Newton

Newton, known as the Garden City for its colorful blossoms, is located a short six miles west of Boston. Originally a part of Cambridge, Newton was settled in 1630 and incorporated in 1688 with the first settlement in Newton Corner. The Boston and Worcester Railroads established depots at what later became Newtonville and Auburndale in 1834, bringing new life into the growing city. Newton is bounded on three sides by the lovely Charles River.

Newton is a diverse Community that has something for everyone, made up of 14 "villages". Though there are no legalized boundaries, each has its own unique character. The villages of Newton - listed alphabetically - are: Auburndale, Chestnut Hill, Four Corners, Newton Centre, Newton Corner, Newton Highlands, Newton Lower Falls, Newton Upper Falls, Newtonville, Nonantum, Oak Hill, Thompsonville, Waban and West Newton. Because Newton has no central town center, each village has its own small downtown area (for shopping and entertainment). Most villages even have their own post office. Together, these villages make up the heart of Newton:

This ideal city does not traditionally experience big city crime. According to FBI statistics, Newton was the safest city in the U.S. in 2003, 2004, and 2005, and the fourth-safest in 2006 due to a nationwide effort to reduce crime.

Chestnut Hill is one of the more historic locations of Newton, and is home to the famous Boston College and Boston College Law School. Other higher learning institutions include Lasell College, Hebrew College, Mount Ida, and Andover Newton Theological School.

As a whole, Newton is a vibrant, pleasant Community that is desirable as a place to live and work due to its proximity to Boston, nearness to various highway and public transportation systems, attractive neighborhoods and high property values, well-run municipal government, and a strong, nationally-recognized school system. Newton has well maintained parks, bicycle and fitness trails, golf courses, a public pool, and even a lake. From July through October, residents of Newton enjoy the outdoor Farmer's Market. To get a feel of Newton history, visit Norumbega Park (located in Auburndale). In 1897, the site opened as a trolley park, later becoming an amusement park in the 1950s. Today, it is a beautiful expanse of paths, trails, and stunning scenery.

Newton has a state-of-the-art, award-winning Library, and is home to the Jackson Homestead Museum, one of 712 nationally-accredited museums (out of 6,200 museums country-wide). The Free Library holds more than half a million printed volumes, artwork, sound clips, and videos. Newton's Library is home to the largest collection in the entire Minuteman Library Network. The Newton History Museum at the Jackson Homestead contains a wonderful exhibit on the Underground Railroad that's interesting and informative. This building was built way back in 1809, a farmhouse constructed in classic Federal style architecture. Visitors to the museum will be wowed with costumes, photographs, paintings, manuscripts, and other artifacts. And if it's musical culture you want, you can hardly do better than Newton. Listen to the delicate sounds produced by the Newton Symphony Orchestra or the Newton Philharmonic Orchestra of Massachusetts.

Newton is even giving back to the Community on a nationwide level. It has been designated (one of only three cities nationwide) to participate in a pilot tree bank, planting 6,800 seedlings in an effort to bring in more green. Newton has an extensive Institutional Network (I-Net) communications system which connects 63 municipal and institutional buildings, including all public schools, for a strong support system that unites everyone. Newton was the recipient of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Heinz Foundation awards for being the first city in the Commonwealth to administer a mandatory curbside recycling program. Today, 90% of Newton residents contribute to the health of the planet through recycling, reducing incinerated tonnage by 33% in Newton.

Have teenagers in the family? They'll fit right in at either Newton North High School (the Tigers) or Newton South High School (the Lions). The MBTA provides easy transportation in the form of light rail, commuter rail, and an extensive bus network. While traveling, you may spot Echo Bridge, a beautiful archway dating back to the 19th century. From here, you'll see the Charles River, along with Hemlock Gorge.

Every April, you can join many other residents of Newton as they line up just past Newton City Hall to cheer on the runners in the famous Boston Marathon. Many citizens of Newton enjoy the lavish entertainments provided by country clubs and golf courses like Woodland Country Club, Charles River Country Club, and Brae Burn Country Club (home to the U. S. Open in 1919). Newton is even known for cookie cuisine – where do you think the name "Fig Newton" comes from? In 1991, Nabisco came to Newton with an 100-inch Fig Newton to celebrate one hundred years of the tasty treat.

Newton is home to more than 83,000 according to the 2000 census, with a population density of 4,683 people per square mile. According to the census, Newton residents earn a median income of more than $86,000 for a household and $125,000 for a family. Known for its history and beauty, Newton has even been the home to some very notable residents, including Matt Damon (movie star), Bette Davis (silver screen legend), Matt LeBlanc (one of the stars of Friends), Oscar-winning actor Jack Lemmon, and novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne (who penned, among others, The Scarlet Letter).

With an impeccable reputation as one of the best cities to live in nationwide, why not add your name to the list, and make Newton home?