HISTORY:
The Town of Weymouth is the second oldest town in the Commonwealth, dating from 1622 when it was founded as "Wessagusset". Renamed Weymouth in 1635, the Town was boosted in that year by the arrival of 100 settlers form its namesake in England. The early settlement was incorporated into the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and slowly grew as a fishing and agricultural community. By the time of the American Revolution, the colonial settlement had a population of 1,470 people. The Town was graced by the simple houses and churches that were wooden replicas of the brick and stone architecture of European origin, some of which have survived as reminders of this past. Although it maintained with an important connection to the sea, the Town was connected to nearby communities by a simple network of paths and roads that found the most convenient routes through the varied upland terrain. The skeletal remains of this early roadway network can be traced in some of the Town's streets and ways today. As an example, Commercial Street has been identified as an original Native American trail in the Town's latest cultural resource survey. This meandering pattern of main roads is directly linked to the charm of the Town.

DEMOGRAPHICS:
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.6 square miles (56.0 km²), of which, 17.0 square miles (44.1 km²) of it is land and 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²) of it (21.29%) is water.  Weymouth contains the Weymouth Backdoor River; its surroundings, formerly industrial, are now set aside as parks and natural areas. 
Dwellers in Weymouth often designate which part of the town they live in through four distinct official 'districts'. North Weymouth is considered anything north of the intersection of Church Street, North Street and Green Street. Some of the sites around North Weymouth are Great Esker Park, George Lane Beach and The Abigail Adams Historical Society. South Weymouth is mostly south of Route 3. The Ukelele Museum is in the neighborhood. East Weymouth is situated somewhat in the center of Weymouth, including Whitman's Pond, Jackson Square, and Town Hall. East Weymouth has several fine examples of Victorian homes, including Queen Anne, shingle, and colonial revival homes. Weymouth Landing spans a mile around Weston Park.  Weymouth is bordered on the north by Hingham Bay. Weymouth's territory includes Grape Island, Slate Island, and Sheep Island, all part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. Weymouth is bordered on the west by Quincy, Braintree, and Holbrook. It is bordered on the south by Abington and Rockland. Weymouth is bordered on the east by Hingham.

As of the census of 2000, there were 53,988 people, 22,028 households, and 13,921 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,174.2 people per square mile (1,225.4/km²). There were 22,573 housing units at an average density of 1,327.1/sq mi (512.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.9% White, 1.4% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.  There were 22,028 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.08.  In the city the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.  The median income for a household in the city was $51,665, and the median income for a family was $64,083. Males had a median income of $42,497 versus $35,963 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,976. About 4.1% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

TRANSPORTATION:
Weymouth is served by several MBTA Bus routes as well as three MBTA Commuter Rail stations: two on the Greenbush Line, at Weymouth Landing and near Jackson Square, and one on the Old Colony Line at South Weymouth.  In 1999 Weymouth residents voted to change to a city form of government. David M. Madden was elected as the city's first mayor. Weymouth is home to one of the youngest councils in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with four elected officials 35 years or younger. Kevin Whitaker, 35, Greg Shanahan, 30, Arthur Matthews, 30, and Patrick O'Connor, 21.   On July 10, 2007, Mayor David M. Madden announced he would not seek re-election. 

EDUCATION:
Weymouth High School is the one high school in Weymouth. Before a new wing was added to the high school in South Weymouth, there were two high schools: North and South. Recently, a new wing was added to the South school, named the "Gold Building." The North school became Maria Weston Chapman Middle School. More than 2,000 students attend the high school. A brand new athletic surface was completed in 2005, giving Weymouth High School an artificial turf field and a track surface.
There are two middle schools, both in East Weymouth.
Abigail Adams Middle and Maria Weston Chapman Middle School
There are eight primary schools and one early childhood center, five of which are named after Weymouth's Congressional Medal of Honor recipients.  In addition, there are five private schools in Weymouth.
South Shore Christian Academy, an independent, Christian college preparatory day school for students in grades K-12. SSCA also operates a pre-school program. Saint Jerome Elementary School, a Catholic elementary school for grades Pre K-8.  Sacred Heart Elementary School, a Catholic elementary school under the direction of the Archdiocese of Boston for grades Pre K-8.  First Baptist Christian, an elementary school for grades Pre K-8, under the direction of the First Baptist Church of Weymouth.  St. Francis Xavier, a Catholic elementary school under the direction of St. Francis Parish.