Dedham, Massachusetts

Dedham, Massachusetts
Town of Dedham
The Ames Schoolhouse, Dedham's Town Hall
The Ames Schoolhouse, Dedham's Town Hall
Flag of Dedham, Massachusetts
Official seal of Dedham, Massachusetts
Motto: 
Contentment
Location of Dedham in Norfolk County, Massachusetts
Location of Dedham in Norfolk County, Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°14′30″N 71°10′00″W / 42.24167°N 71.16667°W / 42.24167; -71.16667
CountryUnited States
StateMassachusetts
CountyNorfolk
Settled1635
Incorporated1636
Named forDedham, Essex
Government
 • TypeRepresentative town meeting
 • Town
   Manager
Leon Goodwin
 • Select Board
Dennis J. Teehan, Jr., Chair
Erin Boles Welsh, Vice Chair
James A. MacDonald
Dimitria Sullivan
[2]
Area
 • Total10.6 sq mi (27.6 km2)
 • Land10.5 sq mi (27.1 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)
Elevation
120 ft (37 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total25,364[1]
 • Density2,415.62/sq mi (935.94/km2)
Ethnicity[3]
 • White alone79.4%
 • Black or African American alone6.24%
 • American Indian and Alaska Native alone0.23%
 • Asian3.79%
 • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone0.02%
 • Some Other Race alone0.3%
 • Two or more races6.45%
Hispanic or Latino[4]
 • Hispanic or Latino8.38%
 • Not Hispanic or Latino91.62%
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
02026 (02027 for P.O. Boxes)
Area code781 / 339
FIPS code25-16495
GNIS feature ID0618318
Websitehttp://www.dedham-ma.gov

Dedham (/ˈdɛdəm/ DED-əm) is a town in, and the county seat of, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Located on Boston's southwestern border, the population was 25,364 at the 2020 census.

First settled by English colonists in 1635 and incorporated in 1636, Dedham established the first public school in America in 1643. Dedham is home to the Fairbanks House, the oldest surviving timber-frame house in the United States. On January 1, 1643, by unanimous vote, Dedham authorized the first taxpayer-funded public school, "the seed of American education." The first man-made canal in North America, Mother Brook, was created in Dedham in 1639.

The town took an active part in the American Revolution and was home to the Dedham Liberty Pole in the late 18th century. When a split occurred at the First Church and Parish in Dedham, the resulting lawsuit became known as The Dedham Case, an important landmark in the separation of church and state. In 1921, the historic Sacco and Vanzetti trial was held in the Norfolk County Courthouse. Dedham is sometimes called the "mother of towns" because 14 present-day communities were included within its original broad borders.

Dedham is governed by a representative town meeting, a select board which appoints the town manager, and various other boards and committees. The town is served by the MBTA commuter rail and bus service. The Dedham Public Schools operates seven schools, and a number of private schools also operate within the town.

  1. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Dedham CDP, Massachusetts", United States census, 2020; Dedham CDP, Massachusetts;.
  2. ^ "SELECT BOARD - APRIL 25, 2024". Dedham TV. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  3. ^ "Census - Table Results", United States census, 2020; Dedham CDP, Massachusetts;.
  4. ^ "Census - Table Results", United States census, 2020; Dedham CDP, Massachusetts;.