Wellesley is a town located in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 26,613. It is best known as the home of Wellesley College. The Hunnewell Arboretum abuts the Wellesley campus, and the Elm Bank Horticulture Center is also located in Wellesley. The public education services of the town are well regarded, especially Wellesley High School.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 27.2 km2 (10.5 mi2). 26.4 km2 (10.2 mi2) of it is land and 0.8 km2 (0.3 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 2.96% water.
The Census Bureau has also defined the town as a census-designated place with an area exactly equivalent to the town. As of the census of 2000, there are 26,613 people, 8,594 households, and 6,540 families residing in the town. The population density is 1,009.4/km2 (2,614.1/mi2). There are 8,861 housing units at an average density of 336.1/km2 (870.4/mi2). The racial makeup of the town is 89.98% White, 1.60% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 6.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. 2.32% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 8,594 households out of which 39.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.2% are married couples living together, 7.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 23.9% are non-families. 20.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.70 and the average family size is 3.14.
In the town the population is spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 13.9% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 77.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 71.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $113,686, and the median income for a family is $134,769. Males have a median income of $100,000 versus $53,007 for females. The per capita income for the CDP is $52,866. 3.8% of the population and 2.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.0% of those under the age of 18 and 2.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Wellesley was originally part of Dedham, Massachusetts, and was subsequently a part of Needham, Massachusetts called West Needham, Massachusetts. It was officially incorporated as a town on April 6, 1881 and is named after its famous women's college, Wellesley College. The college's name is from Horatio Hollis Hunnewell's estate, named for his wife's maiden name of Welles. The town was at one time connected to the Charles River by a private canal.
Into the twentieth century, Jews and other minorities were informally blocked from living in certain parts of town. Certain groups such as Italians congregated in separate neighborhoods.
Wellesley was home to US District Court Judge Arthur Garrity, who in 1974 ordered the integration of Boston public schools. This led to racial unrest and violence in the city of Boston as well as the picketing of Garrity's Wellesley home.
Source:
WellesleyMassachusetts.com
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