Open Space and Recreation Plan - Town of Natick

Draft 9-16-11
Employment Trends
Natick is an economically vibrant community, with a low unemployment rate and is known as a
business-friendly community. As a testament to the desirability of Natick, many major employers
have chosen to locate their world or national headquarters in Natick, including: Cognex, MathWorks,
Boston Scientific, and BJ’s, among others.
That may account for Natick’s lower unemployment rate, historically lower by at least one-third than
the statewide rate. In February 2011, the unemployment rate in Natick was 5.1%, compared with
statewide rate of 8.7%. In 2011, Natick’s total labor force was 18,787. The average weekly wage
increased from $910 in 2002 to $1128 in 2010. The largest sector in 2010 was Retail Trade with
average monthly employment of 5,902, followed by Professional and Technical Services (5,003),
Education and Health Services (4,462), and Leisure and Hospitality (2,301).
D. Growth and Development Patterns
Patterns and Trends
Natick’s commercial center began in the south and shifted north in several stages, following the
development of the local transportation system. In the mid-17 th century Natick was settled on the
Charles River, in what is now South Natick. In the mid-19 th century the railroad hastened
development of what became downtown Natick. With the advent of the automobile in the 20th
century, commercial activity moved further northward to Route 9 and finally toward the
Massachusetts Turnpike’s Exit 13.
In the 19th century, in Natick and throughout Massachusetts, the economy shifted from agricultural to
industrial. Natick’s geography was dramatically changed in 1835, when the railroad connecting
Boston and Worcester was built through the geographical center of town. The area around the train
station became known as downtown Natick, which quickly surpassed South Natick in population and
economic activity. The railroad made downtown Natick an ideal site for new factories, and housing
for the workers sprouted up nearby. South Natick experienced some of this type of growth, although
to a much lesser extent. Maps from the late 1800s show Natick as two distinct communities –
downtown Natick and South Natick. In other areas of Natick, abandoned farmland reverted back to
woods. Between 1800 and 1900, Natick’s population increased tenfold, from about 900 to 9,000. In
1900, nearly 2,000 persons were employed in manufacturing, and only 123 in agriculture.
In the 20th Century as manufacturing declined, Natick became a bedroom community of Boston. By
1950, two-thirds of Natick’s full-time workers were employed outside of Natick, including Boston.
Workers could live in downtown Natick and easily commute by train or car to their jobs. In the
1930s, Route 9 was built as the state’s first divided highway, allowing easy automobile access to
Boston or to Worcester. In 1957, the Massachusetts Turnpike was constructed along the old aqueduct
right-of-way, with Exit 13 at the Natick-Framingham border. The Turnpike, along with the existing
Route 9, gave commuters access to Boston, as well as new high technology jobs located along Route
128 to the east and Route 495 to the west
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