Foxborough, Massachusetts

Foxborough, Massachusetts Foxboro
Town
Gillette Stadium, Memorial Hall, Patriot Place, sign in Foxborough, Congregational Church and the Orpheum Theatre
Seal
Nickname(s): The Gem of Norfolk County
Location in Norfolk County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°03′55″N 71°14′54″W / 42.06528°N 71.24833°W / 42.06528; -71.24833
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Norfolk
Settled	1704
Incorporated	June 10, 1778
Government
• Type	Open town meeting
Area
• Total	20.9 sq mi (54.1 km2)
• Land	20.1 sq mi (52.0 km2)
• Water	0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2)
Elevation	289 ft (88 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	16,693
• Density	800/sq mi (310/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code	02035
Area code(s)	508 / 774
FIPS code	25-24820
GNIS feature ID	0618320
Website	www.foxboroughma.gov

Foxborough is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, about 22 miles (35 km) southwest of Boston and 18 miles (29 km) northeast of Providence, Rhode Island. The population was 16,865 at the 2010 census.

"Foxborough" is the official spelling of the town name, although the alternative spelling "Foxboro" is also frequently used. This alternative spelling is used by the United States Postal Service as the correct form by which to address mail to recipients in the town although both can be processed by their system. The sign on the post office reads "Foxboro."

The town is best known as the site of Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots of the National Football League and the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer.

For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Foxborough, please see the article Foxborough (CDP), Massachusetts.

Settled in 1704 and incorporated in 1778, the town of Foxborough was named for Charles James Fox, a Whig member of Parliament and a staunch supporter of the Colonies in the years leading up to the American Revolution.

The town was once home to the world's largest straw hat factory. Founded by local businessman E.P. Carpenter, the Union Straw Works burned to the ground in the early 20th century. The town post office now stands on the site.