Town of Weymouth

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Weymouth is the second oldest township in the Commonwealth, dating back to 1622 when it was founded as the “Wessagusset” colony. Renamed Weymouth in 1635, the Town was boosted in that year by the arrival of 100 settlers from its namesake in England. For almost two hundred years the town was a fishing and agricultural community, evolving into a manufacturing hub for shoes in the late 19th century. Remnants of every era, from colonization to industrialization to suburbanization, are evident in the very shape of the community.

Today, Weymouth is a mature, primarily residential suburb located just south of Boston, with close proximity to the crossroads of Route I-93 (128) and Route 3. The community is nicely situated for easy access to Cape Cod and the Greater Boston area. Three MBTA commuter rail stations provide quick transportation into the city, as well.

Rich in history, Weymouth is home to the birthplace of Abigail Adams, wife to U.S. President John Adams and mother to U.S. President John Quincy Adams. Other local landmarks include the town’s Historic Civic Center District and the architecturally-significant Fogg Library, Jefferson School, and Washington School.

Unlike traditional New England towns, Weymouth has no downtown center. Instead it has four village centers, each featuring its own blend of historic buildings, land use, and open space. Housing in the town consists mostly of single-family homes nestled in established neighborhoods, with several large apartment and condominium complexes interspersed in the villages. Weymouth’s popular recreation areas include Legion Memorial Field, George Lane Beach, the Weymouth Back River, Great Esker Park, Pond Meadow Park, the DCR Connell Memorial Rink and Swimming Pool, and Webb Memorial State Park.

For many years, business development has been strong along Weymouth’s highways and local arterials. Its thoroughfares feature an assortment of restaurants, retail outlets, and shopping plazas, while its village centers are home to an eclectic mix of local storefronts. An attractive office park is located just minutes from the Route 3 on ramp.

Due to its abundance of medical service facilities, Weymouth has been called the “South Shore’s medical Mecca”. It has more than 20 medical buildings that house over 100 laboratories, physician groups, and treatment centers. At the heart of the town’s two-mile medical district is the South Shore Hospital, the community’s largest employer and leading regional provider of acute, outpatient, home health, and hospice care. The Stetson Medical Center, once home to the Stetson Shoe Company, has also attracted world-class medical and life science tenants to Weymouth, including Children’s Hospital Boston and Harbor Medical Associates, a Brigham and Women’s Health Care affiliate.

Despite being nearly fully built out, Weymouth has great potential for controlled growth in the coming years. Southfield, an evolving 1,400-acre mixed-use development currently underway at the former Naval Air Station, is on track to becoming the finest transit-oriented Smart Growth development on the south shore. The site will feature a variety of new homes and businesses, protected open space, and many transportation options. No doubt, reuse of land and property will remain a hallmark of the town’s future. Additional plans for growth include revitalization of Weymouth's village centers, creation of a park and trail circuit extending the full length of the Back River, investments in municipal energy conservation as part of the state’s Green Communities program, and public infrastructure improvements consistent with Complete Streets principles.

Weymouth has a bright future ahead of it. Many great families are attracted to the community as a good place to live and work because it offers a variety of housing choices in both price and style, convenient public transportation to Boston, premier medical care facilities, and a fine system of parks and open space. So long as Weymouth continues to attract new families and good businesses, the town will remain rich in community and potential.