Framingham is a town located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 66,910, making it the most populous town in Massachusetts. (In Massachusetts, a municipality's status as "city" or "town" determines its form of government. There are cities in Massachusetts that are more populous than Framingham. A charter change to make Framingham officially a city has been proposed more than once, but each time defeated at referendum.) The town has eleven schools, the largest being Framingham High School, which supplies most of the town's high school education. It's has been called "The town between it all".

Framingham is famous for the Framingham Heart Study at Framingham State College, as well as for the Dennison Manufacturing Company, which was founded in 1844 as a jewellery and watch box manufacturing company by Aaron Lufkin Dennison, who became the pioneer of the American System of Watch Manufacturing at nearby Waltham Watch Company. His brother, Eliphalet Whorf Dennison developed the company into a sizeable industrial complex, which merged in 1990 into the Avery Dennison Company, with headquarters in Pasadena, California, and active corporate offices in the town. Framingham is also known for the former Framingham Union Hospital, now the MetroWest Medical Center.

Pronunciation

The first syllable of the name is pronounced with a long a; that is, the name of the town is pronounced exactly like the two words "framing" and "ham."

History

Framingham was first settled in 1650 and was officially incorporated in 1700 on land formerly known as Danforth's Farms, after landowner Thomas Danforth who was born in Framlingham, England. Why the "L" was dropped for the new town's name is not known. Framingham was home to Crispus Attucks, whose death was made famous in an etching of the Boston Massacre by Paul Revere. Framingham was also home to Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher in space, who died in the Challenger disaster. During the 1950's and 1960's, there was a large real estate boom to the suburban areas. This caused a large increase in homes being built. Thus, there are many split-level houses in Framingham, as well as colonial houses. Framingham is also mentioned for having a Carvel factory in the episode titled "Da Boom" of Family Guy. It is widely thought that they meant to say the Breyers Ice Cream factory, which is also located within Framingham.

Geography

Framingham is located at 42°17'59" North, 71°25'35" West (42.299795, -71.426627)¹. It is primarily a suburban area to the cities of Boston and Worcester. The town is connected to both cities via the Mass Pike (I-90) and Route 9. The region west of Boston that the town is in is called the MetroWest area.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 68.5 km² (26.4 mi²). 65.1 km² (25.1 mi²) of it is land and 3.4 km² (1.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 4.99% water.

Many businesses in Framingham's compact downtown are retail stores, selling imported clothing, Brazilian (and other imported) food, wood craft supplies, and furniture; there are also a number of restaurants. The downtown area is centered on the "Y"-shaped intersection of Concord St. and Union Ave., called Memorial Square. The town hall building, officially Memorial Hall, is located on the northwest corner of this intersection; it is dedicated to Framingham's war dead.

Framingham Center is a separate locus of development, located at the northern end of Union Ave. where it intersects Main St. Other centers include Nobscot and Coburnville, both north of Route 9.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 66,910 people, 26,153 households, and 16,581 families residing in the town. The population density is 1,028.4/km² (2,663.6/mi²). There are 26,734 housing units at an average density of 410.9/km² (1,064.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 79.77% White, 5.09% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 5.27% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 6.27% from other races, and 3.38% from two or more races. 10.86% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 26,153 households out of which 29.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% are married couples living together, 10.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% are non-families. 28.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.43 and the average family size is 3.02.

In the town the population is spread out with 21.4% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 34.5% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 88.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $54,288, and the median income for a family is $67,420. Males have a median income of $46,122 versus $35,941 for females. The per capita income for the town is $27,758. 8.0% of the population and 6.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 11.4% of those under the age of 18 and 6.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

• Framingham Official Website (http://www.framinghamma.org/)
• Framingham Website (http://www.Framingham.com)
• Framingham Heart Study (http://www.framingham.com/heart/)
• Framingham State College (http://www.framingham.edu/)
• Maps and aerial photos
  • Street map from Mapquest (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=42.299795&longitude=-71.426627&zoom=6)
  • Topographic map from Topozone (http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=42.299795&lon=-71.426627&s=200&size=m&layer=DRG100)
  • Aerial photograph from Microsoft Terraserver (http://terraserver.microsoft.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=14&lon=-71.426627&lat=42.299795&w=750&h=500)