Northbridge is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 16,335 at the 2020 census. The Northbridge Town Hall is located at 7 Main Street in Whitinsville. The town is now a part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, of the National Park Service. Northbridge claims to history include: Native American Nipmuc lands, Colonel John Spring, who led the Uxbridge militia training company in the American Revolution, Samuel Spring, Revolutionary War Chaplain, the Residence of Ezra T. Benson 1830–1832, the birthplace of PresidentMillard Fillmore's mother, Phoebe, and home to the Whitin Machine Works from 1831 to 1964.
For geographic and demographic information on the village of Whitinsville, please see the article Whitinsville, Massachusetts.
History
Early history
The earliest residents were the Nipmuc, or "Small Pond People". They had a well-developed agriculture, made tools, and had a graphite mine at Sturbridge. Northbridge was first settled by Europeans in 1704 and was officially incorporated on July 14, 1772. The town was once part of Mendon, from 1667 to 1726, and part of Uxbridge, from 1727 to 1772. Colonel John Spring, who had agitated for the new town of Northbridge, and later reversed his position, led a company of men in the Massachusetts Militia in the Revolution. Dozens of local men fought at the Lexington Alarm, and at Bunker Hill. Samuel Spring, John's son, became a Revolutionary War Chaplain commissioned in the militia at the Siege of Boston, and who also served in the Invasion of Canada (1775) under Colonel Benedict Arnold. Samuel carried Benedict Arnold and Aaron Burr, his Princeton classmate, off of separate battlefields. Colonel Seth Read and his brother, Colonel Joseph Read owned more than half of the land in this town at the time of the American Revolutionary War.[1] They both fought in the Massachusetts Militia, and the Continental Army.[1] The mother of President Millard Fillmore, Phoebe Millard (Fillmore), was born in Northbridge. Ezra Taft Benson, Sr., a famous Mormon pioneer, lived here from 1830 to 1832 on his sister's farm.[2] He married Pamela Andrus, of Northbridge, and also apparently her sister, Adeline Brooks Andrus.[2] He then married six more times and served as a missionary to the Sandwich Islands, and in the Utah Territorial Legislature.[2]
Manufacturing and Mill Villages
Whitin Machine Shop, 1897.The former Whitin Machine Works, now known as the Whitinsville shop, located in the village of Whitinsville in the town of Northbridge.
This suburban community near Worcester has a rich manufacturing heritage. The Blackstone and Mumford Rivers run through the Town and in the early 19th century numerous industrial developments were erected along the riverbanks, most notably the Whitin Machine Shop in Whitinsville, at its peak the largest manufacturer of textile machines in the world.[4] The textile machine company and industrial village was written up as one of the Harvard studies of history in business.[4] Northbridge stands as a testament to the success of mill villages throughout the 19th and 20th centuries when production was expanding so greatly that immigrant labor from Canada, the Netherlands and Armenia was imported.[5] Now, these mills stand, mostly renovated into housing and various businesses along the Blackstone River. Home of Lookout Rock, through which the bike trails pass and which overlooks the river below, the outskirts of the valley's community have a number of horse farms.[5] Today most of the mill buildings are no longer used to full capacity, however, they do offer incubator space to small businesses. Further, most of the town's architecture developed during the 19th century has been preserved.
National Heritage Corridor
Northbridge is part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission and is working with its neighboring communities to "promote the region's special character and sense of history".[citation needed] The Blackstone River Valley was the first industrialized region in the United States. Northbridge has a number of valley sites designated by the National Park service.[6] The reservoir of the West Hill Dam flood control project and recreation area also lies within the town limits of Northbridge.
Development
Several goals of the town are: "to strengthen the local economy through developing and reusing industrial areas as well as retaining existing businesses"; and, "to keep Northbridge as a desirable place to live through preserving and revitalizing the village centers, maintaining and expanding town services, and protecting natural resources".[citation needed]
In 2009, Northbridge was named a 'Bio-Ready' community by the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council.[7] As of January 22, 2021, Northbridge maintains a Bronze BioReady rating.[8]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 18.1 square miles (47km2), of which 17.2 square miles (45km2) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3km2) (4.87%) is water.
As of the census[21] of 2010, there were 15,707 people, 5,896 households, and 4,097 families residing in the town. The population density was 913.2 inhabitants per square mile (352.6/km2). There were 6,172 housing units at an average density of 341 per square mile (132/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.0% White, 0.70% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.1% of the population.
There were 5,896 households, out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.5% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.1. In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.5% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $68,981, and the median income for a family was $87,359. Males had a median income of $57,076 versus $44,825 for females. The per capita income for the town was $30,945. About 4.6% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Situated between Interstates 90 (Mass Pike), 146, 395, and 495, Northbridge has highway access to and from major cities such as Worcester, Providence and Boston. Route 146 has a small portion in the town. Also, Route 122 runs along Providence Road.
The nearest commuter rail station into Boston is located in nearby Grafton, approximately nine miles away. The town is located equidistantly (approx. 10–12 miles) between the Franklin/495/Forge Park T-station and the Worcester T-station, both with ample parking. A section of the Blackstone River Greenway, part of the East Coast Greenway is proposed to cross the town. If completed, the trail would connect the town to Worcester's downtown Union Station, as well as to Woonsocket, Providence, and Newport.[22] The WRTA has weekday bus service to Grafton station, as well as to Millbury.[23]
Historically, Northbridge had trolleys running through some of its village centers, and was on a commuter train line running from Worcester to Providence. The train runs as a freight line currently, however, discussion has begun in Rhode Island and Massachusetts about the possible redevelopment of a commuter line on this route[24]
Whitinsville Social Library, Northbridge, 1899 – Now current town hall
Education
Northbridge has both a public education system and a private education system. The public schools are operated by Northbridge Public Schools.
Pre-K–5 is located at the Northbridge Elementary School located at 21 Crescent Street
6–8 is located at the Northbridge Middle School located at 171 Linwood Avenue
Whitinsville Christian School is located at 279 Linwood Avenue in Whitinsville. The school houses Pre-K through 12th grade and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
The public library in Northbridge began in 1844.[25][26] In fiscal year 2011, the town of Northbridge spent 0.26% ($96,756) of its budget on its public library—approximately $6.16 per person, per year ($7.22 adjusted for inflation to 2021).[27]
Utilities
Local cable TV service is served by Charter Communication, Electricity is provided by National Grid and gas by Nstar/Commonwealth Gas Company.
Notable people
Glenn Adams (born 1947), Major League Baseball outfielder for three teams
1 2 Buford, Mary Hunter (1895). Seth Read, Lieut.-Col.Continental Army; Pioneer at Geneva, New York, 1787, and at Erie, Penn., June, 1795. His Ancestors and Descendants. Boston, Mass. pp.167 Pages on CD in PDF Format.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
1 2 Navin, Thomas R (1969). The Whitin Machine Works since 1831: A textile machinery company in an industrial village; Harvard studies in business history. Russel and Russel.
1 2 "Northbridge". Blackstonedaily.com. Archived from the original on October 16, 2006. Retrieved December 11, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
↑ "1950 Census of Population"(PDF). Bureau of the Census. 1952. Section 6, Pages 21-10 and 21-11, Massachusetts Table 6. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1930 to 1950. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
↑ "1920 Census of Population"(PDF). Bureau of the Census. Number of Inhabitants, by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions. Pages 21-5 through 21-7. Massachusetts Table 2. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1920, 1910, and 1920. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
↑ "1890 Census of the Population"(PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. Pages 179 through 182. Massachusetts Table 5. Population of States and Territories by Minor Civil Divisions: 1880 and 1890. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
↑ "1870 Census of the Population"(PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1872. Pages 217 through 220. Table IX. Population of Minor Civil Divisions, &c. Massachusetts. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
↑ "1860 Census"(PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1864. Pages 220 through 226. State of Massachusetts Table No. 3. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
↑ "1850 Census"(PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1854. Pages 338 through 393. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
↑ C.B. Tillinghast. The free public libraries of Massachusetts. 1st Report of the Free Public Library Commission of Massachusetts. Boston: Wright & Potter, 1891. Google books
↑ July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011; cf. The FY2011 Municipal Pie: What's Your Share? Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Board of Library Commissioners. Boston: 2013. Available: . Retrieved December 14, 2013
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The Mumford River is an 18.3-mile-long (29.5 km) river in south-central Massachusetts. It is a tributary of the Blackstone River.
Linwood is a village with its own post office in the towns of Northbridge and Uxbridge, Massachusetts, United States.
Col. Paul Whitin, (1767–1831) was an American blacksmith and pioneering industrialist who in 1826 in Northbridge, Massachusetts established P Whitin and Sons, a new cotton mill with his sons. This company would grow and acquire other mills in the area. In 1831 his son John C Whitin obtained a patent for a mechanized Cotton Picker. Textile machinery would become a larger percentage of their business over time. would later become the largest maker of specialty textile machinery in the world.
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The Whitin Machine Works (WMW) was founded by Paul Whitin and his sons in 1831 on the banks of the Mumford River in Northbridge, Massachusetts. The village in this section of Northbridge became known as Whitinsville in 1835, in honor of its founder.
The Whitinsville Historic District is a historic district on Church, East, Fletcher, Hill, Woodland, Lake, and Water Sts., Castle Hill Rs., and Linwood Avenue in Northbridge, Massachusetts. The district encompasses the historic 19th century mill village of Whitinsville, which grew up around an 1826 brick mill building erected by Paul Whitin. The Whitin family came to dominate the textile trade in Northbridge, with numerous mill complexes.
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