Newton, Massachusetts, ranks third in Money Market's perfect places to live. The town is located 45 minutes from downtown Boston, Massachusetts, and is easily accessible by bus, train, and subway. Those looking for additional services should consult the Newton, MA business directory.In the beginning, Newton started out as 12 separate communities, each with its own history. Newton Corner was the oldest of those communities, starting in around 1633. Newton Corner consisted of two general stores and a tavern by 1726, being first established along a trade route to Watertown, Massachusetts. The Boston and Worcester Railroad came to the area in 1834 and the stage coach stopped here much earlier than that. A Native American trading post was established in Nonantum in 1646, and by 1778 a large paper mill was operating in the area. Soon the Nonantum Worsted Company, from which the community got its name, was a large mill in the area. The third area of Newton was known as Upper Falls. Upper Falls was the home to many family owned industries including a sawmill, an iron works, and a machine shop. Those living at Upper Falls worked in the local industries, which were the closest to the Charles River. The area known as Lower Falls developed from a forge and trip-hammer later becoming a popular location for paper mills. Lower Falls had Newton's first post office, which was built in 1813.
The town was also home to the crossroads of two major highways connecting Watertown, Natick, Boston, and Sherborn. Newton Centre is one of the oldest areas of Newton, being established before 1660. By 1712, the community was being absorbed into other nearby communities. Both West Newton and Newtonville were developed when the railroad came to the area in 1834 and regular commuter service to Boston was established in 1844. Auburndale was the meeting place of the Boston and Worcester Railroad and the Charles River Railroad in 1886, although the community existed earlier and was often referred to as Saints' Rest, because of the number of ministers that lived in the area. The area known as Chestnut Hill was first developed by the Hammond family and then by the Lee family before being subdivided after the Charles River Railroad ran through the area. Newton Highlands and Waban are two of the newest Newton communities which formed after railroad service to the area became very reliable. The last community to develop was Oak Hill, which remained large undeveloped farms set on swamps until highways were developed connecting Watertown, Dedham, Brookline, and Needham. These communities formed Newton, MA, and residents should consult the Newton, MA yellow pages for local services.
Written by Lyndsey Morgan
