 The
earliest European settlers of what eventually became the Town
of Norwood arrived from Dedham in the late 17th century. The
attraction was the swift moving Neponset River in present day
South Norwood near the East Walpole line. The Neponset River
was to become the driving force for the Town's development throughout
the next two centuries. The influx and assimilation of immigrants
has placed Norwood among the most culturally diverse towns of
its size and type in New England. Economic and physical expansion
culminated in the "Town Manager" form of government
in 1914, Massachustts’ first, as a more effective way
to administer the growing town. Industrial development continued
in Norwood through the mid-20th century. After World War II
a gradual shift to high tech occurred in Norwood. Major corporations
have found Norwood's proximity to Boston and access to major
east coast population centers to be attractive for business.
The town is now considered one of the more important manufacturing,
residential, wholesale and retail trade centers south of Boston.
Town Phone and website
www.ci.norwood.ma.us
(781) 762-1240
Type of Government
Elected 5-member Board of Selectmen
Town Manager
Representative Town Meeting
Incorporated
1872
Population
28,700
Population Density
2,739 per sq. mile
Median Housing
Price
$219,800 (2000 US Census)
Median
Family Income
$70,164 (2000 US Census)
Tax Rates
Commercial Tax Rate $15.29 (2005)
Residential Tax Rate $8.27 (2005)
Town
Center
Norwood Center is a vibrant commercial center building a sense
of place around the themes of specialty shopping, dining and
entertainment, historic preservation, a downtown civic and cultural
center, supporting office, and convenient access to Downtown
Boston and the suburbs. It is a welcoming, pedestrian- friendly
place with updated storefronts, street furniture, pedestrian
scale lighting, and numerous outdoor events.
Labor Force and Unemployment
Labor Force: 15,618
Employed: 15,015
Unemployed: 603
Unemployment Rate: 3.9%
(2005 MA Division of Career Services)
Largest
Employers
| Name of Company |
Approximate
Current Employment |
| Caritas Norwood Hospital |
1800 |
| Analog Devices Inc. |
800 |
| Mercer Inc. |
700 |
Employment by Industry
| Type |
Establishments |
| Total, All industries- all ownership |
1,230 |
| Utilities |
2 |
| Construction |
119 |
| Manufacturing |
71 |
| Wholesale trade |
130 |
| Retail trade |
168 |
| Transportation & warehousing |
25 |
| Information |
30 |
| Finance & insurance |
53 |
| Real estate & rental & leasing |
44 |
| Professional, scientific & technical services |
147 |
| Management of companies & enterprises |
9 |
| Admin, support, waste mgt, remediation services |
68 |
| Educational services |
10 |
| Health care and social assistance |
123 |
| Arts, entertainment & recreation |
13 |
| Accommodation & food services |
83 |
| Other services (except public administration) |
116 |
| Auxiliaries (exc corporate, subsidiary) |
6 |
| Unclassified establishments |
13 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2002
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Tax Increment Financing
Carnegie Row Mall
Irene Realty Trust (IRT)
PO Box 890
Norwood, MA 02062
781-769-9600 fax 781-769-1458
Mystic Scenic Studios
293 Lenox St LLC
293 Lenox St
Norwood, MA 02062
781-329-9006 fax 781-329-9347
www.mysticscenic.com
University Technical Institute
Universal Technical Institute of Mass, Inc.
20410 North 19th Avenue, Suite 200
Phoenix, AZ 85027
623-449-9500 fax 623-445-9501
Instron Corporation
CFRI University Avenue, LLC
c/o Cabor, Cabot 7 Forbes of N.E., Inc.
125 Summer St., Boston, MA 02110
617-603-4000 fax 617-603-4033
www.instron.us
Transportation
Norwood is situated in the Greater Boston Area, which has
excellent rail, air, and highway facilities. State Route
128 and Interstate Route 495 divide the region into inner
and outer zones, which are connected by numerous "spokes"
providing direct access to the airport, port, and intermodal
facilities of Boston.
Major Highways
Principal highways are Interstate Route 95, U.S. Route 1,
and State Route 1A, which all run between the inner and
outer belts circling Boston, State
Route 128 and Interstate Route 495 respectively.
Rail
Commuter rail service is available to Back Bay Station and
South Station, Boston, from Windsor Gardens (travel time
to BBS: 25-35 min.; no MBTA
parking), Norwood Central (travel time: 21-31 min.; 393
parking spaces) and Norwood Depot (travel time: 27-28 min.;
223 spaces). Amtrak's passenger
service between Boston and New York City stops at the Route
128 Station in nearby Westwood.
Bus
Norwood is a member of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation
Authority (MBTA), which provides fixed route service between
Walpole and the Forest Hills Orange Line Station. The Town’s
“Transfare” program offers subsidized taxi service
for seniors within the Town.
Other
The Norwood Memorial Airport, a major general aviation facility
owned by the Town,
has two asphalt runways:
4,001'x 150' and 4,007'x 150'.
Instrument approaches available: Non-precision. The Norwood
Airport, site of the Inter Hospital Organ Bank, is an important
center of corporate
aviation for the greater metropolitan Boston region.
Recreational Resources
Fully staffed Recreational Center
With Conference Rooms
Public Outdoor Swimming Pools
and Tennis Courts
Golf Courses
Indoor and Outdoor Concerts |
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