[3][1] Dedham agreed that the services were inadequate and did not oppose the separation, but did try to reduce the amount of land the separatists were seeking.

[4] The General Court agreed with the petitioners, however, and created the new town of Needham with the original boundaries requested.

Opposition to this desire created conflict, and in 1774 a mysterious fire destroyed the existent meeting house.

The fill to reclaim the bay from the water was obtained from Needham, Massachusetts from the area of present-day Route 128.

In 1865, William Carter established a knitting mill company in Needham Heights that would eventually become a major manufacturer and leading brand of children's apparel in the United States.

A notably wealthy man due to his having improved the mechanical sewing machine, Baker assembled a parcel of land exceeding 800 acres (3.2 km2) and named it Ridge Hill Farm.

Baker turned part of his property into an amusement park with exotic animals, tunnels, trick floors and mirrors.

[8] In 1891, George Walker, Boston owner of a lithograph company, and Gustavos Gordon, scientist, formed Walker-Gordon Laboratories to develop processes for the prevention of contamination of milk and to answer the call by enlightened physicians for better babies' milk formulas.

This plant was located in the Charles River Village section of Needham with another large facility in New Jersey.

The following year, Needham and Wellesley high schools began playing an annual football game on Thanksgiving, now the second-longest running high school football rivalry in the United States[10] (and longest such contest on Thanksgiving).

In 2013, Wellesley broke a three-year Thanksgiving game losing streak to the Needham Rockets, defeating them 22–6.

In addition to Wellesley on the northwest, Needham borders Newton and the West Roxbury section of Boston on the northeast, and Dover, Westwood, and Dedham on the south.

The majority of Cutler Park is in Needham and is located along the Charles River and the border with Newton and West Roxbury.

Also, the populace of Needham elects a Select Board, which is essentially the executive branch of the town government.

Needham is primarily a bedroom community and commuter suburban district located outside of Boston.

The northern side of town beyond the I-95/Route 128 beltway, however, was developed for light industry shortly after World War II.

More recently, Needham has begun to attract high technology and internet firms, such as PTC and TripAdvisor, to this part of town.

The I-95/Route 128 circumferential highway that circles Boston passes through Needham, with three exits providing access to the town.

In addition to the stations listed above, the facility is also home to New England Cable News and NBC Sports Boston.