About Wellesley
More than 350 years ago the first settlers came to an area that surrounded the Charles River which is now known as Wellesley, a town in the Norfolk
County, part of the Greater Boston area. Wellesley was first settled in 1660 as part of Dedham. It was first part of Needham Mass,which was known
as West Needham at that time, but the residents wanted to secede from Needham and voted to do so on October 23, 1880 and by early April of the
following year, the town of Wellesley was founded by the Massachusetts legislature. In 1820s the farmers would take their produce to Faneuil
Hall in Boston, but once the railroads came to town in 1830s, which brought Boston businessman and a more modern day lifestyle changing how the
town was viewed by others.
Geography
Eastern Massachusetts bordered by Newton on the east side, Weston on the north side, the towns of Needham and Dover on the south, and Natick on
the west. Wellesley is about 5 miles east from the city of Newton, 13 miles away from Boston.
Total Area: 10.49 sq. miles Land Area: 10.18 sq. miles and the rest is surrounded by water
Population:
27,982 (2010) Density Population: 2,700 sq. mile
Climate
Normal temperature in January: 38.1°F
Normal temperature in July: 67.9°F
Normal annual precipitation: 47.06”
Government
Form of Government: Board of Selectman, Town Manager, Representative Town Meeting
Year Incorporated as a Town: 1881
Transportation
Wellesley has had rail service to Boston since 1833, and these services are available due to Wellesley’s participation in the MBTA. Wellesley’s
stations are east to west that runs inbound towards Boston and outbound towards Framingham and Worcester by using the commuter rail.
The Metrowest Regional Transit Authority provides bus services to run along Walnut Street,
Cedar Street, and route 9. The highways that run through Wellesley are interstate 95 in
Massachusetts/Massachusetts Route 128, Mass. Routes 9, 16 and 135. The Ride an MBTA based
service for the elderly and people with disabilities that offers free or low-cost door-to- door service.
