Needham ma
Needham is a town in the state of Massachusetts, U.S.A. Its situated in the Norfolk County of Massachusetts.
History:
The area we now know as Needham was first settled in 1680 and then officially incorporated in 1711. To go into more detail, Needham was originally part of a town called Dedham in Massachusetts. It split from Dedham and was then named Needham after the town of Needham Market in Suffolk, England.
By the 1770s, settlers residing in the western part of the town had to travel a long way to the meeting house (on the area now known as Central Avenue). So they wanted to establish a second parish (somewhat of an administrative subdivision) in the town. There was opposition to this desire, which led to conflict within the town people. But in 1774, a mysterious fire actually destroyed the meeting house. So some time later, the West Parish (was also referred to as West Needham) was finally formed.
But the West Parish separated itself from Needham and was incorporated as the town of Wellesley in 1881. The following year, Needham high school and Wellesley high school began to play an annual football game on Thanksgiving, which is now considered to be the second-longest running high school football rivalry in the U.S and the longest Thanksgiving high school football rivalry (It was right around this time when the basic American football rules were established.)
Geography:
According to the United States Census Bureau, Needhams total area adds up to around 32.9 km. While 32.7 km of it is said to be land, the rest of it (0.2 km) is water.
Eduction:
As far as public schools are concerned, Needham is home to five elementary schools Broadmeadow, Eliot, Hillside, Mitchell, and Newman, one middle school Pollard, and one high school Needham high school. But there are also many private schools available, such as Saint Joseph's and Saint Sebastian's.
Needham is also home to the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering that was established in the year 1997.
Media:
Needham is a part of the whole Boston media market. As a matter of fact, Boston newspapers, the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald, are spread throughout Needham. But there are also two local weekly newspapers available, the Needham Times (which is published by the Community Newspaper Company) and Needham Hometown Weekly (which is published by Hometown Publications, LLC.)
The studios of television stations WCVB (channel 5 ABC television network affiliate serving Boston) and WUNI (channel 27 Univision television network affiliate serving the Greater Boston area) are situated in Needham. Not only that, but the transmitters of stations WBZ-TV (channel 4 CBS television network owned station serving the Boston and southern New Hampshire area), WFXT (channel 25 Fox television network owned station serving the area of Boston), WSBK-TV (channel 38 CBS television network owned independent television station serving the Boston area), WLVI-TV (channel 56 CW television network affiliate serving the areas of Boston and southern New Hampshire) and WGBH (a reputable public television and public radio broadcast station serving Boston) are also located in Needham.
A Boston sports radio station, WEEI, is actually broadcasted from a transmitter in Needham (a three-tower site located south of the town dump). Needham doesnt have its own local radio or television station as such, but there is a local cable television channel that provides local news, such as information about town meetings, school announcements and even local high-school sports.
Notable Residents:
Needham has been (and still is!) home to many famous people:
• Robbie Ftorek former NHL player and coach (born and raised in Needham, he attended Needham high school and was also considered to be one of the greatest high school hockey players in the history of the state)
• Eric Johnson plays for the San Francisco 49ers football team (born and raised in Needham, he not only played football for Needham high school, but played basketball and volleyball as well)
• Karl Ravech anchor of Baseball Tonight on ESPN (born and raised in Needham, he went to Needham high school)
• Steve Hely writer (born in Needham, he has written for the American Dad! television series)
• The Jacobs brothers creators of the Life Is Good clothing company (grew up in Needham)
• Mia Matsumiya violinist in the band Kayo Dot (grew up in Needham)
• Sunita Williams NASA Astronaut (attended Needham high school)
• Frank Malzone former Boston Red Sox player (lives in Needham)
• Harold Russell academy award winning actor (lived in Needham)
• Scott Rosenberg screenwriter (born and raised in Needham)
• Marissa Nadler singer (grew up in Needham)
GENERAL FACTS:
• Needham is actually mentioned in the song Roadrunner by the band The Modern Lovers
• Needham is the last stop of the Needham Line, which is a branch of the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) commuter rail system that runs from downtown Boston through the neighborhoods of Roxbury, Roslindale, Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury, and of course Needham.
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