Braintree is a residential suburb just 12 miles south of Boston. The strong residential character of the community is seen in attractive neighborhoods and tree-lined streets. There is also a wealth of commercial and other economic activity in the town. South Shore Plaza is one of the largest retail complexes in the northeast. Attractive office spaces and industrial parks are found in the town as well, and have been attracted to Braintree by its strategic location at the junction of Routes 93 and 3, major north-south arteries of the state, linking traffic from Cape Cod to the New Hampshire border.
Braintree has a long history and counts two U.S. presidents among its distinguished residents. Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams were born in Old Braintree. Other notable residents included John Hancock and General Sylvanus Thayer, the "Father of West Point". The house at Thayer's birthplace displays an impressive collection of pre-19th century furnishings, and adjacent structures contain a genealogy museum and research library. The first English settlement in the area that is now Braintree, began in 1625 when thirty or forty colonists, cleared the land and built log-huts on the seaward slopes of the hills in what is now the city of Quincy. The settlement was called Mount Wollaston, after the company's leader, Captain Wollaston.
In 1634 the area was annexed to Boston and a number of land grants were made to residents of Boston. In 1640 Mount Wollaston separated from Boston and became the incorporated town of Braintree. The economy of the early community was based in grazing and crop growing. Today, Braintree is a well-established residential and commercial community that benefits from its local economic development and access to Boston by highway and public transportation. The Boston Red line subway extends to Braintree and provides frequent service to Downtown Boston.
Besides the cultural and economic opportunity that this link to Boston offers, Braintree has a variety of its own culture and recreation. Pond Meadow Park contains 320-acres of land and a 20-acre pond. Numerous outdoor activities are available at the park. Other open-spaces in Braintree include: Town Forest, Sunset Lake, Smith Beach, the Cranberry Pond Conservation District, the MDC Blue Hills Reservation trail system, and an 18 hole public golf course.
In August 2008, the average home sales price for a single family home or condo in Braintree, MA was $374,718. While this data is collected from the MLS and deemed reliable, it is not guaranteed.
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