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Framingham is a town located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. As of the 2000 census, it had a total population of 66,910, making it the most populous town in Massachusetts. The 2004 population estimate is 65,598. It is often attributed to be the most populous town in the U.S. - incorrectly, as this distinction actually belongs to the Town of Hempstead, NY, which had a population of 755,924 in 2000. A charter change to make Framingham a city has been proposed more than once, but was defeated at referendum each time.
The town has twelve public schools (the largest being Framingham High School), two private schools, two parochial schools, one Jewish day school and one charter school; Framingham is also home to the original Sudbury Valley School, a well-known and controversial alternative school.
Framingham is famous for the Framingham Heart Study, as well as for the Dennison Manufacturing Company, which was founded in 1844 as a jewelry and watch box manufacturing company by Aaron Lufkin Dennison, who became the pioneer of the American System of Watch Manufacturing at the nearby Waltham Watch Company. His brother, Eliphalet Whorf Dennison developed the company into a sizable industrial complex, which merged in 1990 into the Avery Dennison Company, with headquarters in Pasadena, California, and active corporate offices in the town. Framingham is also known for the former Framingham Union Hospital, now the MetroWest Medical Center. Teacher Christa McAuliffe was raised in the town and went to Framingham State College. Framingham is home to the corporate headquarters for the Bose Corporation, TJX Companies and Staples, Inc.. In addition, the Massachusetts State Police and Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency are headquartered here.
Garden in the Woods, the largest landscaped collection of wildflowers in New England, is located within the town limits.
Framingham was first settled in 1650 and was officially incorporated in 1700 on land formerly known as Danforth's Farms, after landowner Thomas Danforth, of Framlingham, England. Why the "L" was dropped for the new town's name is not known. Crispus Attucks, whose death was made famous in an etching of the Boston Massacre by Paul Revere, was born here. Framingham was also home to Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher in space, who died in the Challenger disaster. During the Post-World War II baby boom Framingham, like many other suburban areas, experienced a large increase in population and housing. Much of the housing constructed during this time consisted of split-level and ranch-styled houses. Framingham is also mentioned for having a Carvel factory in the episode titled "Da Boom" of Family Guy, though such does not actually exist (the town does have a Breyers, formerly Sealtest, ice cream plant, in the northeastern section adjoining the Mass Pike), and had been mentioned several times on Saturday Night Live both as a place name and as character names. Framingham is the site of the celebrated Framingham Heart Study.
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