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 200 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 suburbanization, are evident in the very shape of the community.
Today Weymouth is a mature, strongly 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.
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 Civic Center District and the architecturally significant Fogg Library, Jefferson School, and Washington School.
Unlike traditional New England communities, Weymouth has no downtown center; rather it has four village centers, each featuring its own blend of historic buildings, land uses, and open space. Housing in the Town consists mostly of single-family homes nestled in established neighborhoods, with large apartment and condominium complexes interspersed. Weymouth’s popular recreation areas include Legion Field, George Lane Beach, Lovell Field, Great Esker Park, Weston Park, Pond Meadow Park, 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 small shopping plazas, while its village centers are home to an eclectic mix of local stores. A large office park is located just minutes from Route 3, along Libbey Industrial Parkway.
Due to its abundance of medical service facilities, Weymouth has been called the "South Shore’s medical Mecca”. The community has more than 20 medical buildings, which house over 100 laboratories, physician groups, and treatment centers. At the heart of the Town’s two-mile medical district is South Shore Health Systems, the Town'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, including Boston Children’s Hospital and Harbor Medical Associates, a Brigham and Women’s Health Care affiliate.
Despite being nearly built out, Weymouth has strong potential for controlled growth in the coming years. Union Point, an evolving 1,400-acre, mixed-use development at the former Naval Air Station South Weymouth, is expected to become one of the South Shore's premiere transit-oriented neighborhoods. Additional plans for growth include revitalization of Weymouth's village centers, creation of a park and trail network extending the length of the Back River, investments in energy conservation through the Massachusetts Green Communities program, public infrastructure improvements consistent with Complete Streets, and design and construction of a new main public library.
In 2018, Weymouth was designated a Housing Choice Community by the Commonwealth for its high production of new housing units to support the state's changing population and growing economy. While Massachusetts home prices have increased at the fastest rate in the nation, families continue to be attracted to Weymouth for its diverse housing stock, convenient transportation options, premier health care facilities, and fine system of parks and open space. So long as Weymouth continues to attract new families and strong businesses, the Town will remain rich in both history and community.
