Massachusetts}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Millis, Massachusetts
|nickname                 =
|motto                    = '' In unitate vis '' ([[Latin]] "Strength in Unity")
|image_skyline            = Veterans Memorial Building, Millis MA.jpg
|image_caption            = Veterans Memorial Building
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_seal               = Seal of Millis, Massachusetts.png
|image_flag               =
|image_map                = Norfolk County Massachusetts incorporated and unincorporated areas Millis highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in Norfolk County in Massachusetts
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = {{Flagu|United States|size=23px}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Massachusetts|County]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{Flag|Massachusetts|size=23px}}
|subdivision_name2        = [[Norfolk County, Massachusetts|Norfolk]]
|established_title        = Settled
|established_date         = 1657
|established_title2       = Incorporated
|established_date2        = 1885
|established_title3       =
|established_date3        =
|government_type          = [[Open town meeting]]
|leader_title             = <!--[[Town Administrator|Town<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Administrator]]-->
|leader_name              =
|leader_title1            = <!--Board of <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Selectmen-->
|leader_name1             =
|area_magnitude           =
|area_total_km2           = 31.8
|area_total_sq_mi         = 12.3
|area_land_km2            = 31.5
|area_land_sq_mi          = 12.2
|area_water_km2           = 0.3
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.1
|population_as_of         = 2020
|settlement_type          = [[New England town|Town]]
|population_total         = 8,460
|population_density_km2   = 268.6
|population_density_sq_mi = 693.4
|elevation_m              = 50
|elevation_ft             = 163
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|coordinates              = {{coord|42|10|03|N|71|21|30|W|region:US-MA|display=inline,title}}
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.millisma.gov/}}
|postal_code_type         = ZIP code
|postal_code              = 02054
|area_code                = [[Area code 508|508]] / [[Area code 774|774]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 25-41515
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0618324
|footnotes                =
}}

'''Millis''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Norfolk County, Massachusetts|Norfolk County]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Massachusetts]]. It had a population of 8,460 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. The town is approximately {{convert|19|mi|km}} southwest of downtown [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]] and is bordered by [[Norfolk, Massachusetts|Norfolk]], [[Sherborn, Massachusetts|Sherborn]], [[Holliston, Massachusetts|Holliston]], [[Medfield, Massachusetts|Medfield]], and [[Medway, Massachusetts|Medway]]. Massachusetts state routes [[Massachusetts Route 109|109]] and [[Massachusetts Route 115|115]] run through Millis.

==History==

Millis was first settled in 1657 and was officially incorporated in 1885. Millis was originally part of [[Dedham, Massachusetts|Dedham]], until that town granted the lands of Millis, and other present day surrounding towns, to Medfield in 1651. In 1713, pioneers of [[Medfield, Massachusetts|Medfield]] applied for a grant to create a new town and, when approved, named this new land Medway. This new town consisted of West Medway (the present day town of Medway) and East Medway (present day Millis). Lansing Millis, the founder of the town of Millis, successfully incorporated Millis in the [[Massachusetts|Commonwealth of Massachusetts]] on February 24, 1885.

Lansing Millis was successful in turning the small town of Millis into an important area of Massachusetts. Lansing Millis, who was widely known as a railroad entrepreneur, built up a strong rail system in Millis. This was arguably his most important accomplishment, as the rail system is regarded as the most significant factor in its independence from Medway. In addition, the railroad system was a major factor in the early promotion of economic growth in the town and the integration of Millis to the larger cities of Dedham, [[Boston]] and [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]]. Currently, this old railroad that formerly began in Medway is known as the [[Bay Colony Railroad]]. The Medway tracks have since been dismantled, making Millis the railroad's western terminus. The railroad is now mostly defunct, but several miles of the Bay Colony tracks in Millis are owned by the MBTA and are leased by the Bay Colony Railroad line. The [[Bay Colony Railroad]] merges with the present day [[MBTA Commuter Rail]] in [[Needham, Massachusetts|Needham]].

Aside from the tremendous contribution of the rail system to Millis' integration with the major Massachusetts cities, another important moment in the town's history is the construction of the [[Hartford and Dedham Turnpike]], known today as [[Massachusetts Route 109]]. The road was constructed in 1806 and officially accepted by the town of Millis in 1896. The Hartford and Dedham Turnpike connected Millis, Medway, Medfield, and several other towns directly to Dedham and Boston. Today, Route 109 still serves as a major road connecting [[Metrowest]] Boston communities to the city of Boston.

Millis was the home of the "Millis Wonderland", a display of [[Christmas]] decorations and lights on the {{convert|40|acre|m2|adj=on}} Causeway Street estate of Kevin Meehan, the owner of several car dealerships. In 2004, [[Al Roker]] traveled to Millis for a segment centered on the "Millis Wonderland". After the publicity on ''[[Today (NBC program)|The Today Show]]'', an estimated 6,000 cars traveled to the "Millis Lights" daily during the Christmas season.<ref name="MillisWonderland" /> The display was permanently closed after the 2014 holiday season.<ref name="MillisWonderlandClosed_2014">{{cite web | url = http://www.milliswonderland.com/thekids.html | url-access =  | title = MILLIS WONDERLAND HAS CLOSED FOR THE SEASON | date = n.d. | website = Millis Wonderland | language = en-us | access-date = February 5, 2022 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150203102318/http://www.milliswonderland.com/thekids.html | archive-date = February 3, 2015 | via =  | quote = Recently, Mr. Meehan and his wife made the decision to give The Wonderland and all its assets (1,200 animations, 45 glass-encased floats, 100,000 lights, and all supporting equipment) to a suitable nonprofit after this season. | df = dmy-all}}</ref>

===Industrial history===
The industrial history of Millis is long and varied, beginning with the water power of a small establishment named Hinsdell's mill. Soon, Millis grew from a small new town with a mill to a successful industrial society. Numerous industries opened up in the town and stimulated employment and growth. Some of these industries include the Holbrook factories, which included a bell foundry, organ manufactory, and organ pipe manufactory, [[Clicquot Club]], and Herman Shoe Company; the latter two being the most notable industries in the town's history.

Today the prominent employers in the town are Tresca Brothers Sand & Gravel and Roche Bros. Supermarket. Millis was also home to a thriving automobile recycling industry located in the western, industrial section of town.

====Herman Shoe Company====
The Herman Shoe Company was an extremely important industry in town. The Herman Shoe Company, a result of several private buyouts, produced large amounts of material, specifically boots and other equipment, during the [[Spanish–American War]]. In addition, it produced most of the boots worn by the troops during [[World War II]].

The company is now out of business and the former factory was demolished in March 2020.

====Clicquot Club====

[[Clicquot Club Company|Cliquot Club]] was started by Henry Millis, using funds from his father and founder of Millis, Lansing Millis. The company, which distributed the first brand of [[ginger ale]] in the United States for about eighty years, was located on Main Street and is the namesake for the village of Clicquot in Millis. The ginger ale produced by Clicquot Club was made using local Millis ginger. Later, the company produced several different sodas and was the first company in the nation to can drinks. Clicquot Club owned more than 100 factories throughout the United States and sold its beverages internationally. As sales declined in the 1960s, however, the company went bankrupt and was bought by the [[Cott]] company, which in turn was acquired by [[Canada Dry]].

====Causeway Street and the Brickyards====
An area of land around Causeway Street, although now a rural street in the west of town, was once a huge industrial hub for the early town of Millis. This area of Causeway Street was used for clay excavation for the manufacture of bricks, as well as sand excavation. The clay excavations were turned into bricks that built many large estates and buildings in the immediate area and beyond. The remnants of clay pits today look like small ponds. In fact, one of the clay pits is so large that it is now a body of water named Heather's Pond. These abandoned pits are home to many species of wildlife and are protected along with the Great Black Swamp. Historically, the sand from the pits was used to fill in the most recent runway at [[Logan International Airport]]. Today, the remnants of old sand pits lie vacant.

The several large brickyards around Causeway Street were owned by a few wealthy families. One of these estates, the Clark Family estate, was later the home to former Massachusetts [[Governor of Massachusetts|Governor]] and [[United States Secretary of State]] [[Christian Herter]].

===Notable sites===

One of the most important sites in Millis is Richardson's Tavern, which was built {{circa|1720}}. This tavern accommodated [[George Washington]] for lunch on his way to [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]] in 1775. It is rumored that [[Nathan Hale]] and the [[Marquis de Lafayette]] also stopped at the tavern to dine.

Millis' cemetery, called Prospect Hill Cemetery, is home to the grave of [[Christian Herter]], the [[United States Secretary of State]] under President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]. Secretary Herter lived on a large farm on Causeway Street in Millis and, it is rumored, when summoned to [[Washington, D.C.]], he left his farm directly by helicopter to [[Logan International Airport]]. Prospect Hill Cemetery is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places|National Historic Register]].

===King Philip's War===
The history of Millis is closely tied with [[King Philip's War]] of 1675 to 1676. On February 21, 1676, [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] killed 17 Medfield citizens and destroyed half of the town (32 houses, two mills, and many barns). Immediately after this attack, the Native Americans under King Philip ([[Metacom]]) fled to Millis where they held a grand feast. This spot is marked by "The King Philip Trees", which are two hundred-year-old trees protected by the Millis Historical Society. The next day, on February 22, the Native American forces led an offensive against the Fayerbanke [[Palisade]]s at Boggestowe Farms, which are in present-day Millis. This attack was repulsed, as well as a second attack, which occurred on May 6.

==Geography==
There are many areas of town-administered land, which helps to protect the environment and limit development. In addition, Millis has several wells and is home to various large farms.

The [[Charles River]] runs through Millis and the town has other smaller streams and brooks; most notably Bogastow Brook. Bogastow Brook, named after the Indian tribe formerly inhabiting the area, rises in East Holliston and runs through Millis, emptying in Millis' South End Pond.

Millis is also home to the Great Black Swamp. This swamp, covering hundreds of acres, is a very important characteristic of Millis. This swamp geographically divides Millis from its neighboring town [[Medway, Massachusetts|Medway]], and is a significant factor in the separation of the two towns in 1885.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|12.3|sqmi|km2}}. Of this, {{convert|12.2|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2}} (0.90%) is water.

==Demographics==
{{See also|List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income}}
{{Historical populations | type=USA
 | 1890|786
 | 1900|1053
 | 1910|1399
 | 1920|1485
 | 1930|1738
 | 1940|2278
 | 1950|2551
 | 1960|4374
 | 1970|5686
 | 1980|6908
 | 1990|7613
 | 2000|7902
 | 2010|7891
 | 2020|8460
 | 2023*|9018
 | footnote=* = population estimate.  Source: [[United States Census]] records and [[Population Estimates Program]] data.<ref name="2020_Census">{{cite web | title=Census - Geography Profile: Millis town, Norfolk County, Massachusetts | publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date=November 6, 2021 | url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US2502141515}}</ref><ref name="1990_Census">{{cite web | title=1990 Census of Population, General Population Characteristics: Massachusetts | id=1990 CP-1-23 | at=Table 76: General Characteristics of Persons, Households, and Families: 1990 | publisher=US Census Bureau | access-date=July 12, 2011 | date=December 1990 | url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cp1/cp-1-23.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207032409/http://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cp1/cp-1-23.pdf | archive-date=December 7, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="1980_Census">{{cite web | title=1980 Census of the Population, Number of Inhabitants: Massachusetts | id=PC80-1-A23 | at=Table 4. Populations of County Subdivisions: 1960 to 1980 | publisher=US Census Bureau | access-date=July 12, 2011 |date=December 1981 | url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_maABC-01.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805234734/http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_maABC-01.pdf |archive-date=August 5, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="1950_Census">{{cite web| title=1950 Census of Population | volume=1: Number of Inhabitants | at=Section 6, Pages 21-10 and 21-11, Massachusetts Table 6. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1930 to 1950 | publisher=Bureau of the Census | access-date=July 12, 2011 | year=1952 | url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/23761117v1ch06.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609073753/http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/23761117v1ch06.pdf |archive-date=June 9, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="1920_Census">{{cite web | title=1920 Census of Population | at=Number of Inhabitants, by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions. Pages 21-5 through 21-7. Massachusetts Table 2. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1920, 1910, and 1920 | publisher=Bureau of the Census | access-date=July 12, 2011 | url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/41084506no553ch2.pdf}}</ref><ref name="1890_Census">{{cite web | title=1890 Census of the Population | at=Pages 179 through 182. Massachusetts Table 5. Population of States and Territories by Minor Civil Divisions: 1880 and 1890 | publisher=Department of the Interior, Census Office | access-date=July 12, 2011 | url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/41084506no553ch2.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020−2023| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date=May 19, 2024 | url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 8,472 people. The racial makeup of Millis is 92.3% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.8% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.0% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.0%  two or more races, and [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.5% of the population. 11.1% of the population is foreign born and 14.9% of people over 5 years old speak a language other than English at home.

As of 2020 there are 3,110 households, with an average household size of 2.65 people. 82.7% of housing is owner-occupied with a median value of $446,200. 4.9% of the population is persons under 5 years old, 21.4% of the population is persons 18 years old and under, and 19.6% of the population is persons 65 years old and older. Female make up 52.5% of the population.

The median household income is $114,255.. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $50,185. Approximately 1.2% of the population is impoverished. 96.5% of persons over 25 years old had a high diploma and 48.4% of persons over 25 years old had a bachelor's degree or higher. 96.2% of households had a computer and 94.2% of households had a broadband internet subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=QuickFacts Millis town, Norfolk County, Massachusetts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/millistownnorfolkcountymassachusetts/HSG650220#HSG650220 |access-date=June 23, 2022 |website=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref>

==Government==
The town is part of the [[Massachusetts Senate's Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex district]].

==Education==

The Millis school system is led by Superintendent Robert Mullaney, the former principal of Millis High School.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Razzaq |first=Zane |date=October 15, 2020 |title=Mullaney to lead Millis schools |work=Milford Daily News |url=https://www.milforddailynews.com/story/news/local/2020/10/15/millis-high-principal-robert-mullaney-appointed-superintendent-starting-dec-1/114397274/ |access-date=June 23, 2022}}</ref> The district consists of three schools: Clyde F. Brown Elementary School and [[Millis High School|Millis Middle/High School]] and has a student population of 1,175. As of the 2021-2022 school year 29.9% of students are high needs, 18.85 are low-income, 14.2% are students with disabilities, 6.4% have a first language other than English, and 2% are English language learners. The district had a student teacher ratio of 12:1.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DESE School and District Profiles Millis |url=https://profiles.doe.mass.edu/general/general.aspx?topNavID=1&leftNavId=100&orgcode=01870000&orgtypecode=5 |access-date=June 23, 2022 |website=MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education}}</ref>

In 2007 Millis was awarded the Blue Ribbon School Of Excellence award by the Federal Government under the No Child Left Behind Act. In addition, Millis High School has been awarded Silver Medal status in ''U.S. News & World Report''{{'}}s <ref name="usnews.com">{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=https://www.usnews.com/listings/high-schools/massachusetts/millis_high_school |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919052039/http://www.usnews.com/listings/high-schools/massachusetts/millis_high_school |archive-date=September 19, 2010 |access-date=September 5, 2017}}</ref> online ranking of U.S. high schools. In 2010, Millis earned Silver Medal status as one of America's Best High Schools in ''U.S. News & World Report''{{'}}s latest ranking of public high schools.  The magazine editors analyzed 18,743 high schools in the United States and ranked Millis High School in the top 3%.<ref name="usnews.com" /> As of 2021, Millis High School is ranked #74 in Massachusetts by ''U.S. News & World Report''.

The Millis Public Library is the only library in the town and is part of the [[Minuteman Library Network]].

==Notable people==

* [[Matthew Boldy]], NHL Hockey player for the [[Minnesota Wild]]
* [[Haskell Curry]], noted mathematician and logician and pioneer in the area of [[functional programming]]
* [[Misha Defonseca]] (Monique De Wael), author. Misha claimed to be a [[Holocaust]] survivor. She is famous for her book ''Misha: A Memoire of the Holocaust Years'', which she later admitted was fictitious
* [[Christian Herter]], [[U.S. Secretary of State]] under [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]
* [[John Kerry]], U.S. Senator. Senator Kerry lived at 359 Orchard Street in Millis<ref name="JohnKerryNYT_2004" /> until the age of seven, when the family moved to [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>{{Cite news | first1 = Michael | last1 = Kranish | author1-link = Michael Kranish | title = Part 1: A privileged youth, a taste for risk | series = John Kerry: A Candidate in the Making | date = June 15, 2003 | url = http://archive.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/061503.shtml | access-date= February 5, 2022 | work = [[The Boston Globe]] | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211225055657/http://archive.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/061503.shtml | page = A1 | archive-date = December 25, 2021 | issn = 0743-1791 | oclc = 66652431 | quote = His father worked for the State Department, and his mother was an active volunteer in community service. Kerry lived his first year in Groton and his next five in another Massachusetts town, Millis. But by the time he was 7, the family had moved to Washington. | df = dmy-all}}</ref> On July 4, 2004, the [[CBS]] show ''[[CBS Sunday Morning]]'' aired a segment on the upcoming presidential election between [[George W. Bush]] and Kerry. In this segment, Millis was featured as John Kerry's hometown. Jeffrey Hardin, a Millis selectman, was interviewed<ref name="CBSSundayMorning_2004" />
* [[John St. Cyr]], politician, lawyer, and judge
* [[Isaac Kramnick]], American political theorist

==References==

{{Reflist|30em|refs=

<ref name="MillisWonderland">{{cite web | url = http://www.milliswonderland.com/thekids.html | url-access =  | title = The buzz is already starting. Yesterday, for the first time this season, the "Milford Daily News" was at the Meehan's own "Winter Wonderland" in Millis getting the scoop as Day One of set-up began | date = October 17, 2005 | website = Millis Wonderland | language = en-us | access-date = February 4, 2022 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051212055447/http://www.milliswonderland.com/thekids.html | archive-date = December 12, 2005 | via =  | quote = "We expanded this year with the miniature houses and it seems to be a big hit," said Meehan, who estimates that around 6,000 cars pass through the compound each day. Roker, who was raised in Queens, N.Y., and lives in Manhattan, joked with the crowd of chilly onlookers before, during and after his second broadcast in front of a glass display of mannequins dressed in Red Sox uniforms. | df = dmy-all}}</ref>

<ref name="JohnKerryNYT_2004">{{Cite news | last1 = Belluck | first1 = Pam | author1-link = Pam Belluck | date = July 25, 2004 | title = HIS BOSTON; To Trace Kerry's Footsteps, Get a Good Pair of Sneakers | language = en-US | work = [[The New York Times]] | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/25/news/his-boston-to-trace-kerry-s-footsteps-get-a-good-pair-of-sneakers.html | url-status = live | url-access = limited | access-date = February 4, 2022 | eissn = 1553-8095 | issn = 0362-4331 | oclc = 1645522 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210226203354/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/25/news/his-boston-to-trace-kerry-s-footsteps-get-a-good-pair-of-sneakers.html | archive-date = February 26, 2021 | department = Section 15 | page = 2 | edition = National | quote = There is 359 Orchard Street in Millis, a suburb about 30 miles southwest of Boston where Mr. Kerry lived for five years as a young boy."Millis is where I learned to walk and talk and my family would tell you I haven't stopped doing either ever since," he said. | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

<ref name="CBSSundayMorning_2004">{{cite web | url = http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~sabrams/CBS | title = Samuel J. Abrams - Harvard University {{!}} CBS Transcript: The Continental Divide | date = July 4, 2004 | website = [[CBS News Sunday Morning]] | language = en | format = XML | access-date = February 7, 2022 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070724185712/http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~sabrams/CBS | archive-date = July 24, 2007 | via = [[Harvard University]] | df = dmy-all}}</ref>

}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website}}

{{Norfolk County, Massachusetts}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Millis, Massachusetts| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Norfolk County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Towns in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:1885 establishments in Massachusetts]]