Editing Norfolk County, Massachusetts

{{short description|County in Massachusetts, United States}}
{{distinguish|Norfolk County, Massachusetts Colony}}
{{Update|part=population figure|reason=2020 census|date=March 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Norfolk County
 | state                = Massachusetts
 | type                 = [[List of counties in Massachusetts|County]]
 | founded year         = 1793
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Dedham
 | largest city wl      = Quincy
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 444
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 396
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 48
 | area percentage      = 11%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 725981
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 727473 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | flag                 = Flag of Norfolk County, Massachusetts.gif
 | seal                 = Seal of Norfolk County, Massachusetts.png
 | motto                = ''Antiquity, Perseverance, History, Industry''
 | web                  = norfolkcounty.org
 | ex image           = {{photomontage
   | photo1a = Old House, Quincy, Massachusetts.JPG
   | photo2a = Boardwalk through Ponkapoag Bog Clearing.jpg
   | photo2b = Inbound train at Brookline Hills station, January 2022.jpg
   | photo3a = Green Hall, Wellesley College, Wellesley MA.jpg
   | spacing = 1
   | color_border = white
   | color =  white
   | size = 280
}}
| ex image size      = 
| ex image cap       = Images, from top down, left to right: Former residence of [[John Adams]] in [[Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy]]; Trail in the [[Blue Hills Reservation]]; MBTA station in [[Brookline, Massachusetts|Brookline]]; Green Hall at [[Wellesley College]]
 | district             = 2nd
 | district2            = 4th
 | district3            = 7th
 | district4            = 8th
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | named for            = [[Norfolk]], England }}

'''Norfolk County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|n|ɔr|f|ə|k}} {{respell|NOR|fək}}) is located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Massachusetts]]. At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was around 725,981.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=2020 Census Demographic Data Map Viewer|url=https://mtgis-portal.geo.census.gov/arcgis/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=2566121a73de463995ed2b2fd7ff6eb7|archive-url=|access-date=August 12, 2021|publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Dedham, Massachusetts|Dedham]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was named after the English county of the [[Norfolk|same name]].<ref>[[Thomas Cox (topographer)|Thomas Cox]], [[Anthony Hall (antiquarian)|Anthony Hall]], [[Robert Morden]], [https://books.google.com/books?id=hZNJAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA151-IA2 ''Magna Britannia Antiqua & Nova: Or, A New, Exact, and Comprehensive Survey of the Ancient and Present State of Great Britain''], Volume 5, (Caesar Ward and Richard Chandler: London, 1738), pg. 171 (accessed on Google Book Search, June 22, 2008)</ref> Two towns, [[Cohasset, Massachusetts|Cohasset]] and [[Brookline, Massachusetts|Brookline]], are [[Enclave and exclave|exclaves]]. Norfolk County is included in the [[Boston]]-[[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]]-[[Newton, Massachusetts|Newton]], MA-[[New Hampshire|NH]] [[Greater Boston|Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. Norfolk County is the 24th [[Highest-income counties in the United States|highest-income county in the United States]] with a median household income of $107,361. It is the wealthiest county in Massachusetts.

==History==
One of the original counties of the Massachusetts Bay Colony created on May 10, 1643, was called Norfolk, and is unrelated to the current Norfolk County. It covered territory in what is now New Hampshire, and was abolished on September 18, 1679, when [[Charles II of England|King Charles II]] separated the [[Colony of New Hampshire]] from Massachusetts.<ref name="Chronologies">[https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/MA_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm Massachusetts : Individual County Chronologies]</ref>

Shortly after the [[Constitution of Massachusetts]] was adopted on October 25, 1780, a number of towns in [[Suffolk County, Massachusetts|Suffolk County]], of which Dedham was then a part, elected delegates to a convention to decide upon some policy relative to the division of the county.{{sfn|Cook|1918|p=39}} The convention met at [[Gay's Tavern]] in Dedham on December 12, 1780, and adopted a resolution to the effect that the towns of [[Bellingham, Massachusetts|Bellingham]], [[Dedham, Massachusetts|Dedham]], [[Foxborough]], [[Franklin, Massachusetts|Franklin]], [[Medfield]], [[Medway, Massachusetts|Medway]], [[Needham, Massachusetts|Needham]], [[Stoughton, Massachusetts|Stoughton]], [[Sharon, Massachusetts|Stoughtonham]], [[Walpole, Massachusetts|Walpole]], and [[Wrentham, Massachusetts|Wrentham]], along with the [[Middlesex County, Massachusetts|Middlesex County]] towns of [[Holliston, Massachusetts|Holliston]], [[Hopkinton, Massachusetts|Hopkinton]], [[Natick]], and [[Sherborn, Massachusetts|Sherborn]] ought to be formed into a new county with Medfield as the shiretown.{{sfn|Cook|1918|p=39}} The [[Great and General Court]] did not look favorably upon the resolution, however, and no new county was then created.

Norfolk County, Massachusetts was created on June 20, 1793. Legislation passed in March which separated off all the towns in Suffolk County except Boston and Chelsea (which at the time included what are now [[Revere, Massachusetts|Revere]] and [[Winthrop, Massachusetts|Winthrop]]). Dedham was designated as the "shire town".<ref>[https://archive.org/details/actsresolvespass179293mass/page/110/mode/2up Massachusetts General Court, Acts of 1792 Chapter 72, page 111] (also indexed as Acts of 1973 (January Session), chapter 43). Approved March 26, 1793, by Governor [[John Hancock]].</ref> [[Hingham, Massachusetts|Hingham]] and [[Hull, Massachusetts|Hull]] petitioned to remain in Suffolk County and on the day the law was to take effect, their removal to Norfolk County was repealed, making [[Cohasset, Massachusetts|Cohasset]] an [[exclave]].<ref>https://archive.org/details/actsresolvespass179293mass/page/352/mode/2up Massachusetts General Court, Acts of 1793, Chapter 8, page 353.] Also listed as 1793 May session, chapter 9. Approved June 20, 1793.</ref> In 1803, they were moved into [[Plymouth County, Massachusetts]].<ref name="Chronologies" />

On June 22, 1797, the town of [[Natick, Massachusetts|Natick]] was given to Middlesex County, and the town of [[Needham, Massachusetts|Needham]] was transferred from Middlesex to Norfolk. The towns of [[Dorchester, Massachusetts|Dorchester]] and [[Roxbury, Massachusetts|Roxbury]] were part of Norfolk County when it was created but, as Boston annexed each town in stages from 1804 to 1912, they became part of Suffolk County again, leaving [[Brookline, Massachusetts|Brookline]] separated from the rest of Norfolk County. No other changes have been made to the territory of Norfolk County, other than new municipalities being created within its boundaries, and minor border adjustments.<ref name="Chronologies" />

Norfolk County is the birthplace of four Presidents of the United States ([[John Adams]], [[John Quincy Adams]], [[John F. Kennedy]], and [[George H. W. Bush]]), resulting in the moniker "County of Presidents."<ref>[http://www.norfolkcounty.org/ The County of Norfolk, Massachusetts]. Last accessed December 21, 2006.</ref>

===Jails===
Following the creation of the county, [[Gay's Tavern]] was the site of a Court of General Sessions on August 25, 1794.{{sfn|Cook|1918|p=48}} They ordered that the committee on buildings proceed with collecting materials for building a jail.{{sfn|Cook|1918|p=48}} On the last day of September following this order, the court accepted from Timothy Gay{{efn|Timothy Gay Jr. was the jail keeper and was indicted, but acquitted, in the escape of [[Jason Fairbanks]].{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=188}}}} the gift of a parallelogram lot of land to erect the [[Norfolk County Jail (1795)|Norfolk County Jail]] next to his tavern.{{sfn|Cook|1918|p=48}}{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=166}}{{r|series}} 

It was replaced by a new [[Norfolk County Jail (1817)|Norfolk County Jail]] in 1817.{{sfn|Dedham Historical Society|2001|p=11}}<ref name=condos/> The two story stone building was built in 1817 and was 33' square.{{sfn|Dedham Historical Society|2001|p=11}}<ref name=condos/> Part of the jail was torn down in 1851 to erect a central, octagonal portion and two wings.{{sfn|Dedham Historical Society|2001|p=11}}<ref name=condos/> It resulted in a building with the shape of a [[Latin cross]], and featured [[Gothic Revival]] windows.<ref name=condos/> The three tiers of cells radiated out like spokes from the central guardroom.<ref name=condos/> There were two hangings in the central rotunda: [[George C. Hersey]] on August 8, 1862 and [[James H. Costley]] on June 25, 1875.{{sfn|Parr|2009}}

Inmates were housed in the jail until 1992 when the [[Norfolk County Correctional Center]] was opened in 1992.{{sfn|Dedham Historical Society|2001|p=11}} A court forced the closure after 13 inmates escaped in 1989.{{sfn|Parr|2009}} There were at least 27 break outs during the prison's history.<ref name=condos/> 

The current Norfolk County Correctional Center is located on the median of [[Massachusetts Route 128|Route 128]] in Dedham. The facility has 502 beds and opened in 1992.<ref name=difazio/>

===Courthouses===
After the creation of the county, the Court of Common Pleas and the Court of General Sessions of the Peace first met in [[First Church and Parish in Dedham#1762 meetinghouse|Dedham's meetinghouse]].{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=166}} [[Nathaniel Ames (third)|Nathaniel Ames]] was chosen as the clerk of both and they met for the first time on September 23.{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=166}}{{efn|Hanson is not clear in which year they first met.{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=166}}}}

When the court met on January 7, 1794, it was so cold in the building, which lacked any sort of heating, that they moved to the [[Woodward Tavern]] across the street.{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=166}} The [[History of Dedham, Massachusetts, 1700-1799#Anglican Church|Anglican Church]] in town had also offered their building, but it was in such a state of disrepair that the offer was not accepted.{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=166}} The [[First Church and Parish in Dedham]] then offered a piece of land on their Little Common, and a new courthouse was ordered to be constructed.{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=166}} Construction was sluggish, however, and the delays frustrated Ames.{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=166}}

The court was still sitting in the meetinghouse in 1794 but the new courthouse was completed in 1795.{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=166-167}}{{sfn|Dedham Historical Society|2001|p=10}} It was found to be too small, however, and the ceilings were so low as to stifle people in the courtrooms.{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=167}} [[Charles Bulfinch]] was hired in 1795 to design a turret for the building and [[Paul Revere]] was commissioned to cast a bell.{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=167}}{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=239}}{{efn|The bell was moved to the new courthouse, and the last record of the cupola was in 1817. It disappeared sometime after that.{{Sfn|Hanson|1976|p=239}}}}

When it became apparent that the Courthouse was out of date, the County Commissioners ordered a new one to be built.{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=229}} They originally were seeking a utilitarian building that would be fireproof and safe to store important documents.{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=229}} Local boosters, however, wanted a building that aligned with the town's rapidly improving self-image.{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=228-229}}

The land for the courthouse, across the street from the existing one, was purchased from [[Fisher Ames|Frances Ames]] for $1,200.{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=229}}{{sfn|Dedham Historical Society|2001|p=10}} Ames later refused to sell the lot to the east at an asking price of $400, however.{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=229}} Masonic ceremonies, bell ringing and cannon fire accompanied the laying of the cornerstone on July 4, 1825.{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=229}} In 1827, the old courthouse was sold at public auction.{{sfn|Dedham Historical Society|2001|p=10}} 

The new building was designed by [[Solomon Willard]]{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=229}}<ref name=NHL/> and was dedicated on February 20, 1827.{{sfn|Dedham Historical Society|2001|p=10}}{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=229}} It was a basic rectangular granite-walled structure, 48' by 98' and two stories tall,{{sfn|Dedham Historical Society|2001|p=10}} with Greek-temple porticoes at either end.<ref name=NHL/>{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=229}} Each 10' portico was supported by four Doric pillars.{{sfn|Dedham Historical Society|2001|p=10}} A bell made by [[Paul Revere]] was moved from the old courthouse to the new north portico, where it was tolled to announce court sessions.{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=239}}{{sfn|Clarke|1903|p=15}}

The interior had a hall running through the center paved with brick.{{sfn|Clarke|1903|p=6}} On the eastern side were the offices of the Country Treasurer and the Clerk of Courts.{{sfn|Clarke|1903|p=14}} On the western side were the Registry of Deeds and Probate Court.{{sfn|Clarke|1903|p=14}} The courtroom was upstairs and featured an arched ceiling.{{sfn|Clarke|1903|p=14}} The high sheriff had a desk in the room.{{sfn|Clarke|1903|p=14}}

From the outside it was an attractive building, but it was not a comfortable place to work.{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=229}} The only water was provided by a well on Court Street, and it did not have an adequate heating system.{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=229}} One employee complained that it was "barren and destitute of every convenience, demanded for health, comfort and decency."{{sfn|Hanson|1976|p=229}} In 1846, an iron fence was installed around the perimeter.{{sfn|Clarke|1903|p=15}}

===Registry of Deeds===

The Registry was originally housed in one of the first floor rooms of the home of Eliphalet Pond, the first registrar, at 963 Washington Street in Dedham.<ref name=trivia1722/> A sign was nailed to a tree out front informing the public of its location.<ref name=trivia1722/> It then moved to the original [[Norfolk County Courthouse (1795)|Norfolk County Courthouse]] and remained there for about three decades.<ref name=trivia1722/> When the new [[Norfolk County Courthouse]] was built in 1827, the middle office on the west side of the lower level was used by the Registry.<ref name=trivia1722/> When the population of the county grew and the number of real estate transactions increased apace, a new building was constructed for the Registry across the street at 649 High Street.<ref name=trivia1722/> The Boston firm [[Peabody & Stearns]] was hired to design the current Registry of Deeds, built in 1905. The main section of the building measures 52 feet by 186 feet, is two stories high with a copper hipped roof, and is built of Indiana limestone with details made of granite from [[Deer Isle, Maine]].<ref name=trivia1722p5/>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|444|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|396|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|48|sqmi}} (11%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_25.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 16, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140914175857/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_25.txt|archive-date=September 14, 2014}}</ref> It is the third-smallest county in Massachusetts by total area. The county is not completely [[Geographic contiguity|contiguous]]; the towns of [[Brookline, Massachusetts|Brookline]] and [[Cohasset, Massachusetts|Cohasset]] are each part of Norfolk County but are separated from the majority of Norfolk County (and each other) by either water or other counties. At the county's formation, [[Hingham, Massachusetts|Hingham]] and [[Hull, Massachusetts|Hull]] were to be part of it, but joined [[Plymouth County, Massachusetts|Plymouth County]] instead, leaving Cohasset as the initial [[exclave]] of Norfolk County and an [[enclave]] of Plymouth County. Brookline became the second exclave of Norfolk County in 1873 when the neighboring town of [[West Roxbury, Massachusetts|West Roxbury]] was annexed by [[Boston]] (thus leaving Norfolk County to join [[Suffolk County, Massachusetts|Suffolk County]]) and Brookline refused to be annexed by Boston after the [[Brookline-Boston annexation debate of 1873]].

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Middlesex County, Massachusetts|Middlesex County]] (northwest)
*[[Suffolk County, Massachusetts|Suffolk County]] (north)
*[[Plymouth County, Massachusetts|Plymouth County]] (southeast)
*[[Bristol County, Massachusetts|Bristol County]] (south)
*[[Providence County, Rhode Island]] (southwest)
*[[Worcester County, Massachusetts|Worcester County]] (west)

===National protected areas===
* [[Adams National Historical Park]]
* [[Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area]] (part)
* [[Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site]]
* [[John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site]]

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=15em|rules=yes}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|I|90}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|I|93}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|I|95}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|I|495}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|US|1}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|US|20}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|1A}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|2}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|3}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|3A}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|9}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|16}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|18}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|24}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|27}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|28}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|37}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|53}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|58}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|106}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|109}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|115}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|121}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|126}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|128}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|135}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|138}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|139}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|140}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|152}}
*{{Jct|state=MA|MA|228}}
{{div col end}}
{{Massachusetts rivers}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1800 = 27216
| 1810 = 31245
| 1820 = 36471
| 1830 = 41972
| 1840 = 53140
| 1850 = 78892
| 1860 = 109950
| 1870 = 89443
| 1880 = 96507
| 1890 = 118950
| 1900 = 151539
| 1910 = 187506
| 1920 = 219081
| 1930 = 299426
| 1940 = 325180
| 1950 = 392308
| 1960 = 510256
| 1970 = 605051
| 1980 = 606587
| 1990 = 616087
| 2000 = 650308
| 2010 = 670850
| align-fn = center
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 16, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 16, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ma190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 16, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 16, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mtgis-portal.geo.census.gov/arcgis/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=2566121a73de463995ed2b2fd7ff6eb7|title=2020 Census Demographic Data Map Viewer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 12, 2021}}</ref>
| 2020 = 725981
| estyear = 2024
| estimate = 740754
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 3, 2024}}</ref>
}}

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 650,308 people, 248,827 households, and 165,967 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|1,628|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 255,154 housing units at an average density of {{convert|639|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the county was 89.02% [[Race (United States Census)|White]] or [[European American]], 3.18% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.13% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 5.50% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.78% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. 1.84%.<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> were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 28.6% were of [[Irish people|Irish]], 13.4% [[Italian people|Italian]], 7.7% [[English people|English]] and 5.0% [[United States|descendants of colonists]] ancestry according to [[Census 2000]]. 85.7% spoke only [[English language|English]] at home, while 2.3% spoke [[chinese language|Chinese]] in any dialect, 2.0% [[Spanish language|Spanish]], 1.0% [[Italian language|Italian]] and 1.0% [[French language|French]] at home.

Of the 248,827 households 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.20% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 26.80% of households were one person and 10.80% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.14.

The age distribution was 23.40% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 31.60% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.60 males.

The median household income was $63,432 and the median family income was $77,847 (these figures had risen to $77,294 and $95,243 respectively as of a 2007 estimate<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=05000US25017&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US25%7C05000US25017&_street=&_county=norfolk&_cityTown=norfolk&_state=04000US25&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=050&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2007_3YR_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null:null&_keyword=&_industry=|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200211180745/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=05000US25017&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US25%7C05000US25017&_street=&_county=norfolk&_cityTown=norfolk&_state=04000US25&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=050&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2007_3YR_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null:null&_keyword=&_industry=|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 11, 2020|title=American FactFinder - Community Facts|publisher=United States Census Bureau|website=factfinder.census.gov}}</ref>). Males had a median income of $51,301 versus $37,108 for females. The per capita income for the county was $32,484. About 2.90% of families and 4.60% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 4.40% of those under age 18 and 5.70% of those age 65 or over.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 670,850&nbsp;people, 257,914&nbsp;households, and 168,903&nbsp;families residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US25021
  |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
  |access-date=January 12, 2016
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213031459/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US25021
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|1,693.6|PD/sqmi}}. There were 270,359 housing units at an average density of {{convert|682.5|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US25021
  |access-date=January 12, 2016
|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213234621/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US25021
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 82.3% white, 8.6% Asian, 5.7% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 1.3% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.3% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> The largest ancestry groups were:<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US25021
  |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=January 12, 2016
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213032616/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US25021
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>
{{Div col|colwidth=15em|rules=yes}}
* 31.8% Irish
* 15.5% Italian
* 11.0% English
* 7.0% German
* 4.6% French
* 4.3% Chinese
* 4.1% Polish
* 3.2% Russian 
* 3.1% American
* 2.8% Scottish
* 2.6% French Canadian
* 2.4% Scotch-Irish
* 2.0% West Indian
* 2.0% Sub-Saharan African
* 1.9% Portuguese
* 1.8% Swedish
* 1.6% Indian
* 1.4% Arab
* 1.4% Greek
* 1.2% Canadian
* 1.1% Vietnamese
* 1.1% Lithuanian
{{div col end}}

Of the 257,914&nbsp;households, 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.5% were non-families, and 27.6% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.15. The median age was 40.7 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $81,027 and the median family income was $101,870. Males had a median income of $68,070 versus $51,870 for females. The per capita income for the county was $42,371. About 4.1% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US25021
  |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=January 12, 2016
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213011903/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US25021
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

===Demographic breakdown by town===

====Income====
{{See also|List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income}}
The ranking of unincorporated communities that are included on the list are reflective if the census-designated locations and villages were included as cities or towns. Data is from the 2007–2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP03&prodType=table|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212213610/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP03&prodType=table|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 12, 2020|title=SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=January 26, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP05&prodType=table|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212212105/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP05&prodType=table|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 12, 2020|title=ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=January 26, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_S1101&prodType=table|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212212620/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_S1101&prodType=table|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 12, 2020|title=HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=January 26, 2013}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- valign=bottom
! Rank
! Town
! 
! Per capita<br/>income
! Median<br/>household<br/>income
! Median<br/>family<br/>income
! Population
! Number of<br/>households
|-
| 
| ''[[Dover (CDP), Massachusetts|Dover]]''
| [[Census-designated place|CDP]]
| $91,039
| $183,125
| $212,125
| 2,322
| 725
|-
| 1
| [[Dover, Massachusetts|Dover]]
| Town
| $82,800
| $184,646
| $200,735
| 5,564
| 1,765
|-
| 2
| [[Wellesley, Massachusetts|Wellesley]]
| Town
| $65,394
| $145,208
| $175,156
| 27,818
| 8,553
|-
| 3
| [[Brookline, Massachusetts|Brookline]]
| Town
| $63,964
| $97,250
| $142,180
| 58,371
| 24,891
|-
| 4
| [[Needham, Massachusetts|Needham]]
| Town
| $60,972
| $121,080
| $160,455
| 28,786
| 10,350
|-
| 5
| [[Cohasset, Massachusetts|Cohasset]]
| Town
| $59,891
| $117,831
| $147,222
| 7,483
| 2,706
|-
| 6
| [[Westwood, Massachusetts|Westwood]]
| Town
| $59,422
| $120,078
| $151,976
| 14,508
| 5,172
|-
| 7
| [[Medfield, Massachusetts|Medfield]]
| Town
| $56,905
| $128,446
| $139,247
| 12,004
| 4,011
|-
| 
| ''[[Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts|Chestnut Hill]] (02467)''
| [[ZIP Code Tabulation Area|ZCTA]]
| $55,947
| $114,140
| $151,375
| 21,952
| 6,237
|-
| 8
| [[Sharon, Massachusetts|Sharon]]
| Town
| $53,687
| $121,265
| $142,463
| 17,538
| 6,268
|-
| 
| ''[[Medfield (CDP), Massachusetts|Medfield]]''
| CDP
| $47,660
| $107,386
| $127,632
| 6,394
| 2,357
|-
| 9
| [[Wrentham, Massachusetts|Wrentham]]
| Town
| $47,119
| $100,938
| $119,188
| 10,879
| 3,978
|-
| 
| ''[[Sharon (CDP), Massachusetts|Sharon]]''
| CDP
| $46,079
| $102,521
| $124,405
| 5,532
| 2,007
|-
| 10
| [[Canton, Massachusetts|Canton]]
| Town
| $45,991
| $90,951
| $111,770
| 21,408
| 8,460
|-
| 11
| [[Milton, Massachusetts|Milton]]
| Town
| $44,718
| $104,713
| $129,234
| 26,828
| 8,956
|-
| 12
| [[Medway, Massachusetts|Medway]]
| Town
| $44,472
| $106,058
| $119,864
| 12,670
| 4,433
|-
| 13
| [[Walpole, Massachusetts|Walpole]]
| Town
| $43,983
| $90,763
| $109,035
| 23,862
| 8,626
|-
| 
| ''Norfolk County''
| County
| $43,685
| $83,733
| $106,309
| 666,426
| 255,944
|-
| 14
| [[Norfolk, Massachusetts|Norfolk]]
| Town
| $42,452
| $118,809
| $132,250
| 11,151
| 3,125
|-
| 15
| [[Foxborough, Massachusetts|Foxborough]]
| Town
| $42,236
| $92,370
| $108,209
| 16,734
| 6,470
|-
| 
| ''[[Walpole (CDP), Massachusetts|Walpole]]''
| CDP
| $41,820
| $89,327
| $99,808
| 6,119
| 2,522
|-
| 16
| [[Dedham, Massachusetts|Dedham]]
| Town
| $41,143
| $83,364
| $105,586
| 24,521
| 9,528
|-
| 
| ''[[Millis-Clicquot, Massachusetts|Millis-Clicquot]]''
| CDP
| $39,884
| $82,798
| $103,750
| 4,370
| 1,831
|-
| 17
| [[Millis, Massachusetts|Millis]]
| Town
| $39,344
| $90,360
| $99,976
| 7,852
| 3,043
|-
| 18
| [[Franklin, Massachusetts|Franklin]]
| City
| $39,043
| $92,066
| $109,602
| 31,317
| 10,866
|-
| 19
| [[Braintree, Massachusetts|Braintree]]
| City
| $37,317
| $83,710
| $97,262
| 35,409
| 13,267
|-
| 20
| [[Plainville, Massachusetts|Plainville]]
| Town
| $36,802
| $81,371
| $102,780
| 8,176
| 3,232
|-
| 
| ''[[Foxborough (CDP), Massachusetts|Foxborough]]''
| CDP
| $36,239
| $61,771
| $91,991
| 5,206
| 2,388
|-
| 21
| [[Norwood, Massachusetts|Norwood]]
| Town
| $35,997
| $73,838
| $95,397
| 28,483
| 11,559
|-
| 22
| [[Weymouth, Massachusetts|Weymouth]]
| City
| $35,939
| $68,594
| $86,972
| 53,565
| 22,543
|-
| 
| ''[[Massachusetts]]''
| State
| $35,051
| $65,981
| $83,371
| 6,512,227
| 2,522,409
|-
| 
| ''[[Bellingham (CDP), Massachusetts|Bellingham]]''
| CDP
| $33,927
| $81,941
| $87,606
| 4,580
| 1,833
|-
| 23
| [[Bellingham, Massachusetts|Bellingham]]
| Town
| $33,170
| $83,534
| $93,655
| 16,165
| 5,879
|-
| 24
| [[Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy]]
| City
| $32,911
| $60,947
| $77,231
| 91,484
| 39,965
|-
| 25
| [[Stoughton, Massachusetts|Stoughton]]
| Town
| $32,363
| $68,191
| $87,070
| 26,893
| 10,455
|-
| 26
| [[Avon, Massachusetts|Avon]]
| Town
| $31,304
| $72,880
| $89,214
| 4,341
| 1,609
|-
| 27
| [[Holbrook, Massachusetts|Holbrook]]
| Town
| $29,940
| $63,790
| $76,568
| 10,749
| 4,193
|-
| 28
| [[Randolph, Massachusetts|Randolph]]
| City
| $29,210
| $64,465
| $77,661
| 31,867
| 12,041
|-
| 
| ''[[United States]]''
| Country
| $27,915
| $52,762
| $64,293
| 306,603,772
| 114,761,359
|-
|}

=== Religion ===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="9" |Religious Affiliation in Norfolk County
|-
!Year
! colspan="2" |1980
! colspan="2" |1990
! colspan="2" |2000
! colspan="2" |2010
|-
!Religion
!C*
!A**
!C
!A
!C
!A
!C
!A
|-
|Anabaptist (Mennonite)
|n/a
|n/a
|1
|88
|1
|45
|n/a
|n/a
|-
|Ba'haism
|0
|n/a
|0
|n/a
|2
|180
|1
|198
|-
|Baptist
|29
|7,063
|29
|7,936
|32
|4,992
|46
|5,558
|-
|Brethren
|3
|95
|1
|50
|0
|n/a
|0
|n/a
|-
|Buddhism
|n/a
|n/a
|n/a
|n/a
|4
|n/a
|7
|1,653
|-
|Catholicism
|64
|304,137
|63
|336,797
|63
|380,930
|52
|355,321
|-
|Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
|1
|432
|2
|648
|5
|1,150
|4
|1,262
|-
|Congregationalism/<br/>United Church of Christ
|35
|16,786
|43
|19,016
|41
|22,049
|42
|12,879
|-
|Christian Science
|n/a
|n/a
|7
|350
|n/a
|n/a
|5
|n/a
|-
|Episcopalianism/Anglicanism
|31
|17,955
|30
|12,905
|31
|12,778
|33
|11,016
|-
|Hinduism
|n/a
|n/a
|n/a
|n/a
|6
|n/a
|2
|37
|-
|Independent/nondenominational
|n/a
|n/a
|1
|800
|n/a
|n/a
|20
|2,620
|-
|Islam
|n/a
|n/a
|n/a
|n/a
|2
|3,782
|3
|4,616
|-
|Jainism
|n/a
|n/a
|n/a
|n/a
|1
|n/a
|1
|n/a
|-
|Judaism
|20
|8,258
|41
|37,123
|41
|38,300
|20
|19,709
|-
|Lutheranism
|13
|4,629
|10
|2,843
|8
|2,593
|8
|2,227
|-
|Methodism/Holiness
|25
|7,937
|21
|7,114
|24
|7,097
|23
|5,667
|-
|Messianic Judaism
|n/a
|n/a
|n/a
|n/a
|n/a
|n/a
|1
|n/a
|-
|Orthodoxy
|n/a
|n/a
|3
|n/a
|7
|7,543
|9
|3,539
|-
|Pentecostalism
|5
|945
|5
|1,382
|12
|2,540
|17
|2,485
|-
|Presbyterianism
|4
|1,380
|7
|1,424
|7
|1,558
|9
|1,196
|-
|Seventh-day Adventism/<br/>Jehovah's Witnesses
|1
|52
|7
|2,900
|5
|367
|8
|537
|-
|Sikhism
|n/a
|n/a
|n/a
|n/a
|2
|n/a
|1
|n/a
|-
|Quakerism
|1
|192
|1
|190
|2
|106
|2
|224
|-
|Unitarian-Universalism
|18
|4,719
|17
|4,591
|17
|2,644
|17
|3,102
|-
|Zoroastranianism
|n/a
|n/a
|n/a
|n/a
|n/a
|n/a
|0
|16
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki>congregations<br/><nowiki>**</nowiki>adherents

==Government==
{{Multiple image
| header = Norfolk County buildings
| align = right
| direction = 
| total_width = 300
| perrow = 1/2
| image3=    Norfolk CountyMA Commission.JPG
| caption3 = County Administration Offices
| image1=    Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, Dedham, Massachusetts.jpg
| caption1 = Registry of Deeds
| image2 =   Norfolk County Courthouse, Dedham, Massachusetts.jpg
| caption2 = County Courthouse
}}
The county has offices in Dedham Square. It runs the [[Norfolk County Correctional Center]], the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, and the [[Norfolk County Courthouse]].

===Current elected officials===
All eligible voters of Norfolk County vote for three [[County commission|County Commissioners]], a [[District attorney|District Attorney]], a [[Court clerk|Clerk of Courts]], a [[Register of deeds|Register of Deeds]], a [[Sheriffs in the United States|Sheriff]], a County Treasurer, and a [[Register of Probate]].

County Commissioners are elected for a four-year term; two Commissioners are elected to coincide with presidential elections, and one Commissioner is elected during the midterm elections. All three Commissioners must hail from a different municipality. The District Attorney is elected every four years coinciding with the midterm elections. The Clerk of Courts and Register of Deeds are elected every six years coinciding with the elections of Class I US Senators. The County Treasurer and Register of Probate are elected every six years coinciding with the elections of Class II US Senators. The Sheriff is elected every six years coinciding with the elections of Class III US Senators.

{|class=wikitable
!Office !! Current Officeholder !! Hometown !! Next Election
|-
|rowspan="3" | [[County commission|County Commissioners]]
|style="background:#B0CEFF;"|Richard R. Staiti (Democratic)<ref name=oathofoffice2021>{{cite web |url= https://www.norfolkcounty.org/county-administration/commissioners-office/meetings/commissioners-quorum-expected-norfolk-county-oath-of-office-389| title= Commissioners Quorum Expected - Norfolk County Oath of Office|date= January 4, 2021|publisher= Norfolk County|access-date= January 8, 2021}}</ref>
|[[Canton, Massachusetts|Canton]]
|rowspan="2" | 2024
|-
|style="background:#B0CEFF;"|Joseph P. Shea (Democratic)<ref name=oathofoffice2021 />
|[[Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy]]
|-
|style="background:#B0CEFF;"|Peter H. Collins (Democratic)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/132602/|title=2018 Norfolk County Commissioner General Election Norfolk County|website=electionstats.ma.us|access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref>
|[[Milton, Massachusetts|Milton]]
|2026
|-
|[[District attorney|District Attorney]]
|style="background:#B0CEFF;"|[[Michael W. Morrissey]] (Democratic)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/131576/|title=2018 District Attorney General Election Norfolk County|website=electionstats.ma.us|access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref>
|[[Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy]]
|2026
|-
|[[Court clerk|Clerk of Courts]]
|style="background:#B0CEFF;"|Walter F. Timilty, Jr. (Democratic)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/131575/|title=2018 Clerk of Courts General Election Norfolk County|website=electionstats.ma.us|access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref>
|[[Milton, Massachusetts|Milton]]
|2024
|-
|[[Register of deeds|Register of Deeds]]
|style="background:#B0CEFF;"|William P. O'Donnell (Democratic)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/132604/|title=2018 Register of Deeds General Election Norfolk County|website=electionstats.ma.us|access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref>
|[[Norwood, Massachusetts|Norwood]]
|2024
|-
|[[Sheriffs in the United States|Sheriff]]
|style="background:#B0CEFF;"|Patrick W. McDermott (Democratic)<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.norfolksheriff.com/content/3-publicinfo/pressreleases/1-6-mcdermott-sworn-in-as-norfolk-sheriff-letterhead.pdf|title = Patrick McDermott Sworn in as Norfolk County Sheriff|last= Nichols|first= Garrett|date= January 6, 2021|website= Norfolk County Sheriff's Office|access-date= January 8, 2021}}</ref>
|[[Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy]]
|2028
|-
|County Treasurer
|style="background:#B0CEFF;"|[[Michael G. Bellotti]] (Democratic)<ref name=oathofoffice2021 />
|[[Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy]]
|2026
|-
|[[Register of Probate]]
|style="background:#B0CEFF;"|Colleen M Brierley (Democratic)<ref name=oathofoffice2021 />
|[[Norwood, Massachusetts|Norwood]]
|2026
|}

===Sheriffs===
{{main|List of Sheriffs of Norfolk County, Massachusetts}}

There have been 21 sheriffs of Norfolk County.<ref name=sheriff>{{cite web|url=http://www.norfolksheriff.com/history.html|title=History|publisher=Norfolk County Sheriff's Office|access-date=October 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223082340/http://www.norfolksheriff.com/history.html|archive-date=December 23, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" margin-left:1em"
!style="background:#efefef; |Years
!style="background:#efefef |Sheriff<ref name=sheriff/>
|-
|| 2021&ndash;Present ||[[Patrick W. McDermott]]
|-
|| 2018&ndash;2021 ||[[Jerry McDermott|Jerome P. McDermott]]
|-
|| 1999&ndash;2018 ||[[Michael G. Bellotti]]
|-
|| 1996&ndash;1999 ||[[John H. Flood]]
|-
|| 1975&ndash;1996 ||[[Clifford H. Marshall]]
|-
|| 1961&ndash;1975 ||[[Charles Hedges (sheriff)|Charles Hedges]]
|-
|| 1958&ndash;1961 ||[[Peter M. McCormack]]
|-
|| 1939&ndash;1958 ||[[Samuel Wragg]]
|-
|| 1898&ndash;1939 ||[[Samuel Capen]]
|-
|| 1885&ndash;1898 ||[[Augustus B. Endicott]]
|-
|| 1878&ndash;1885 ||[[Rufus Corbin Wood]]
|-
|| 1857&ndash;1878 ||[[John W. Thomas (Sheriff)|John W. Thomas]]
|-
|| 1853&ndash;1857 ||[[Thomas Adams (sheriff)|Thomas Adams]]
|-
|| 1852&ndash;1853 ||[[John W. Thomas (Sheriff)|John W. Thomas]]
|-
|| 1848&ndash;1852 ||[[Thomas Adams (sheriff)|Thomas Adams]]
|-
|| 1843&ndash;1848 ||[[Jerauld Newland Ezra Mann|Jerauld N. E. Mann]]
|-
|| 1834&ndash;1843 ||[[John Baker, II]]
|-
|| 1812&ndash;1834 ||[[Elijah Crane]]
|-
|| 1811&ndash;1812 ||[[William Brewer (sheriff)|William Brewer]]
|-
|| 1810&ndash;1811 ||[[Elijah Crane]]
|-
|| 1798&ndash;1810 ||[[Benjamin Clark Cutler]]
|-
|| 1794&ndash;1798 ||[[Atherton Thayer]]
|-
|| 1793&ndash;1794 ||[[Ebeneezer Thayer]]
|}

===Treasurers===
{| class="wikitable" margin-left:1em"
!style="background:#efefef; |Years
!style="background:#efefef |Treasurer
|-
|| 2021&ndash;Present || [[Michael G. Bellotti]]
|-
|| 2017&ndash;2021 ||[[James E. Timilty]]
|-
||2002-2017 || Joseph Connolly
|-
||1997–2002 || [[Tim Cahill (Massachusetts politician)|Tim Cahill]]
|-
||1907- || [[Henry D. Humphrey]]
|-
|| 1889-1907 || Charles W. Smith 
|-
||April 1855-1889 ||[[Chauncey C. Churchill]]{{sfn|Clarke|1903|p=14}}
|-
||1793-1809 ||[[Isaac Bullard (Massachusetts politician)|Isaac Bullard]]
|}
{| class="wikitable floatright"
!style="background:#efefef; |Years
!style="background:#efefef |Register
|-
|| 2002–present<ref name=posterlate/> || William P. O'Donnell
|-
|| 2001-2002<ref name=posterlate/> || [[Paul D. Harold]]
|-
|| 1970-2001<ref name=posterlate/> || [[Barry T. Hannon]]
|-
|| 1947-1970<ref name=posterlate/> || L. Thomas Shine
|-
|| 1917-1947<ref name=posterlate/> || Walter W. Chambers
|-
|| 1916-1917<ref name=posterlate/> || Edward L. Burdakin
|-
|| 1874-1916<ref name=posterearly/> || John H. Burdakin
|-
|| 1861-1874<ref name=posterearly/> || James Foord
|-
|| 1821-1861<ref name=posterearly/>{{sfn|Clarke|1903|p=8-9, 14}} || Enos Foord{{efn|Foord lived on School Street near the [[Dedham Public Schools#Ames School|Centre School]] and Franklin Square in Dedham. He was the father of James. His wife "was an active, sprightly woman, who was interested in every good social enterprise."{{sfn|Clarke|1903|p=8-9}}}}
|-
|| 1813-1821<ref name=posterearly/> || James Foord{{efn|Foord was the son of Enos. He moved to California following his father's death with his mother.{{sfn|Clarke|1903|p=8}}}}
|-
|| 1793-1813<ref name=posterearly/> || Eliphalet Pond, Jr.{{efn|Pond was the son of [[Eliphalet Pond]].}}
|}

==Politics==

Like the rest of Massachusetts, Norfolk County is a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] stronghold in terms of federal politics. The last time it voted for a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] presidential candidate was in [[1984 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1984]], during [[Ronald Reagan]]'s landslide victory in which he carried every state except [[Minnesota]].

In contrast, at the state level the county frequently supports Republican gubernatorial candidates, having done so all but once between 1990 and 2018.
{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 13, 2010<ref>{{cite web| title = Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 15, 2008 | publisher = Massachusetts Elections Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts  | access-date = May 8, 2012 | url = http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele10/enrollment_count_regdt_10132010.pdf}}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party 
! Number of voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align = center | 159,956
| align = center | 35.28%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | 53,556
| align = center | 11.81%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Unenrolled
| align = center | 237,810
| align = center | 52.45%
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
| Minor Parties
| align = center | 2,054
| align = center | 0.45%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 453,376
! align = center | 100%
|}
{{clear}}

{{PresHead|place=Norfolk County, Massachusetts|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|132,497|242,712|11,238|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|125,294|273,312|9,145|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|119,723|221,819|26,153|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|148,393|202,714|5,416|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|136,841|200,675|7,400|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|127,763|199,392|3,982|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|107,033|188,450|21,694|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|92,982|180,504|26,985|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|103,255|150,488|70,521|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|150,306|160,289|4,461|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|160,313|138,222|784|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|136,184|117,274|50,271|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|136,628|155,342|10,646|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1972|Democratic|134,459|150,732|1,558|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|95,858|160,513|9,835|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|68,612|186,488|912|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|121,744|135,474|503|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|152,747|76,656|593|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|140,409|74,321|631|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|100,280|72,327|4,130|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|97,490|69,606|383|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|97,525|67,654|838|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|82,545|57,770|8,575|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|75,232|49,121|2,793|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|73,530|47,057|489|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|57,948|15,041|8,516|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|51,826|15,720|1,839|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|19,284|12,702|858|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|9,650|9,244|10,537|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|18,225|7,682|2,187|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|16,104|8,372|1,434|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|15,144|7,922|1,232|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|16,897|4,990|1,113|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|11,862|10,327|575|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|10,770|8,720|449|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1884|Republican|8,351|7,321|2,051|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1880|Republican|10,019|6,498|265|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1876|Republican|8,956|6,685|22|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1872|Republican|8,526|4,142|0|Massachusetts}}
{{PresRow|1868|Republican|10,129|4,727|0|Massachusetts}}
|}
{{Hidden begin
|titlestyle = background:#ccccff;
|title      = Gubernatorial elections results
}}
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Gubernatorial elections results<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=25&f=0&off=99|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - Sate Data|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Third Party (United States)|Third parties]]
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2022 Massachusetts gubernatorial election|2022]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|33.90% ''96,607''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''64.49%''' ''183,795''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.61% ''4,583''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[2018 Massachusetts gubernatorial election|2018]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''69.07%''' ''209,318''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|30.59% ''92,709''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.34% ''1,018''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[2014 Massachusetts gubernatorial election|2014]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.97%''' ''133,328''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|42.86% ''107,891''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|4.17% ''10,503''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[2010 Massachusetts gubernatorial election|2010]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''44.20%''' ''119,850''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|44.19% ''119,806''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|11.61% ''31,489''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2006 Massachusetts gubernatorial election|2006]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|38.60% ''99,995''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''52.08%''' ''134,916''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|9.32% ''24,139''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial election|2002]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''53.45%''' ''140,440''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|41.94% ''110,198''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|4.61% ''12,098''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[1998 Massachusetts gubernatorial election|1998]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.11'''% ''120,729''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|46.18% ''106,999''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.71% ''3,958''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[1994 Massachusetts gubernatorial election|1994]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''71.57'''% ''187,155''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|27.72% ''72,479''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.72% ''1,877''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[1990 Massachusetts gubernatorial election|1990]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''51.80'''% ''149,521''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|45.78% ''132,141''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.43% ''7,012''
|}
{{Hidden end}}

==Communities==
[[File:Norfolk County, Massachusetts with ocean.png|thumb|Map of Norfolk County, showing cities, towns, census-designated areas, and ocean areas]]

===Cities===
*[[Braintree, Massachusetts|Braintree]]
*[[Franklin, Massachusetts|Franklin]]
*[[Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy]] (largest city)
*[[Randolph, Massachusetts|Randolph]]
*[[Weymouth, Massachusetts|Weymouth]]

===Towns===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
*[[Avon, Massachusetts|Avon]]
*[[Bellingham, Massachusetts|Bellingham]]
*[[Brookline, Massachusetts|Brookline]]
*[[Canton, Massachusetts|Canton]]
*[[Cohasset, Massachusetts|Cohasset]]
*[[Dedham, Massachusetts|Dedham]] (traditional county seat)
*[[Dover, Massachusetts|Dover]]
*[[Foxborough, Massachusetts|Foxborough]]
*[[Holbrook, Massachusetts|Holbrook]]
*[[Medfield, Massachusetts|Medfield]]
*[[Medway, Massachusetts|Medway]]
*[[Millis, Massachusetts|Millis]]
*[[Milton, Massachusetts|Milton]]
*[[Needham, Massachusetts|Needham]]
*[[Norfolk, Massachusetts|Norfolk]]
*[[Norwood, Massachusetts|Norwood]]
*[[Plainville, Massachusetts|Plainville]]
*[[Sharon, Massachusetts|Sharon]]
*[[Stoughton, Massachusetts|Stoughton]]
*[[Walpole, Massachusetts|Walpole]]
*[[Wellesley, Massachusetts|Wellesley]]
*[[Westwood, Massachusetts|Westwood]]
*[[Wrentham, Massachusetts|Wrentham]]
{{div col end}}

Note: [[West Roxbury, Massachusetts|West Roxbury]] (annexed to Boston 1874), [[Roxbury, Massachusetts|Roxbury]] (annexed to Boston 1868), [[Dorchester, Massachusetts|Dorchester]] (founded 1630, annexed to Boston 1870), [[Hyde Park, Boston|Hyde Park]] (incorporated 1868 from Dorchester, Milton, and Dedham, annexed to Boston 1912), and [[Hingham, Massachusetts|Hingham]] and [[Hull, Massachusetts|Hull]] were originally part of Norfolk County when the county was incorporated in 1793. As of August 2012, [[Hingham, Massachusetts|Hingham]]'s Precinct 2 will be part of the Fourth Norfolk District.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/hingham/features/x1405825334/REDISTRICTING-Bradley-loses-precinct#axzz23j9hPNbm|title=REDISTRICTING: Bradley loses precinct|first=Maryellen|last=Dever|website=wickedlocal.com}}</ref>

===Census-designated places===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Bellingham (CDP), Massachusetts|Bellingham]]
*[[Dover (CDP), Massachusetts|Dover]]
*[[Foxborough (CDP), Massachusetts|Foxborough]]
*[[Medfield (CDP), Massachusetts|Medfield]]
*[[Millis-Clicquot, Massachusetts|Millis-Clicquot]]
*[[Sharon (CDP), Massachusetts|Sharon]]
*[[Walpole (CDP), Massachusetts|Walpole]]
{{div col end}}

==Education==
{{See|Education in Massachusetts}}
[[File:Quincy High School, Quincy, Mass (71933).jpg|thumb|Postcard of [[Quincy High School (Massachusetts)|Quincy High School]], circa 1930s]]


School districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st25_ma/schooldistrict_maps/c25021_norfolk/DC20SD_C25021.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Norfolk County, MA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=August 7, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st25_ma/schooldistrict_maps/c25021_norfolk/DC20SD_C25021_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

K-12:
{{div col|colwidth=15em|rules=yes}}
* [[Avon School District (Massachusetts)|Avon School District]]
* [[Bellingham School District (Massachusetts)|Bellingham School District]]
* [[Braintree School District]]
* [[Brookline School District]]
* [[Canton School District]]
* [[Cohasset School District]]
* [[Dedham Public Schools|Dedham School District]]
* [[Foxborough School District]]
* [[Franklin School District]]
* [[Holbrook School District]]
* [[Medfield School District]]
* [[Medway School District]]
* [[Millis School District]]
* [[Milton School District]]
* [[Needham School District]]
* [[Norwood School District (Massachusetts)|Norwood School District]]
* [[Quincy School District]]
* [[Randolph School District]]
* [[Sharon School District]]
* [[Stoughton School District]]
* [[Walpole School District]]
* [[Wellesley School District]]
* [[Westwood School District (Norfolk County, Massachusetts)|Westwood School District]]
* [[Weymouth School District]]
{{div col end}}

Secondary:
* [[Dover-Sherborn School District]]
* [[King Philip School District]]

Elementary:
* [[Dover School District (Massachusetts)|Dover School District]]
* [[Norfolk School District]]
* [[Plainville School District]]
* [[Wrentham School District]]
[[File:Norfolk County Agricultural High School, Walpole MA.jpg|thumb|Norfolk County Agricultural High School, in Walpole, seen in 2012]]
Regional vocational High Schools:

* [[Blue Hills Regional Technical School|Blue Hills Regional Technical]] 
* [[Norfolk County Agricultural High School|Norfolk County Agricultural]]
* [[Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School|Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical]]

==See also==
{{portal|Massachusetts}}
* [[List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income]]
* [[Norfolk County Registry of Deeds]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Norfolk County, Massachusetts]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name=trivia1722>{{cite news | title = Dedham Historical Society & Museum trivia answers | date = January 7, 2022 | page = 18 | newspaper = The Dedham Times | volume = 30 | number = 1 }}</ref>

<ref name=trivia1722p5>{{cite news | title = The Dedham Historical Society & Museum's "Trivia Time" | date = January 7, 2022 | page = 5 | newspaper = The Dedham Times | volume = 30 | number = 1 }}</ref>

<ref name=posterearly>{{citation | title = Registers of Deeds The Early Years | publisher = Norfolk County Registry of Deeds | id = 225th Anniversary Notable Land Records Project | location = Norfolk County Registry of Deeds }}</ref>

<ref name=posterlate>{{citation | title = Registers of Deeds The Modern Years | publisher = Norfolk County Registry of Deeds | id = 225th Anniversary Notable Land Records Project | location = Norfolk County Registry of Deeds }}</ref>

<ref name=NHL>{{cite web|url={{NHLS url|id=72001312}}|title=NHL nomination for Norfolk County Courthouse|publisher=National Park Service|accessdate=2014-05-26}}</ref>

<ref name=difazio>{{cite news | url = https://dedham.wickedlocal.com/news/20190528/norfolk-county-sheriff-hires-new-superintendent | title = Norfolk County sheriff hires new superintendent | first = Joe | last = DiFazio | newspaper = The Patriot Ledger | date = May 28, 2019 | access-date = May 29, 2019 }}</ref>


<ref name=condos>{{Cite news|url = https://www.southcoasttoday.com/article/19990913/news/309139964 | title = Former Dedham jail being converted into upscale condominiums | author = The Associated Press | date = September 13, 1999 | publisher = South Coast Today | access-date = August 15, 2019}}</ref>


<ref name=series>{{cite news | title = Dedham Museum & Archive Speaker Series | date = April 12, 2024 | page = 15 | newspaper = The Dedham Times | volume = 32 | issue = 15 }}</ref>

}}

==Works cited==
*{{cite book | title = Mid-Century Memories of Dedham | first = Wm. Horatio | last = Clarke | location = [[Dedham Historical Society]] |year = 1903}}

*{{cite book|last=Cook|first=Louis Atwood |title=History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, 1622-1918|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HzoWAAAAYAAJ|access-date=May 16, 2021|year=1918|publisher=S.J. Clarke publishing Company}}{{PD-notice}}

*{{cite book|author=Dedham Historical Society|title=Dedham|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cRpMDQffkGsC|year=2001|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-0944-0|access-date = August 11, 2019}}

*{{cite book|last=Hanson|first=Robert Brand |title=Dedham, Massachusetts, 1635-1890|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4oslAQAAMAAJ|year=1976|publisher=Dedham Historical Society}}

*{{cite book|last=Parr|first=James L. |title=Dedham: Historic and Heroic Tales from Shiretown|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=asV2CQAAQBAJ|access-date=15 August 2019|date=1 October 2009|publisher=Arcadia Publishing Incorporated|isbn=978-1-62584-277-0}}

==Bibliography==

*[https://books.google.com/books?id=QTQWAAAAYAAJ History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts] With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men, by Duane Hamilton Hurd. Published by J.W. Lewis & Co., 1884. 1001 pages.
*[https://books.google.com/books?id=HzoWAAAAYAAJ History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, 1622-1918] by Louis Atwood Cook. Published by The S.J. Clarke publishing company, 1918. Volume 1.

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{osmrelation|1840539}}
* [http://www.norfolkcounty.org/ Norfolk County official site]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Norfolk County, Massachusetts
|North     = [[Suffolk County, Massachusetts|Suffolk County]]
|Northeast = ''[[Massachusetts Bay]]''
|East      = 
|Southeast = [[Plymouth County, Massachusetts|Plymouth County]]
|South     = [[Bristol County, Massachusetts|Bristol County]]
|Southwest = [[Providence County, Rhode Island]]
|West      = [[Worcester County, Massachusetts|Worcester County]]
|Northwest = [[Middlesex County, Massachusetts|Middlesex County]]
}}

{{Norfolk County, Massachusetts}}
{{Massachusetts}}
{{Greater_Boston}}
{{Massachusetts Public High Schools}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|42.17|-71.19|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MA_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Norfolk County, Massachusetts| ]]
[[Category:Massachusetts counties]]
[[Category:Counties in Greater Boston]]
[[Category:1793 establishments in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1793]]