ABOUT
Walpole is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States.The population was 24,070 at the 2010 census.
History
It started out as a territory that was claimed by the Neponset Native American tribe.The Neponset tribe officially claimed the area that is now Walpole, and some of its surrounding territory in 1635. The town ofDedham was not included in this claim, so they began to negotiate with the Neponset tribe to gain land. In 1636, a deal was made between the town of Dedham and the Neponsets to grant Dedham lands that now comprise the towns of Walpole, Norwood, Westwood, Medfield, Norfolk and Doveras well as Dedham. The land given to Dedham in this deal currently includes parts of 16 different towns.After the territory was bought from Dedham, the saw mill industry began to rise in the area. The first saw mill in Walpole was built near what is now School Meadow Brook and the Neponset river. It was located in the area that is now the Walpole Town Forest. The mill was built and later owned by Joshua Fisher and Major Eleazer Lusher, two wealthy men of Dedham.Walpole soon wanted to sever its ties with Dedham, so its residents began to petition at Dedham town meetings to become a completely separate town. The request was granted by the town of Dedham in 1724, and the town was officially named Walpole, after Sir Robert Walpole.