Editing Norfolk, Massachusetts

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name          = Norfolk, Massachusetts
| nickname            = 
| motto              = 
| image_skyline          = Federated Church of Norfolk, MA.jpg
| imagesize            = 250px
| image_caption          = Federated Church of Norfolk
| image_seal           = Seal of Norfolk, Massachusetts.png
| image_flag           = 
| image_map            = Norfolk County Massachusetts incorporated and unincorporated areas Norfolk 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        = 1695
| established_title2       = Incorporated
| established_date2        = 1870
| 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         = 39.3
| area_total_sq_mi        = 15.2
| area_land_km2          = 38.4
| area_land_sq_mi         = 14.8
| area_water_km2         = 0.9
| area_water_sq_mi        = 0.4
| population_as_of        = 2020
| settlement_type         = [[New England town|Town]]
| population_total        = 11662
| population_density_km2     = 303.7
| population_density_sq_mi    = 788.0
| elevation_m           = 65
| elevation_ft          = 212
| timezone            = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset           = −5
| timezone_DST          = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset_DST         = −4
| coordinates           = {{coord|42|07|10|N|71|19|32|W|region:US-MA_type:city(12,000)|display=inline,title}}
| website             = [http://norfolk.ma.us/ norfolk.ma.us]
| postal_code_type        = ZIP Code
| postal_code           = 02056
| area_code            = [[Area code 508|508]]/[[Area code 774|774]]
| blank_name           = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info           = 25-46050
| blank1_name           = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info           = 0618326
| name              =  
}}

'''Norfolk''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|n|ɔːr|f|ə|k}} {{respell|NOR|fək}}, locally {{IPAc-en|ˈ|n|ɔːr|f|ɔːr|k}} {{respell|NOR|fork}}) is a [[New England]] town in [[Norfolk County, Massachusetts]], United States, with a population of 11,662 people at the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US2502146050| title=Census - Geography Profile: Norfolk town, Massachusetts| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=November 6, 2021}}</ref> Formerly known as [[Wrentham, Massachusetts|North Wrentham]], Norfolk broke away to become an independent town in 1870.

==History==
[[File:Norfolk Grange Hall, MA.jpg|thumb|left|[[Norfolk Grange Hall]], built in 1863]]
Norfolk is a suburban town on the periphery of metropolitan Boston, located on an upper valley of the [[Charles River]]. The land was originally part of [[Dedham, Massachusetts|Dedham]], which was incorporated in 1636. There were a half dozen small farms in the area after 1669, the result of a determined effort to populate the colonial frontier, despite the remoteness of the area. [[Wrentham, Massachusetts|Wrentham]] separated from Dedham in 1673; what is now Norfolk was in the northern part of Wrentham. The farms were abandoned during [[King Philip's War]] in 1675–76, but repopulated later that century.<ref name=recon>{{cite web |url=https://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcpdf/townreports/Eastern/nor.pdf |title=MHC Reconnaissance Survey Town Report: Norfolk |year=1980 |publisher=Massachusetts Historical Commission}}</ref>

As further settlement occurred in the late 17th and 18th centuries, agriculture and cattle grazing were joined by lumbering and planting of orchards. Small villages formed around sawmills and gristmills including City Mills (1680), Mann Pond/Highland Lake (after 1691), and Pondville (after 1730). The village center of '''North Wrentham''' formed in the late 18th century. After 1812, three cotton manufacturing companies were established at Stony Brook, and later in the 19th century George Campbell's paper mill was opened at Highland Lake making heavy wrapping and building papers. The Norfolk County Railroad opened in 1849, with [[Norfolk station (MBTA)|North Wrentham station]] near the village center. North Wrentham separated from Wrentham in 1870 and was incorporated as Norfolk.<ref name=recon />

The town saw a rapid increase in population after 1925 when a hospital and [[Massachusetts Correctional Institution – Norfolk|a state prison]] were built in Norfolk on the Walpole line. Major residential development took place before 1940 in the Pondville and Clark Streets section of town with scattered new housing along Seekonk and Main Streets, and suburban residential building has continued since.<ref name=recon /> In 2014, Norfolk was the filming location for ''[[Ted 2]]'', a comedy film starring [[Mark Wahlberg]] and [[Seth MacFarlane]].<ref name=wrenthamtimes>{{cite news|title=Ted 2 Rolls into Norfolk|url=http://www.wrenthamtimes.com/norfolk/2014/08/ted-2-rolls-into-norfolk.html|access-date=August 29, 2015|work=The Wrentham Times|date=August 8, 2014}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|15.2|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|14.8|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.3|sqmi|km2}} (2.30%) is water.

==Demographics==
{{See also|List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income}}
[[File:Warelands, Norfolk MA.jpg|thumb|left|250px|{{center|[[Warelands]]}}]]
{{Historical populations | type=USA
 | 1870|1081
 | 1880|930
 | 1890|913
 | 1900|980
 | 1910|960
 | 1920|1159
 | 1930|1429
 | 1940|2294
 | 1950|2704
 | 1960|3471
 | 1970|4656
 | 1980|6363
 | 1990|9270
 | 2000|10460
 | 2010|11227
 | 2020|11662
 | 2022|11552
 | footnote=<ref name="2010_Census">{{cite web | title=TOTAL POPULATION (P1), 2010 Census Summary File 1, All County Subdivisions within Massachusetts | publisher=United States Census Bureau | access-date=September 13, 2011 | url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/P1/0400000US25.06000 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212202839/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/P1/0400000US25.06000 | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 12, 2020 }}</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 journal | 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 name="1870_Census">{{cite web | title=1870 Census of the Population | at=Pages 217 through 220. Table IX. Population of Minor Civil Divisions, &c. Massachusetts | publisher=Department of the Interior, Census Office | access-date=July 12, 2011 | year=1872| url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1870e-05.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050126053910/http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1870e-05.pdf |archive-date=January 26, 2005 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date=November 10, 2023 | url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html}}</ref>
}}
As of the 2000 [[census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 10,460 people, 2,818 households, and 2,412 families residing in Norfolk. The population density was {{convert|705.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,861 housing units at an average density of {{convert|192.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 88.97% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 4.90% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.31% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.18% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.43% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.20% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.88% of the population.

There were 2,818 households, out of which 50.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.4% were non-families. 10.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.08 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.2% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 36.9% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 5.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 142.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 157.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $86,153, and the median income for a family was $92,001. Males had a median income of $60,926 versus $40,825 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $32,454. About 0.8% of families and 1.1% of the population were below the [[poverty threshold]], including 0.2% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
===Local===

Norfolk has a [[board of selectmen]] style government.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Town of Norfolk, MA Code |url=https://ecode360.com/NO3198 |access-date=March 1, 2023 |website=Town of Norfolk, MA Code |language=en-US}}</ref> The town is governed by three selectmen, each elected for three year staggered terms. The current members are Anita Mecklenburg, Kevin Roache, and Jim Lehan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Select Board {{!}} Norfolk, MA |url=https://norfolk.ma.us/government/boards___committees/select_board/index.php |access-date=March 1, 2023 |website=www.norfolk.ma.us}}</ref> The town also elects a town clerk, assessors, constables, library trustees, planning board, recreation commission, board of health, housing authority, and school committee members. In total there exist 21 boards and committees in town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Boards & Committees{{!}} Norfolk, MA |url=https://norfolk.ma.us/government/boards___committees/index.php|access-date=March 1, 2023 |website=www.norfolk.ma.us}}</ref>

===State===

The town is represented in the [[Massachusetts Senate|Massachusetts State Senate]] by Democrat [[Becca Rausch|Rebecca Rausch]] ([[Massachusetts Senate's Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex district]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senate Members |url=https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Members/Senate |access-date=February 24, 2023}}</ref> She has served since 2019. [[Marcus Vaughn]], a Republican, represents the town in the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]] (9th Norfolk district).

===Federal===

[[Jake Auchincloss]] represents the town in the [[United States House of Representatives]], and [[Elizabeth Warren]] and [[Ed Markey|Edward Markey]] represent Norfolk in the [[United States Senate]].

==Education==
As of 2022, there are three public schools located within the town: the H. Olive Day Elementary School (grades Pre-K–2), the Freeman-Kennedy Elementary School (grades 3–6), and King Philip Regional Middle School (grades 7–8).

For secondary education Norfolk is in the [[King Philip Regional School District]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st25_ma/schooldistrict_maps/c25021_norfolk/DC20SD_C25021.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807150907/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st25_ma/schooldistrict_maps/c25021_norfolk/DC20SD_C25021.pdf |archive-date=August 7, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Norfolk County, MA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=October 17, 2022}}</ref> which operates the public middle school and the comprehensive high school for Norfolk. Upon entering the 9th grade, students will go on to attend [[King Philip Regional High School]] in [[Wrentham, Massachusetts|Wrentham]], or specialty high schools operated by other agencies such as [[Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School]] in [[Franklin, Massachusetts|Franklin]] and [[Norfolk County Agricultural High School]] in [[Walpole, Massachusetts|Walpole]]. A new public library building recently opened on town hill. Inside the new library in 2009, a one-room school house, the original public library building, was reopened as a meeting room and historical landmark.

==Infrastructure==
The Town of Norfolk instituted a Department of Public Works in 2004 which consolidated much of its infrastructure and is now responsible for eight divisions. These Divisions are Water, Wastewater, Stormwater, Solid Waste, Highways, Trees, Vehicle Maintenance and Grounds which are all managed by a Director.

The Norfolk Airpark (FAA airport code 32M) had one {{convert|2700|ft|adj=on}} north–south runway and is about {{convert|2|mi|0}} west of the town center. In recent years, however, the airpark has been closed down and is currently in a state of disrepair. A seven house cul-de-sac known as Tailwind Cir now exists where the hangars used to stand while the remaining airport property is now conservation land known as Leland Wild.

The [[Norfolk (MBTA station)|Norfolk MBTA commuter rail station]] is in Zone 5 and is located in the town's center at 9 Rockwood Road.<ref>[http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/rail/lines/stations/?stopId=140 MBTA > Schedules & Maps > Commuter Rail > Norfolk<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

==Emergency services==
The Norfolk Police Department is a fairly small department located on Sharon Avenue in the south of town near the Norfolk–Wrentham town line. It is staffed by a total of 17 police officers, including the chief of police. The town's fire department and emergency medical services, located in the center of town on Main Street, was staffed full-time with 24h/7d coverage for the first time in April 2001, and since 2004 provides Advanced Life Support services. The Fire Department is staffed by 13 career firefighters, which includes the fire chief. The police and fire communications department (also known as dispatch) is operated by a total of four full-time dispatchers and six part-time dispatchers. All of these emergency services are located in the police station complex on Sharon Avenue.

At a special town meeting in December 2015, a small turnout of Norfolk voters approved a plan to construct a new police and public safety building on Sharon Street in the south part of town. The police department will be moved to this facility, with the fire department occupying the space vacated by the police. A regional communications center within the Public Safety Building will support the dispatch requirements of Norfolk and three surrounding towns: [[Wrentham, Massachusetts|Wrentham]], [[Plainville, Massachusetts|Plainville]], and [[Franklin, Massachusetts|Franklin]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minutes from the Fall Town Special Meeting December 1, 2015 |url=http://www.virtualnorfolk.org/public_documents/F00019375/F00019398/STM%2012.1.2015%20minutes.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624054326/http://www.virtualnorfolk.org/public_documents/F00019375/F00019398/STM%2012.1.2015%20minutes.pdf |archive-date=June 24, 2016 |url-status=usurped |publisher=Town of Norfolk, Massachusetts|access-date=May 19, 2016 }}</ref>

==State prisons==
*[[Bay State Correctional Center]] (medium-security)
*[[Massachusetts Correctional Institution – Cedar Junction]] (maximum-security; also lies partly across town line in neighboring [[Walpole, Massachusetts|Walpole]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st25_ma/cousub/cs2502172495_walpole/DC20BLK_CS2502172495.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017163600/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st25_ma/cousub/cs2502172495_walpole/DC20BLK_CS2502172495.pdf |archive-date=October 17, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Walpole town, MA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|page=3 (PDF p. 4/4)|accessdate=October 17, 2022|quote=Massachusetts Correctional Institution-Cedar Junction}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st25_ma/cousub/cs2502146050_norfolk/DC20BLK_CS2502146050.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017163552/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st25_ma/cousub/cs2502146050_norfolk/DC20BLK_CS2502146050.pdf |archive-date=October 17, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Norfolk town, MA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=October 17, 2022|quote=Massachusetts Correctional Institution-Cedar Junction}}</ref>)
*[[Massachusetts Correctional Institution – Norfolk]] (medium security)
*[[Pondville Correctional Center]] (minimum-security)

==See also==
* [[Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary]], Norfolk

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{official website|http://norfolk.ma.us/}}
*[https://norfolkpl.org/ Norfolk Public Library]
{{Norfolk, Massachusetts}}
{{Norfolk County, Massachusetts}}
{{Greater_Boston}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Norfolk, Massachusetts| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Norfolk County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1678]]
[[Category:Towns in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:1870 establishments in Massachusetts]]