Needham dates to 1680, and 18% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 84% of U.S. towns · #195 of 283 in Massachusetts. What drives it
13 places in town are on the National Register, among them two historic districts with 16 buildings between them. Below: 4 old photos and papers, maps from 1893 on, and the census since 1790.
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year. First post office: 1817.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Needham’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Needham is more historic than 84% of U.S. towns, #195 of 283 in Massachusetts. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its age ranks highest and its National Register listings lowest.
A−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Needham’s overall grade.
Massachusetts towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Massachusetts town has 46.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Needham’s 8.6 sits below most of its state (26% of Massachusetts towns have fewer) while its 28 historic buildings outnumber those of 81% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B+ to A. The pre-1940 share (±2.8 points) is firm at this size. Two sources give 1680.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Needham’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Needham was first settled in 1680 with the purchase of a tract of land measuring 4 miles (6.4 km) by 5 miles (8.0 km) from Chief Nehoiden for the sum of 10 pounds, 40 acres (160,000 m2) of land, and 40 shillings worth of corn. It was officially incorporated in 1711. Originally part of the North Parish of Dedham, Needham split from Dedham and was named after the town of Needham Market in Suffolk, England.
Passages that mention Needham, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of Needham, Massachusetts, 1711-19111912 · page 154Read the page →
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THE WEST PRECINCT PETITIONS TO BE MADE A TOWN The year 1801 Is memorable as witnessing the first of the many attempts of West Needham to be a town, distinct from East Needham, and which culminated In the Incorporation of Wellesley in 188 1. In May, 1801, the Town of Needham by Colonel Kingsbery, Its agent, and the First Parish, represented by five of Its members, protested against granting a petition which David Smith, Jr., had presented to the
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Needham, Massachusetts, 1711-19111912 · page 209Read the page →
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On February 3, 1774, the petition of Jonathan Deming and others, inhabitants of the Westerly part of Needham, was before the General Court. They asked for a committee to decide where the meeting-house should be erected, or that there should be two parishes. They were ordered to serve notice on the Town of Needham to show cause on the 17th why the prayer of the petitioners should not be granted.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History and directory of Needham, Massachusetts for 1888-891888 · page 73Read the page →
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The first appropriation for a High School in the town of Needham was made in the year 1864, and in May of the following year two schools were established, one in Needham, and the other in West Needham, or Wellesley ; the distance between the two villages, and the absence of any connecting railroad making it advisable to have two instead of one.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History and directory of Needham, Massachusetts for 1888-891888 · page 79Read the page →
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The First Parish is as old as the town of Needham. The building of the first meeting house was begun in 1711, and was burned October 17, 1773. The edifice which took its place remained till 1811, when a handsome tower was added and a bell hung, and for the first time rung in the town. The old building was taken down in 1835, and out of its timbers a new frame was made. In 1879 it was taken bodily on wheels and rolled along the outskirts of the village and
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Timeline
Needham, 1680 to 1994
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Needham. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1893Boston sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Needham.
Every building
Needham, building by building, 1896–1926
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
In 1680, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. Needham’s post office opened in 1817, and the first U.S. census counted 1,130 people here in 1790.
How does Needham rank for history?
Needham is more historic than 84% of U.S. towns, #195 of 283 in Massachusetts. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Needham?
13 listings: 9 buildings, 2 historic districts, the McIntosh Corner Historic District and the Needham Town Hall Historic District, with 16 contributing buildings, and 2 structures. 28 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Needham?
18% of Needham’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±2.8 points), against a typical 21% for a Massachusetts town; the median home was built in 1965.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (1), the Library of Congress (3), Wikidata (2), the National Register of Historic Places (13), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
1908
1908
