Randolph, Massachusetts is located fifteen (15) miles south of Boston with easy Interstate access to all points North,
South, West, and East. Randolph's geographical location has been an important factor in its economic and social history.
It also makes the Town attractive to commuters.
Randolph is 10.50 square miles. Part of the Boston Metropolitan area, the town is situated in the hilly terrain of
Norfolk County, east central Massachusetts at an average elevation of 172 feet above sea level. This area, well-watered
by many streams, ponds, and the Cochato River, is within miles of Massachusetts Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Originally
part of Braintree, the South Precinct (a place the Native Americans called Cochato) split off and was incorporated in 1793.
The town was named in honor of Peyton Randolph (1721-1775), a wealthy Virginia patriot and first president of the Continental
Congress in 1774.
At the time of Randolph's incorporation in 1793, local farmers were making shoes and boots to augment household incomes
from subsistence farming. In the next half century, this sideline had become the town's major industry, attracting workers
from across New England, Canada and Ireland and later from Italy and Eastern Europe, each adding to the quality of life in
the town.
By 1850, Randolph had become one of the nation's leading boot producers, shipping boots and shoes as far away as California
and Australia. The decline of the shoe industry at the beginning of the twentieth century led to Randolph's evolution as a
suburban residential community. Boot and shoe making has been supplanted by light manufacturing and service industries.
The town's proximity to major transportation networks has resulted in an influx of families from Boston and other localities
who live in Randolph but work throughout the metropolitan area. Today, as Randolph celebrates two full centuries as a town,
the community feels itself to be one of the most culturally diverse municipalities on the South Shore.
Modern day Randolph offers a variety of home styles, businesses, and industry. The commuter rail stops at the Randolph-Holbrook
station on its way to South Station and the MBTA bus system operates buses to the station and throughout the town. The
Amtrak commuter rail from Rte. 128 is only seven miles away. Logan International Airport in Boston and T.F. Green Airport
in Providence are less than 45 minutes from Randolph. Randolph has an active group of residents who volunteer on several
boards, committees, commissions, and PTO’s. Randolph also has an involved Chamber of Commerce as well as several
veterans, fraternal, and service organizations.
Randolph is a great place in which to live, work and do business.
