Natick, Residential town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Description
Natick is a residential community in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, located about ten miles west of Boston. The town consists of several neighborhoods with single-family homes, a busy commercial district along Route 9, and some green spaces near the Charles River.
History
John Eliot founded the settlement in 1651 as one of the first Praying Towns, where Christianized Massachusett people lived. In the 19th century, the town became a center for the shoe industry before transforming into a residential community in later decades.
Culture
The name comes from the Massachusett language and means Place of Hills, describing the gentle rises in the landscape. Today, street names and small memorials recall the original inhabitants who lived here before European settlers arrived.
Practical
Most shops and restaurants sit along Route 9, which runs through the center as the main commercial corridor. Parking is generally available, and the shopping district can get busy on weekends.
Did you know?
In 1663, the first Bible in an Algonquian language was printed here, a rare document of early colonial printing. A copy of this work, known as the Eliot Bible, is now held in several American libraries.
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Museum of World War II
3.1 km
Hunnewell Estates Historic District
3.4 km
Cochituate State Park
2.4 km
Walter Hunnewell Arboretum
3.5 km
Casey's Diner
461 m
Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary
3.1 km
Davis Museum and Cultural Center
3.7 kmThe Center for Arts in Natick
181 m
Wellesley College Botanic Gardens
4 km
Henry Wilson Shoe Shop
2.5 km
Whitin Observatory
4.1 km
Saxonville Historic District
6.2 km
Robert Jenison House
4.5 km
Morse Institute Library
374 m
Harrington House
5.9 km
The Parsonage
3.2 km
Clark Houses
585 m
Rev. Stephen Badger House
3 km
John Eliot Historic District
3.1 km
Samuel Train House
4.8 km
Stephen Bacon House
1.1 km
Charles D. Lewis House
4.7 km
Edward's Plain-Dowse's Corner Historic District
3.7 km
Bullen-Stratton-Cozzen House
5.4 kmPegan Hill
5.2 km
Memorial Beach
1.4 km
Natick Center Historic District
202 mNatick Theatre
374 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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