Dover, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Dover is a town in Norfolk County
, Massachusetts
, United States
. The population was 5,589 at the 2010 census.
Located about 15 miles (24.1 km) southwest of downtown Boston, Dover is a residential town nestled on the south banks of the Charles River
. Almost all of the residential zoning requires 1 acres (4,046.9 m²) or larger. As recently as the early 1960s, 75% of its annual town budget was allocated to snow removal
, as only a mile and a half of the town's roads are state highway
. The nickname of Dover is the Town of Friendship.
For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place
Dover, please see the article Dover (CDP)
, Massachusetts
.
The Caryl House at 107 Dedham St. dates from about 1777 and was home to Dover's first minister, Benjamin Caryl, his son George, who was the town's first doctor, and their descendants until 1897. It has been owned by the town and operated by the Historical Society since 1920. The house retains its architectural integrity and has been carefully restored to reflect life in the 1790s when the first two Caryl families lived and worked there together.
The Sawin Building has been a home for thousands of Dover relics, books, photographs and artifacts since the beginning of the 20th century. Benjamin and Eudora Sawin willed land and funds to the Dover Historical Society along with their old household goods so that the building could be erected, and it was dedicated on May 14, 1907 by members and friends of the Dover Historical Society.In the early years it was used for meetings and to house Dover's historical memorabilia, but eventually members became disenchanted with the Society and the building was seldom opened. In the 1960s there was a renewed interest in the Historical Society which led to the general overhaul and refurbishing of the building. The Sawin Museum, located at the corner of Centre and Dedham Streets in Dover Center, is owned and operated by the Dover Historical Society and is open to the public free of charge.
, the town has a total area of 15.4 square miles (39.9 km²), of which, 15.3 square miles (39.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.52%) is water. It is bordered by the towns of Natick
, Wellesley
, Needham
, Dedham
, Westwood
, Sherborn
, Walpole
, and Medfield
.
of 2000, there were 5,558 people, 1,849 households, and 1,567 families residing in the town. The population density
was 362.6 people per square mile (140.0/km²). There were 1,884 housing units at an average density of 122.9 per square mile (47.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.18% White, 0.41% Black or African American
, 0.04% Native American (2 people), 3.63% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races
, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.19% of the population (approximately 105 people).
There were 1,849 households out of which 46.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.0% were married couples
living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.2% were non-families. 12.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the town the population was spread out with 31.6% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $141,818, and the median income for a family was $157,168. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $56,473 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $64,899. About 2.3% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
than Democrats
.
(9-12). Located near Caryl Park and the entrance to Noanet Woodlands (also known as Miss. Peabody's Woods), Chickering School is under the elected Dover School Committee, while the two secondary schools are the responsibility of the regional school system, under the elected Dover-Sherborn Regional School Committee, with costs and governance shared with the neighboring town of Sherborn
. The Regional schools share a campus on Farm Street in Dover, near the borders with Sherborn and Medfield.
Dover Sherborn High School ranked 3rd in Cost Efficiency and 7th in Academic Performance by Boston Magazine. US News and World Report named Dover-Sherborn High School a Gold Medal School, ranking them 65th in the nation.
Dover used to have two elementary schools, Chickering for grades K to 3, and Caryl Elementary School for grades 4 to 8. In 1970, Caryl School was gutted by fire. It was rebuilt and remained open until finally being closed in 1999 after the expansion of Chickering.
The private, independent Charles River School
is located in the town's center.
Norfolk County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Adams National Historical Park* Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area * Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site* John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site-Demographics:...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 5,589 at the 2010 census.
Located about 15 miles (24.1 km) southwest of downtown Boston, Dover is a residential town nestled on the south banks of the Charles River
Charles River
The Charles River is an long river that flows in an overall northeasterly direction in eastern Massachusetts, USA. From its source in Hopkinton, the river travels through 22 cities and towns until reaching the Atlantic Ocean at Boston...
. Almost all of the residential zoning requires 1 acres (4,046.9 m²) or larger. As recently as the early 1960s, 75% of its annual town budget was allocated to snow removal
Snow removal
Snow removal is the job of removing snow after a snowfall to make travel easier and safer. This is done by both individual households and by governments and institutions.-De-icing and anti-icing:...
, as only a mile and a half of the town's roads are state highway
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
. The nickname of Dover is the Town of Friendship.
For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
Dover, please see the article Dover (CDP)
Dover (CDP), Massachusetts
Dover is a census-designated place in the town of Dover in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,216 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Dover is located at ....
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
History
The first recorded settlement of Dover was in 1640. It was later established as the Springfield Parish of Dedham in 1748, and incorporated as District Dedham in 1784. Dover was officially incorporated as a town in 1836.The Caryl House at 107 Dedham St. dates from about 1777 and was home to Dover's first minister, Benjamin Caryl, his son George, who was the town's first doctor, and their descendants until 1897. It has been owned by the town and operated by the Historical Society since 1920. The house retains its architectural integrity and has been carefully restored to reflect life in the 1790s when the first two Caryl families lived and worked there together.
The Sawin Building has been a home for thousands of Dover relics, books, photographs and artifacts since the beginning of the 20th century. Benjamin and Eudora Sawin willed land and funds to the Dover Historical Society along with their old household goods so that the building could be erected, and it was dedicated on May 14, 1907 by members and friends of the Dover Historical Society.In the early years it was used for meetings and to house Dover's historical memorabilia, but eventually members became disenchanted with the Society and the building was seldom opened. In the 1960s there was a renewed interest in the Historical Society which led to the general overhaul and refurbishing of the building. The Sawin Museum, located at the corner of Centre and Dedham Streets in Dover Center, is owned and operated by the Dover Historical Society and is open to the public free of charge.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 15.4 square miles (39.9 km²), of which, 15.3 square miles (39.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.52%) is water. It is bordered by the towns of Natick
Natick, Massachusetts
Natick is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Natick is located near the center of the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, with a population of 33,006 at the 2010 census. Only west from Boston, Natick is considered part of the Greater Boston area...
, Wellesley
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Wellesley is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of Greater Boston. The population was 27,982 at the time of the 2010 census.It is best known as the home of Wellesley College and Babson College...
, Needham
Needham, Massachusetts
Needham is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. A suburb of Boston, its population was 28,886 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, Dedham
Dedham, Massachusetts
Dedham is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,729 at the 2010 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest by Westwood and on the southeast by...
, Westwood
Westwood, Massachusetts
Westwood is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 14,618 at the 2010 census. In July 2005, CNN/Money and Money magazine ranked Westwood 13th on its list of the 100 Best Places to Live in the United States. Boston Magazine listed Gay Street in Westwood on its...
, Sherborn
Sherborn, Massachusetts
Sherborn is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is in area code 508 and has the ZIP code 01770. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the town population was 4,119. The assessed value of the town for the fiscal year 2005 is $1,008,146,994....
, Walpole
Walpole, Massachusetts
Walpole is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. It is located about south of Boston and north of Providence, Rhode Island. The population was 24,070 at the 2010 census. Walpole was first settled in 1659 and was considered a part of Dedham until officially incorporated in 1724...
, and Medfield
Medfield, Massachusetts
Medfield is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,024 according to the 2010 Census. Medfield is an affluent community about 17 miles southwest of Boston....
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,558 people, 1,849 households, and 1,567 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 362.6 people per square mile (140.0/km²). There were 1,884 housing units at an average density of 122.9 per square mile (47.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.18% White, 0.41% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.04% Native American (2 people), 3.63% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.19% of the population (approximately 105 people).
There were 1,849 households out of which 46.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.2% were non-families. 12.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the town the population was spread out with 31.6% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $141,818, and the median income for a family was $157,168. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $56,473 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $64,899. About 2.3% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Dover is one of the few communities in metro Boston to have more registered RepublicansRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
than Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
Education
Dover's public schools are well regarded and score well on standardized tests http://www.boston.com/education/mcas/scores2006/10th_grade_school_rankings.htm. It has three schools—Chickering Elementary School (grades K-5), Dover-Sherborn Middle School (6-8), and Dover-Sherborn High SchoolDover-Sherborn High School
Dover-Sherborn High School, or DSHS, is a regional public high school in the town of Dover, Massachusetts, United States. It serves students from the towns of Dover and Sherborn, and is the senior school of the Dover-Sherborn Public School District, housing grades 9 through 12.-History:Until the...
(9-12). Located near Caryl Park and the entrance to Noanet Woodlands (also known as Miss. Peabody's Woods), Chickering School is under the elected Dover School Committee, while the two secondary schools are the responsibility of the regional school system, under the elected Dover-Sherborn Regional School Committee, with costs and governance shared with the neighboring town of Sherborn
Sherborn, Massachusetts
Sherborn is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is in area code 508 and has the ZIP code 01770. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the town population was 4,119. The assessed value of the town for the fiscal year 2005 is $1,008,146,994....
. The Regional schools share a campus on Farm Street in Dover, near the borders with Sherborn and Medfield.
Dover Sherborn High School ranked 3rd in Cost Efficiency and 7th in Academic Performance by Boston Magazine. US News and World Report named Dover-Sherborn High School a Gold Medal School, ranking them 65th in the nation.
Dover used to have two elementary schools, Chickering for grades K to 3, and Caryl Elementary School for grades 4 to 8. In 1970, Caryl School was gutted by fire. It was rebuilt and remained open until finally being closed in 1999 after the expansion of Chickering.
The private, independent Charles River School
Charles River School
Charles River School was founded by parents on the banks of the Charles River in Needham, Massachusetts, USA, in 1911. In 1917, the school moved to Dover, Massachusetts. Today the school serves children from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade Eight...
is located in the town's center.
Notable residents
- Mark AlbionMark AlbionMark Albion is an American author of values-based business literature, professor, and social entrepreneur. He received his post-secondary degrees from Harvard University, including a BA in Economics, a joint MA/MBA and a joint PhD in Business Economics from Harvard University and Harvard Business...
, author, professor, and social entrepreneur - Bob CutlerBob CutlerRobert Bradley "Bob" Cutler was an American rower who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin...
, rower who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics - Katherine DohertyKatherine DohertyKatherine Leigh Doherty is an American child actress who has performed in the Broadway cast of "Mary Poppins" as Jane Banks.She appeared on the Disney Channel show "Disney 365" giving a tour of the Mary Poppins set....
, child actress - Kenny FlorianKenny FlorianKenneth Alan Florian is a Peruvian-American mixed martial artist who competes as a featherweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He has a background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai, and is known for his cerebral approach to the sport based on his meticulous game plans and...
, UFC Fighter - Carl J. GilbertCarl J. GilbertCarl Joyce Gilbert was the United States Trade Representative from 1969-71. Gilbert had previously been president and chairman of the board of the Gillette Safety Razor Co...
, United States Trade Representative from 1969 to 1971 - Jeffrey HarrisonJeffrey HarrisonJeffrey W. Harrison is an American poet. His most recent poetry collection is The Names of Things: New & Selected Poems . His poems have appeared in literary journals and magazines including The New Republic, The New Yorker, The Paris Review, Poetry, The Yale Review, Poets of the New Century...
, poet - E. F. Hodgson, founder of the E. F. Hodgson CoE. F. Hodgson CoThe E. F. Hodgson Company of Dover, Massachusetts, was one of a number of companies who used specialty mail-order catalogs, to advertise and sell sectional and ready-cut houses. From a small New England town, the Hodgson Company competed with economic giants such as Sears Roebuck and Montgomery...
- Mark Hollingsworth, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio
- Melinda McGrawMelinda McGrawMelinda Leigh McGraw is an American actress. She has starred in movies such as Albino Alligator , Wrongfully Accused , and Nutty Professor II: The Klumps , and is also known for her television performances on The Commish, The X-Files and Mad Men.-Early life:McGraw was born in Nicosia, Cyprus, to...
, actress - John "Moo" May, Xavier University Pope
- Amelia Peabody, artist and philanthropist, donated Noanet Woodlands (also known as Miss Peabody's Woods)
- Matthew A. ReynoldsMatthew A. ReynoldsMatthew A. Reynolds served as Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs from to . Prior to this appointment he served as the bureau's Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and intermittently as Acting Assistant Secretary beginning in March 2005....
, Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs - Leverett SaltonstallLeverett SaltonstallLeverett A. Saltonstall was an American Republican politician who served as the 55th Governor of Massachusetts and as a United States Senator .-Biography:...
, U.S. Senator - Francis W. SargentFrancis W. SargentFrancis William Sargent was the 64th Governor of Massachusetts from 1969 to 1975. Born in 1915 in Hamilton, Massachusetts, he was known for his sharp wit and self-deprecating manner...
, Governor - Ronald B. ScottRonald B. ScottRonald Bruce Scott is an American journalist and author of a biography of Republican presidential candidate Willard Mitt Romney --Mitt Romney: An inside look at the man and his politics-- published in October 2011 by Globe Pequot Press....
, current resident, journalist, biographer of former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate W. Mitt Romney, and author of the novel "Closing Circles: Trapped in the Everlasting Mormon Moment." - John SmithJohn Smith (American football)John Michael Smith is an English-born retired American football placekicker. He made his professional debut with the New England Patriots in 1974, remaining with the team until 1983...
, American football placekicker - Bob LobelBob LobelRobert "Bob" Lobel is a former sportscaster for WBZ-TV in Boston, Massachusetts. He anchored the sports segments on the evening newscasts between Sunday and Thursday, and hosted the weekly programs Sports Final and Patriots 5th Quarter...
, Local news sportscaster - Don MacTavishDon MacTavishDonald Charles MacTavish started his racing career at the age of 15 racing in nearby Norwood, Massachusetts at the Norwood Arena. He quickly earned popularity for driving demolition derby cars, and appeared on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. He competed in more than 100 Sportsman Car Series races on...
, Stock Car Driver and winner of the 1966 NASCAR Sportsman Series Championship - Chris MurrayChris Murray (ice hockey b. 1984)Chris Murray is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently playing for the Charlotte Checkers in the American Hockey League.-Career statistics:- External links :...
, minor league hockey player - Bohdan PomahačBohdan PomahačBohdan Pomahač is the plastic surgeon who led the team that performed the first full face transplant in the United States.-Biography:Pomahač's parents were a chemical engineer and a school teacher...
, plastic surgeon who led the team that performed the first full face transplant in the United States. - George P. SangerGeorge P. SangerGeorge Partridge Sanger was an American lawyer, editor, judge, and businessman who served as the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts from 1873 to 1886 and was the first president of the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company.-Early life:Sanger was born on November 27, 1819...
, lawyer, editor, judge, and businessman - Sverre SearsSverre SearsSverre Sears is a retired American professional ice hockey player. He was born in the small town of Dover, Massachusetts. Sears was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1989 NHL draft. During his career, Sears has played in the NCAA, the ECHL, the BNL, the IHL, the CoHL and the CHL.-External...
, minor league hockey player - Jeff SerowikJeff SerowikJeff Michael Serowik is a retired American ice hockey defenceman.He was drafted 85th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft and played one game for them during the 1990–91 NHL season. He mainly played in the American Hockey League for the St. John's Maple Leafs...
, former player of the Boston Bruins