Millis is a suburb of Boston with a population of 8,202 located in Norfolk County and offers residents a sparse suburban feel. Conveniently 26 miles southwest of Boston, 32 miles east of Worcester, and 32 miles north of Providence. Major roadways include Route 109 which connects east and west to 495 and Route 115, the major north-south route through town.
The Town was named after Lansing Millis, a railroad entrepreneur, built a strong rail system which was the most significant factor in its independence from Medway and the promotion of economic growth in the town. The old railroad that formerly began in Medway is known as the Bay Colony Railroad. The railroad is now mostly defunct, but several miles of the Bay Colony tracks in Millis are owned by the MBTA and are leased by the Bay Colony Railroad line which merges with the present-day MBTA Commuter Rail line in Needam. One of the most notable sites in Millis is Richardson’s Tavern, which was built in 1720. This tavern accommodated George Washington for lunch on his way to Cambridge in 1775.
The Millis school system is the smallest public school system in the state with the elementary school serving students in pre-K-grade4. In 2010, Millis earned Silver Medal status as one of America’s Best High Schools in U.S. News & World Report’s latest ranking of public high schools ranking in the top 3%. There are also several parks in Millis and many canoe launch sites with access to the Charles River for outdoor enjoyment.
