Norfolk County, Massachusetts

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Norfolk County
County
County of Norfolk
Norfolk County Courthouse in Dedham
Norfolk County Courthouse in Dedham
Flag of Norfolk County
Flag
Official seal of Norfolk County
Seal
Motto(s): 
Antiquity, Perseverance, History, Industry
Map of Massachusetts highlighting Norfolk County
Location within the U.S. state of Massachusetts
Map of the United States highlighting Massachusetts
Massachusetts's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°11′57″N 71°09′16″W / 42.199158°N 71.154442°W / 42.199158; -71.154442
Country United States
State Massachusetts
Founded1793
Named forNorfolk
SeatDedham
Largest cityQuincy
Area
 • Total444 sq mi (1,150 km2)
 • Land396 sq mi (1,030 km2)
 • Water48 sq mi (120 km2)  11%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total725,981
 • Density1,832.8/sq mi (707.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th
Websitewww.norfolkcounty.org

Norfolk County is located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. At the 2020 census, the population was 670,850.[1] Its county seat is Dedham.[2] It is the fourth most populous county in the United States whose county seat is neither a city nor a borough, and it is the second most populous county that has a county seat at a town. The county was named after the English county of the same name.[3] Two towns, Cohasset and Brookline, are exclaves.

Norfolk County is included in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Norfolk County is the 33rd highest-income county in the United States with a median household income of $81,899. It is the second wealthiest county in Massachusetts, after Middlesex, which is 25th.

History[]

Norfolk County, Massachusetts was created on March 26, 1793, by legislation signed by Governor John Hancock. Most of the towns were originally part of Suffolk County, Massachusetts. The towns of Dorchester and Roxbury were part of Norfolk County when it was created but, as Boston annexed each town, they became part of Suffolk County again. Hingham and Hull were originally part of the Norfolk County legislation but petitioned to remain in Suffolk county and in June 1793 their removal to Norfolk county was repealed. In 1803, they were moved into Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Norfolk County is the birthplace of four Presidents of the United States (John Adams, John Quincy Adams, John F. Kennedy, and George H.W. Bush), resulting in the moniker "County of Presidents."[4]

Sheriffs[]

Main article: List of Sheriffs of Norfolk County, Massachusetts

There have been 21 sheriffs of Norfolk County.[5]

Years Sheriff[5]
2021–Present
2018–2021 Jerome P. McDermott
1999–2018 Michael G. Bellotti
1996–1999 John H. Flood
1975–1996 Clifford H. Marshall
1961–1975 Charles Hedges
1958–1961 Peter M. McCormack
1939–1958 Samuel Wragg
1898–1939 Samuel Capen
1885–1898 Augustus B. Endicott
1878–1885 Rufus Corbin Wood
1857–1878 John W. Thomas
1853–1857 Thomas Adams
1852–1853 John W. Thomas
1848–1852 Thomas Adams
1843–1848 Jerauld N. E. Mann
1834–1843 John Baker, II
1812–1834 Elijah Crane
1811–1812 William Brewer
1810–1811 Elijah Crane
1798–1810 Benjamin Clark Cutler
1794–1798 Atherton Thayer
1793–1794 Ebeneezer Thayer

Treasurers[]

Years Treasurer
2021–Present Michael G. Bellotti
2017–2021 James E. Timilty
2002-2017 Joseph Connolly
1997–2002 Tim Cahill
1907- Henry D. Humphrey
1889-1907 Charles W. Smith
1855-1889 Chauncey C. Churchill
1793-1809 Isaac Bullard

Registers of Deeds[]

Years Register
2002–present[6] William P. O'Donnell
2001-2002[6] Paul D. Harold
1970-2001[6] Barry T. Hannon
1947-1970[6] L. Thomas Shine
1917-1947[6] Walter W. Chambers
1916-1917[6] Edward L. Burdakin
1874-1916[7] John H. Burdakin
1861-1874[7] James Foord
1821-1861[7] Enos Foord
1813-1821[7] James Foord
1793-1813[7] Eliphalet Pond, Jr.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 444 square miles (1,150 km2), of which 396 square miles (1,030 km2) is land and 48 square miles (120 km2) (11%) is water.[8] It is the third-smallest county in Massachusetts by total area. The county is not completely contiguous; the towns of Brookline and Cohasset are each part of Norfolk County but are separated from the majority of Norfolk County (and each other) by either water or other counties. At the county's formation, Hingham and Hull were to be part of it, but joined Plymouth County instead, leaving Cohasset as the initial exclave of Norfolk County and an enclave of Plymouth County. Brookline became the second exclave of Norfolk County in 1873 when the neighboring town of West Roxbury was annexed by Boston (thus leaving Norfolk County to join Suffolk County) and Brookline refused to be annexed by Boston after the Brookline-Boston annexation debate of 1873.

Adjacent counties[]

  • Middlesex County (northwest)
  • Suffolk County (north)
  • Plymouth County (southeast)
  • Bristol County (south)
  • Providence County, Rhode Island (southwest)
  • Worcester County (west)

National protected areas[]

  • Adams National Historical Park
  • Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (part)
  • Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
  • John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site

Major Highways[]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
180027,216—
181031,24514.8%
182036,47116.7%
183041,97215.1%
184053,14026.6%
185078,89248.5%
1860109,95039.4%
187089,443−18.7%
188096,5077.9%
1890118,95023.3%
1900151,53927.4%
1910187,50623.7%
1920219,08116.8%
1930299,42636.7%
1940325,1808.6%
1950392,30820.6%
1960510,25630.1%
1970605,05118.6%
1980606,5870.3%
1990616,0871.6%
2000650,3085.6%
2010670,8503.2%
2020725,9818.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[13]
Norfolk County Administration Offices (including the County Commissioners and the County Treasurer) in Dedham.

2000 census[]

At the 2000 census there were 650,308 people, 248,827 households, and 165,967 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,628 people per square mile (628/km2). There were 255,154 housing units at an average density of 639 per square mile (247/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.02% White or European American, 3.18% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 5.50% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. 1.84%.[14] were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.6% were of Irish, 13.4% Italian, 7.7% English and 5.0% descendants of colonists ancestry according to Census 2000. 85.7% spoke English, 2.3% Chinese in any dialect, 2.0% Spanish, 1.0% Italian and 1.0% French as their first language.

Of the 248,827 households 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.20% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 26.80% of households were one person and 10.80% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.14.

The age distribution was 23.40% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 31.60% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.60 males.

The median household income was $63,432 and the median family income was $77,847 (these figures had risen to $77,294 and $95,243 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[15]). Males had a median income of $51,301 versus $37,108 for females. The per capita income for the county was $32,484. About 2.90% of families and 4.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.40% of those under age 18 and 5.70% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census[]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 670,850 people, 257,914 households, and 168,903 families residing in the county.[16] The population density was 1,693.6 inhabitants per square mile (653.9/km2). There were 270,359 housing units at an average density of 682.5 per square mile (263.5/km2).[17] The racial makeup of the county was 82.3% white, 8.6% Asian, 5.7% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 1.3% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.3% of the population.[16] The largest ancestry groups were:[18]

  • 31.8% Irish
  • 15.5% Italian
  • 11.0% English
  • 7.0% German
  • 4.6% French
  • 4.3% Chinese
  • 4.1% Polish
  • 3.2% Russian
  • 3.1% American
  • 2.8% Scottish
  • 2.6% French Canadian
  • 2.4% Scotch-Irish
  • 2.0% West Indian
  • 2.0% Sub-Saharan African
  • 1.9% Portuguese
  • 1.8% Swedish
  • 1.6% Indian
  • 1.4% Arab
  • 1.4% Greek
  • 1.2% Canadian
  • 1.1% Vietnamese
  • 1.1% Lithuanian

Of the 257,914 households, 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.5% were non-families, and 27.6% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.15. The median age was 40.7 years.[16]

The median income for a household in the county was $81,027 and the median family income was $101,870. Males had a median income of $68,070 versus $51,870 for females. The per capita income for the county was $42,371. About 4.1% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.[19]

Demographic breakdown by town[]

Income[]

See also: List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income

The ranking of unincorporated communities that are included on the list are reflective if the census designated locations and villages were included as cities or towns. Data is from the 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.[20][21][22]

Rank Town Per capita
income 		Median
household
income 		Median
family
income 		Population Number of
households
Dover CDP $91,039 $183,125 $212,125 2,322 725
1 Dover Town $82,800 $184,646 $200,735 5,564 1,765
2 Wellesley Town $65,394 $145,208 $175,156 27,818 8,553
3 Brookline Town $63,964 $97,250 $142,180 58,371 24,891
4 Needham Town $60,972 $121,080 $160,455 28,786 10,350
5 Cohasset Town $59,891 $117,831 $147,222 7,483 2,706
6 Westwood Town $59,422 $120,078 $151,976 14,508 5,172
7 Medfield Town $56,905 $128,446 $139,247 12,004 4,011
Chestnut Hill (02467) ZCTA $55,947 $114,140 $151,375 21,952 6,237
8 Sharon Town $53,687 $121,265 $142,463 17,538 6,268
Medfield CDP $47,660 $107,386 $127,632 6,394 2,357
9 Wrentham Town $47,119 $100,938 $119,188 10,879 3,978
Sharon CDP $46,079 $102,521 $124,405 5,532 2,007
10 Canton Town $45,991 $90,951 $111,770 21,408 8,460
11 Milton Town $44,718 $104,713 $129,234 26,828 8,956
12 Medway Town $44,472 $106,058 $119,864 12,670 4,433
13 Walpole Town $43,983 $90,763 $109,035 23,862 8,626
Norfolk County County $43,685 $83,733 $106,309 666,426 255,944
14 Norfolk Town $42,452 $118,809 $132,250 11,151 3,125
15 Foxborough Town $42,236 $92,370 $108,209 16,734 6,470
Walpole CDP $41,820 $89,327 $99,808 6,119 2,522
16 Dedham Town $41,143 $83,364 $105,586 24,521 9,528
Millis-Clicquot CDP $39,884 $82,798 $103,750 4,370 1,831
17 Millis Town $39,344 $90,360 $99,976 7,852 3,043
18 Franklin City $39,043 $92,066 $109,602 31,317 10,866
19 Braintree City $37,317 $83,710 $97,262 35,409 13,267
20 Plainville Town $36,802 $81,371 $102,780 8,176 3,232
Foxborough CDP $36,239 $61,771 $91,991 5,206 2,388
21 Norwood Town $35,997 $73,838 $95,397 28,483 11,559
22 Weymouth City $35,939 $68,594 $86,972 53,565 22,543
Massachusetts State $35,051 $65,981 $83,371 6,512,227 2,522,409
Bellingham CDP $33,927 $81,941 $87,606 4,580 1,833
23 Bellingham Town $33,170 $83,534 $93,655 16,165 5,879
24 Quincy City $32,911 $60,947 $77,231 91,484 39,965
25 Stoughton Town $32,363 $68,191 $87,070 26,893 10,455
26 Avon Town $31,304 $72,880 $89,214 4,341 1,609
27 Holbrook Town $29,940 $63,790 $76,568 10,749 4,193
28 Randolph City $29,210 $64,465 $77,661 31,867 12,041
United States Country $27,915 $52,762 $64,293 306,603,772 114,761,359

Religion[]

Religious Affiliation in Norfolk County
Year 1980 1990 2000 2010
Religion C* A** C A C A C A
Anabaptist (Mennonite) n/a n/a 1 88 1 45 n/a n/a
Ba'haism 0 n/a 0 n/a 2 180 1 198
Baptist 29 7,063 29 7,936 32 4,992 46 5,558
Brethren 3 95 1 50 0 n/a 0 n/a
Buddhism n/a n/a n/a n/a 4 n/a 7 1,653
Catholicism 64 304,137 63 336,797 63 380,930 52 355,321
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 1 432 2 648 5 1,150 4 1,262
Congregationalism/

United Church of Christ

35 16,786 43 19,016 41 22,049 42 12,879
Christian Science n/a n/a 7 350 n/a n/a 5 n/a
Episcopalianism/

Anglicanism

31 17,955 30 12,905 31 12,778 33 11,016
Hinduism n/a n/a n/a n/a 6 n/a 2 37
Independent/

nondenominational

n/a n/a 1 800 n/a n/a 20 2,620
Islam n/a n/a n/a n/a 2 3,782 3 4,616
Jainism n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 n/a 1 n/a
Judaism 20 8,258 41 37,123 41 38,300 20 19,709
Lutheranism 13 4,629 10 2,843 8 2,593 8 2,227
Methodism/Holiness 25 7,937 21 7,114 24 7,097 23 5,667
Messianic Judaism n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 n/a
Orthodoxy n/a n/a 3 n/a 7 7,543 9 3,539
Pentecostalism 5 945 5 1,382 12 2,540 17 2,485
Presbyterianism 4 1,380 7 1,424 7 1,558 9 1,196
Seventh-day Adventism/

Jehovah's Witnesses

1 52 7 2,900 5 367 8 537
Sikhism n/a n/a n/a n/a 2 n/a 1 n/a
Quakerism 1 192 1 190 2 106 2 224
Unitarian-Universalism 18 4,719 17 4,591 17 2,644 17 3,102
Zoroastranianism n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 16

*congregations

**adherents

Government[]

The county has offices in Dedham Square. It runs the Norfolk County Correctional Center, the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, and the Norfolk County Courthouse.

Current elected officials[]

All eligible voters of Norfolk County vote for three County Commissioners, a District Attorney, a Clerk of Courts, a Register of Deeds, a Sheriff, a County Treasurer, and a Register of Probate.

County Commissioners are elected for a four-year term; two Commissioners are elected to coincide with presidential elections, and one Commissioner is elected during the midterm elections. All three Commissioners must hail from a different municipality. The District Attorney is elected every four years coinciding with the midterm elections. The Clerk of Courts and Register of Deeds are elected every six years coinciding with the elections of Class I US Senators. The County Treasurer and Register of Probate are elected every six years coinciding with the elections of Class II US Senators. The Sheriff is elected every six years coinciding with the elections of Class III US Senators.

Office Current Officeholder Hometown Next Election
County Commissioners Richard R. Staiti (Democratic)[23] Canton 2024
Joseph P. Shea (Democratic)[23] Quincy
Peter H. Collins (Democratic)[24] Milton 2022
District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey (Democratic)[25] Quincy 2022
Clerk of Courts Walter F. Timilty, Jr. (Democratic)[26] Milton 2024
Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell (Democratic)[27] Norwood 2024
Sheriff Patrick W. McDermott (Democratic)[28] Quincy 2022
County Treasurer Michael G. Bellotti (Democratic)[23] Quincy 2026
Register of Probate Colleen M Brierley (Democratic)[23] Norwood 2026

Politics[]

Like the majority of Massachusetts, Norfolk County leans Democratic. The last time it voted for a Republican candidate was in 1984, during Ronald Reagan's landslide victory in which he carried every state except Minnesota and Washington, D.C.

Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 13, 2010[29]
Party Number of voters Percentage
Democratic 159,956 35.28%
Republican 53,556 11.81%
Unenrolled 237,810 52.45%
Minor Parties 2,054 0.45%
Total 453,376 100%
Presidential elections results
Gubernatorial elections results

Communities[]

Cities[]

  • Braintree
  • Franklin
  • Quincy
  • Randolph
  • Weymouth

Towns[]

  • Avon
  • Bellingham
  • Brookline
  • Canton
  • Cohasset
  • Dedham (traditional county seat)
  • Dover
  • Foxborough
  • Holbrook
  • Medfield
  • Medway
  • Millis
  • Milton
  • Needham
  • Norfolk
  • Norwood
  • Plainville
  • Sharon
  • Stoughton
  • Walpole
  • Wellesley
  • Westwood
  • Wrentham

Note: West Roxbury (annexed to Boston 1874), Roxbury (annexed to Boston 1868), Dorchester (founded 1630, annexed to Boston 1870), Hyde Park (incorporated 1868 from Dorchester, Milton, and Dedham, annexed to Boston 1912), and Hingham and Hull were originally part of Norfolk County when the county was incorporated in 1793. As of August 2012, Hingham's Precinct 2 will be part of the Fourth Norfolk District.[32]

Census-designated places[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "2020 Census Demographic Data Map Viewer". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Thomas Cox, Anthony Hall, Robert Morden, Magna Britannia Antiqua & Nova: Or, A New, Exact, and Comprehensive Survey of the Ancient and Present State of Great Britain, Volume 5, (Caesar Ward and Richard Chandler: London, 1738), pg. 171 (accessed on Google Book Search, June 22, 2008)
  4. ^ The County of Norfolk, Massachusetts. Last accessed December 21, 2006.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "History". Norfolk County Sheriff's Office. Archived from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Registers of Deeds The Modern Years, Norfolk County Registry of Deeds: Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, 225th Anniversary Notable Land Records Project
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Registers of Deeds The Early Years, Norfolk County Registry of Deeds: Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, 225th Anniversary Notable Land Records Project
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 14, 2014. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  13. ^ "2020 Census Demographic Data Map Viewer". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  15. ^ Bureau, U.S. Census. "American FactFinder - Community Facts". factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on February 11, 2020.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  17. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  18. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  19. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  20. ^ "SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  21. ^ "ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  22. ^ "HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  23. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Commissioners Quorum Expected - Norfolk County Oath of Office". Norfolk County. January 4, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  24. ^ "2018 Norfolk County Commissioner General Election Norfolk County". electionstats.ma.us. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  25. ^ "2018 District Attorney General Election Norfolk County". electionstats.ma.us. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  26. ^ "2018 Clerk of Courts General Election Norfolk County". electionstats.ma.us. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  27. ^ "2018 Register of Deeds General Election Norfolk County". electionstats.ma.us. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  28. ^ Nichols, Garrett (January 6, 2021). "Patrick McDermott Sworn in as Norfolk County Sheriff" (PDF). Norfolk County Sheriff's Office. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  29. ^ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 15, 2008" (PDF). Massachusetts Elections Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  30. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  31. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - Sate Data". uselectionatlas.org.
  32. ^ Dever, Maryellen. "REDISTRICTING: Bradley loses precinct". wickedlocal.com.

Bibliography[]

External links[]

Coordinates: 42°10′N 71°11′W / 42.17°N 71.19°W / 42.17; -71.19

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