Dedham is an historic suburban industrial town located strategically at the junction of Interstates 95 and 93. This position has guaranteed the community's growth in commercial, industrial and residential development. This crucial town of the metropolitan Boston area is just 10 miles south of the city and in proximity to Brockton, which is 16 miles south and Providence, Rhode Island, 33 miles south.
Dedham is among the oldest communities in The United States and is the site of the earliest surviving framed house in New England, the handsome 1737 Fairbanks House. Dedham's history stretches further back to 1636 when it received its first township grant from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Its colonial agricultural economy was expanded by industry shortly later, in 1639, with the building one of the earliest water power canals connecting the Charles River with a tributary of the Neponset River. The water power generated led to grist and fulling mills. Industrial activity, centered around textiles, followed in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when woolen mills were developed in Dedham.
By 1830 there were two woolen mills, two cotton mills, four sawmills and five factories. Other goods produced during this period included pottery, furniture and pianos. Factories in Dedham drew a steady influx of immigrants, particularly new arrivals from Ireland and Germany who comprised a significant percent of Dedham's population. The 1800's also saw a growing professional class population in town. Dedham became the county seat for Norfolk County and in 1796, a court house was constructed. Lawyers and local officials settled in Dedham and slowly added to a rich architectural tradition that remains in town today.
Among Dedham's most impressive structures are its monumental granite Greek Revival court house, a Victorian style prison, a Neoclassical Registry of Deeds, a Romanesque Revival public library and Renaissance and Georgian Revival schools. Addition, Dedham has preserved the historical character of its town center with many handsome residences.
Today, Dedham is community where residents enjoy a wide spectrum of services. Foremost among these services is a school district consisting of an early childhood education center, four public elementary schools, a middle school and high school. The Parks and Recreation Department provides a healthy variety of sports and other activities. There is municipal trash removal and recycling and water service is provided by the Dedham-Westwood Water District, a non-profit, locally controlled public water system.
There is an abundant choice of home settings as well, from well-managed condominium buildings and complexes to tree-lined streets in suburban neighborhoods, and even multi-acre estates featuring exceptional luxury homes. In February 2010, the average home sales price for a single family home or condo in Dedham, MA was $405,006. While this data is collected from the MLS and deemed reliable, it is not guaranteed.
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