Natick, MA

Natick is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 34,912 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Greater Boston metropolitan area. Natick is home to Natick Mall and the corporate headquarters of Honeywell International.

The land that now comprises Natick was first settled by the Natick Indians in 1675. The first European settler in what would become Natick was Ebenezer Richardson, who built a sawmill on the banks of the Sudbury River in 1793. In 1802, Richardson sold his mill to James Lloyd and John Brownell, who established a cotton mill on the site. The mills were among the largest in New England and played an important role in early industrialization in Massachusetts.

In 1822, Samuel Prescott opened a general store on Main Street and became one of the town's leading businessmen. He served as postmaster for more than 30 years and also served as mayor several times. In 1848, Prescott built one of Natick's first brick buildings – now known as The Prescott House – which still stands on Main Street today.

In 1861, Charles Follen McKim designed what is now known as McKim Building (now part of Honeywell International's corporate headquarters) for Prescott & Co., which became one of Natick's most prominent businesses at the time. In 1865-66, architect Henry Hobson Richardson designed two churches – First Congregational Church (now Saint John's Episcopal Church) and Second Congregational Church (now Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church). Both churches are considered significant examples of Richardson's ecclesiastical architecture and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1870-71, architect George Bulfinch designed Town Hall (now used by local schools) and several other buildings for use by local businesses and government agencies. In 1886-87, he designed Beacon Hill School (now closed), which remains one of his most notable works outside Boston proper.

During World War I natick experienced a boom due to its proximity to military bases such as Fort Devens and Camp Edwards; however this growth slowed after World War II ended due to suburbanization across greater Boston area suburbs such as Newton Highlands/ Waltham/ Chelmsford/ Framingham etc.. A new residential development called "The Village" began construction in 1978 just east off Route 9 near Route 128 with completion around 1984 bringing much needed housing stock into town while adding restaurants like Pizzeria Uno which helped revive downtown nightlife during late nights when many other bars closed their doors or moved out from downtown into newer developments like Mill Road Plaza or Wellington Shopping Center located further away from downtown core but closer to major highways making it easier for people living outside town limits or work hours to get home without having too much trouble finding parking etc.. Downtown revitalization efforts have been ongoing since then with various projects undertaken including: restoration & adaptive reuse work done at former department store Macy’s building now occupied by law firm Foley Hoag LLP; renovation & reopening later that year by restaurateur Charlie Trotter who turned it into Charlie Trotter’s American Bistro; redevelopment project started soon after led by developer Mark Cohen involving restoration & adaptive reuse work done at former Sears building currently occupied by restaurant Zendesk; recent project completed transforming former Kmart building into apartments called "The Residences at Kmart".