BROOKLINE, a residential town of Norfolk county, Massa chusetts, U.S.A., almost surrounded by Boston, and separated from the rest of Norfolk county by parts of Suffolk and Middle sex counties. Within its limits are the villages of Brookline, Cottage Farms, Longwood, Beaconsfield and Chestnut Hill. The Chestnut Hill reservoir is just outside its western boundary. It is served by the Boston and Albany railroad and by Boston electric lines. Its land area is 6.63 sq.m. The population in 1930 was (Federal census).
Brookline is the largest municipality of Massachusetts that still operates under a town government, and for its size is wealthiest of all the cities and towns of the country with a population of 30,000 or more. The assessed valuation of property in 1926 was giving a per caput valuation of about $3,400. It has long been regarded as a model suburb. It was the home of Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape gardener, and contains many examples of his work. The only manufactures of conse quence are automobile bodies and scientific apparatus. Brookline was originally a part of Boston, called Muddy River Hamlet. The town of Brookline was set apart from Boston and incorporated in 1705. Until 1793 it was a part of Suffolk county.