Natick

Natick is a desirable town in Middlesex County situated close to the heart of Massachusetts’ MetroWest region. Part of the Greater Boston area, it shares its borders with five of the most affluent towns in the state: Dover, Sherborn, Weston, Wellesley, and Wayland. Natick is divided into several communities: Natick Center, East Natick, West Natick, and South Natick. These communities are home to many different neighborhoods such as Walnut Hill, Sherwood, Wethersfield, Oak Street, and Little South. The town was originally settled in 1650 by John Eliot, a Puritan missionary from Hertfordshire in England. It was officially incorporated in the late 1700s, and was mostly a farming town at the time. After the invention of the sewing machine during the mid-1800s, the shoemaking industry flourished in Natick, where more than 20 shoe factories were constructed. The shoe factories in town were largely known for creating high-quality brogans, which were durable ankle-high boots used by soldiers during the American Civil War. Today, Natick is a very family-oriented community with a laid-back environment, an excellent selection of schools, and some of the best shopping hubs in the MetroWest. The town is also known for its outstanding recreational venues, which include Lake Cochituate, Dug Pond, and several beaches and picnic areas.