About Wellesley

Wellesley is a small town in Norfolk County located 16 miles east of Boston.

Home to several prominent colleges and universities, Wellesley is bordered on the east by Newton, on the north by Weston, on the south by Needham and Dover and on the west by Natick. The town is known for possessing the second greatest concentration of residents with advanced degrees in the country and is also well-regarded for its impressive public school system.

Town Information

Settled: 1660
Incorporated: 1881

Population: 27,982
Density: 2,700/sq mi

Land Area: 10.18 sq m
Water Area: 0.31 sq mi

Town History

Wellesley was settled in the 1630s as part of Dedham, Massachusetts. It was subsequently a part of Needham, Massachusetts called West Needham, Massachusetts. On Oct. 23, 1880, West Needham residents voted to secede from Needham and the town of Wellesley was later christened by the Massachusetts legislature on April 6, 1881. The town was named after the estate of local benefactor Horatio Hollis Hunnewell.

Links

Official Town Page
Wellesley Public Schools
Wellesley Walk Score