2012 Map of Franklin

About this map

Bellingham and Franklin anchor this regional survey of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island borderlands, where the Charles River winds through a landscape defined by glacial hills and numerous small ponds. The 2012 data shows a complex pattern of suburban growth centered on the intersection of I-495 and local routes like Ma 140, while preserving local heritage in the form of numerous historic burial grounds. Genealogists and local historians can find Ballou Cem and the nearby Elder Ballou Mtg House Rd, which point to the area’s early Quaker and religious history. The map captures the transition from the concentrated campus of Dean Junior College to the outlying rural settlements of Sheldonville and Burnt Swamp Corner. Prominent topographical features such as Pigeon Hill and Forge Hill rise above the drainage basins of the Peters River and Miscoe Brook, illustrating the varied terrain of the Norfolk and Providence County border.