It was abandoned during the King Philip's war, and when Norfolk was re-established settlers relied on agriculture and cattle grazing with some considerable lumbering and planting of orchards. After 1812, three cotton manufacturing companies were established at Stony Brook, and later in the 19th century George Campbell's paper mill was opened at Highland Lake making heavy wrapping and building papers.

In the modern era, the town saw a rapid increase in population after 1925 when the state built a state prison in Norfolk and a hospital. Major residential development took place before 1940 in the Pondville and Clark Streets section of town with scattered new housing along Seekonk and Main Streets, and suburban residential building has continued since.

Norfolk Mass is located in Eastern Massachusetts, bordered by Millis and Medfield on the north, Walpole on the east, Foxborough and Wrentham on the south, and Franklin and Medway on the west. Norfolk is 20 miles southeast of Boston; about 28 miles north of Providence, Rhode island; and about 205 miles from New York City.