Randolph, Massachusetts
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| Randolph, Massachusetts | |
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| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Norfolk County |
| Settled | 1710 |
| Incorporated | 1793 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Representative town meeting |
| Area | |
| - Town | 10.5 sq mi (27.2 km²) |
| - Land | 10.1 sq mi (26.1 km²) |
| - Water | 0.4 sq mi (1.1 km²) |
| Elevation | 184 ft (56 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Town | 30,963 |
| - Density | 3,075.2/sq mi (1,187.3/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 02368 |
| Area code(s) | 339 / 781 |
| Website: http://www.townofrandolph.com | |
Randolph is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 30,963. The ZIP code of Randolph, Massachusetts is 02368.
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[edit] History
The Town was Incorporated in 1793 and was formerly the "south precinct" of the Town of Braintree. It is a widely-held assumption that Randolph was named after Peyton Randolph, first President of the Continental Congress. However, according to the Randolph Historical Society, there is no definitive record indicating the source of the Town's name.
Randolph was formerly the home of several large shoe companies. Many popular styles were made exclusively in Randolph, including the "Randies". At the time of Randolph's incorporation in 1793, local farmers were making shoes and boots to augment household incomes from subsistence farming. In the next half century, this sideline had become the town's major industry, attracting workers from across New England, Canada and Ireland and later from Italy and Eastern Europe, each adding to the quality of life in the town. By 1850 Randolph had become one of the nation's leading boot producers, shipping boots as far away as California and Australia.
The decline of the shoe industry at the beginning of the twentieth century led to Randolph's evolution as a suburban residential community. Boot and shoe making has been supplanted by light manufacturing and service industries. The town's proximity to major transportation networks has resulted in an influx of families from Boston and other localities who live in Randolph but work throughout the metropolitan area.
The inspiration for the nationally observed "smoke-out day" came from Randolph High School Guidance councilor Arthur Mullaney, who observed in a 1969 discussion with students that he could send all of them to college if he had a nickel for every cigarette butt he found on the ground. This touched off an effort by the Randolph Rotary club to have local smokers give it up for a day and put the savings toward a college scholarship fund. Smoke out day went national in 1976.[1]
[edit] Registered Historic Places
Randolph is home to three Nationally Registered Historic Places:
- Jonathan Belcher House, 360 N. Main St. (Listed April 30, 1976)
Home of Jonathan Belcher (1767-1839), built in 1806, home to the Ladies Library Association since 1911. - Ponkapoag Camp of Appalachian Mountain Club (Listed September 25, 1980) (Website)
- Gills Farm Archeological District (Listed October 4, 1983)
[edit] Geography
Randolph is located at (42.173417, -71.049124).GR1 Located fourteen miles south of Boston, at the intersection of Routes 128 and 24, Randolph's location has been an important factor in its economic and social history.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 27.2 km² (10.5 mi²). 26.1 km² (10.1 mi²) of it is land and 1.1 km² (0.4 mi²) of it (4.10%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 30,963 people, 11,313 households, and 7,986 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,187.2/km² (3,075.2/mi²). There were 11,533 housing units at an average density of 442.2/km² (1,145.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 62.83% White, 20.85% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 10.18% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.53% from other races, and 3.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.25% of the population.
There were 11,313 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $55,255, and the median income for a family was $61,942. Males had a median income of $41,719 versus $32,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,413. About 2.5% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
Randolph is governed by a five-member executive body, the Board of Selectmen, and a representative legislative body, Town Meeting. Selectmen appoint an Executive Secretary, who is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Town.
[edit] Board of Selectmen
Selectmen meet twice a month, on the first and third Mondays, at 7:30pm.
Current members are:
- Richard W. Wells, Chair (Term expires 2008)
- James F. Burgess, Jr. (Term expires 2009)
- Paul J. Connors (Term expires 2009)
- William Alexopoulos, (Term expires 2008)
- Maureen Kenney, (Term expires 2010)
[edit] Town Meeting
Town meeting comprises 240 members elected from eight precincts, plus additional at-large members.
[edit] Elected Boards
- Board of Assessors (3 members)
- Board of Health (3 members)
- Board of Public Works (5 members)
- Planning Board (5 members)
- School Committee (5 members)
[edit] Education
Randolph has a high school serving grades 9-12 (Randolph High School), a middle school serving grades 7 and 8 (Randolph Community Middle School), and four elementary schools serving grades 1-6:
- John F. Kennedy Elementary School
- Margaret L. Donovan Elementary School
- Martin E. Young Elementary School
- Elizabeth G. Lyons Elementary School
Pre-elementary education (kindergarten) is provided at the Charles G. Devine Early Childhood Center. As part of the Blue Hills Regional School District, Randolph students entering the ninth grade may opt to attend the Blue Hills Regional Technical School, commonly referred to as "Blue Hills" or the Norfolk County Agricultural School, known as "Aggie," instead of Randolph High School. The school system is run by the School Committee.
[edit] Notable residents
- Ebenezer Alden (1788-1881), born in Randolph, physician, practiced in Randolph for 70 years, author of several books[1]
- William Rimmer (1816-1879), noted painter and sculptor, lived and worked as a shoemaker in Randolph from 1845-1855
- Mary E. Wilkins Freeman (1852-1930), born in Randolph, prominent author
- Gene McAuliffe (1872-1953), Randolph's only Major League Baseball player
- Rod Langway (1957-), raised in Randolph, professional defenseman in the National Hockey League
[edit] References
- ^ (1963) Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who.
[edit] External links
- Master Plan Implementation Committee
- Welcome to Randolph, Massachusetts
- Randolph Town Clerk
- Randolph Public Schools
- Randolph Community Television - RCTV
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
