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Randolph, Massachusetts
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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 is 02368.
as called Cochaticquom by the local Cochato and Ponkapoag tribes. The town was incorporated in 1793 from what 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.
Randolph was formerly the home of several large shoe companies.
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Encyclopedia
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 is 02368.
History
It was called Cochaticquom by the local Cochato and Ponkapoag tribes. The town was incorporated in 1793 from what 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.
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.
Starting in the 1950s, Randolph saw significant growth in its Jewish community with the exodus of Jews from Boston's Dorchester and Mattapan neighborhoods. In 1950, fifteen or twenty Jewish families lived in the town; by 1970, Randolph had about 7,000 Jewish residents, and about 9,000 in 1980, the largest such community south of Boston. At its peak, Randolph boasted a kosher butcher, Judaica shop, kosher bakery, and two synagogues. By the early 1990s, the population shrank to about 6,000.
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 HS class of 1970, supported 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.
Randolph is home to Lombardo's Function Facility, which originated as the Chateau de Ville. The facility is famous for its large chandelier and spiral staircase, utilized as a backdrop to thousands of high school prom photos.
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 Randolph Women's Club (formerly Ladies Library Association) since 1911. - Ponkapoag Camp of Appalachian Mountain Club (Listed September 25, 1980) ()
- Gills Farm Archaeological District (Listed October 4, 1983)
Geography
Randolph is located at (42.173417, -71.049124). Located fifteen 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.Randolph is located in Eastern Massachusetts, bordered by Milton and Quincy on the north, Braintree and
Holbrook on the east, Canton on the west, and Avon and Stoughton on the south
and southwest. Randolph is 15 miles south of Boston and 211 miles from New York City .
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 10.5 square miles (27.2 kmē), of which, 10.1 square miles (26.1 kmē) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.1 kmē) of it (4.10%) is water. It is drained by the Cochato River and Blue Hill River, which flow into the Neponset River.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 30,963 people, 11,313 households, and 7,986 families residing in the town. The population density was 3,075.2 people per square mile (1,187.2/kmē). There were 11,533 housing units at an average density of 1,145.4/sq mi (442.2/kmē). 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.
Transportation
Randolph is situated in the Greater Boston Area, which has excellent rail, air, and highway facilities. State Route 128 and Interstate Route 495 divide the region into inner and outer zones, which are connected by numerous "spokes" providing direct access to the airport, port, and intermodal facilities of Boston.
Major highways
Principal highway is Interstate 93; parallel N-S State Massachusetts_Route_28 and Massachusetts_Route_24 (the Fall River Expressway), and State Route 139.
Rail
Commuter rail service to South Station, Boston, is available on the Middleboro line from the Randolph/Holbrook Rail Station located on the Randolph/Holbrook Town line and Union Street (Route 139). The MBTA Red Line is accessible in Braintree and Quincy.
Bus
Randolph is a member of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) which provides fixed route service to Quincy Adams, Quincy Center and Ashmont Stations. Randolph is served by Bus 240 from Ashmont Station and the 238 Bus from Quincy Center Station. The MBTA also provides THE RIDE, a paratransit service for the elderly and disabled.
The Brockton Area Transit (BAT) provides bus service to Brockton (and Ashmont).
Airport
The Norwood Memorial Airport, a Reliever (RL) facility, is easily accessible. It has 2 asphalt runways 4,001'x 150' and 4,007'x 150'. Instrument approaches available: Non-precision. However the majority of Randolph residents use Logan International Airport for Air transportation.
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.
Board of selectmen
Selectmen meet twice a month, on the first and third Mondays, at 7:30pm.
Current members are:
- Paul Fernandes, (term expires 2011)
- James F. Burgess, Jr. (term expires 2009)
- Paul J. Connors, Chair (term expires 2009)
- William Alexopoulos, (term expires 2011)
- Maureen Kenney, (term expires 2010)
Town meeting
Town meeting comprises 240 members elected from eight precincts, plus additional at-large members.
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 K-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 respective home schools, the Charles G. Devine Early Childhood Center having been closed in 2007. 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.
Notable residents
External links
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