Blackstone Valley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blackstone Valley |
|
|---|---|
The Blackstone Valley in Massachusetts and Rhode Island
|
|
| Long-axis direction | Northwest-Southeast |
| Geology | |
| Type | River valley |
| Geography | |
| Location |  United States |
| Population centers | Worcester, Massachusetts, Providence, Rhode Island |
| Rivers | Blackstone River |
The Blackstone Valley is a special area in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It's famous for being a big part of America's Industrial Revolution. This is where factories and machines first started changing how things were made. Today, it's protected as part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor and a National Historical Park.
Contents
History of the Valley
A National Heritage Corridor
The John H. Chaffee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor stretches through the Blackstone Valley. It goes from Worcester, Massachusetts all the way to Providence, Rhode Island. This corridor shows how the Industrial Revolution began in America.
It started at the Slater Mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. From there, new ways of making things spread north along the valley. Then, these ideas went out to the rest of the country. In 1986, the U.S. Congress named this area a National Heritage Corridor. It includes 25 towns and cities in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Becoming a National Historical Park
In 2011, a report suggested that this important region should become a National Park. A few years later, in 2014, the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park was officially created. This helps protect its history and natural beauty.
Geography of the Valley
The Blackstone River
The river is named after William Blackstone. He was one of the first European settlers in the area. He built his home on the river in what is now Cumberland, Rhode Island. Long ago, Native Americans called this river the "Kittacuck." This name meant "the great tidal river." The Kittacuck, or Blackstone, used to have many salmon and lamprey fish.
In 1790, Samuel Slater opened America's first successful water-powered cotton mill. This was the Slater Mill at Pawtucket Falls. The Blackstone River's water powered this mill. Many other mills were built along the river over time. This made the river very important for American industry. However, all these factories also caused a lot of pollution in the river.
The Blackstone Canal
People in Providence wanted to trade more with farmers in the Blackstone Valley. So, they came up with the idea for a canal. A canal is like a man-made river for boats. Farmers in Worcester and the Valley liked this idea. It would help them get better prices for their crops.
Building the canal started in 1825. It cost $750,000, which was a lot of money back then! The canal opened on October 7, 1828. The first boat, the Lady Carrington, arrived in Worcester. The canal brought new wealth to Worcester and the Valley. Farmers made more money, and new factories were built. Moving goods by water was much better than using the bumpy roads of that time.
It took two days for boats to travel from Worcester to Providence. The boats would stop overnight in Uxbridge. But new technology soon arrived. In 1835, a railroad line opened from Boston to Worcester. Then, in 1847, the Providence and Worcester Railroad started running. Trains were faster than canal boats. So, the canal closed in 1848. Today, the canal is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Fun Places to Visit
The Blackstone Valley has many fun places to visit and explore. You can enjoy nature and learn about history at these spots:
- Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park in Northbridge and Uxbridge.
- Douglas State Forest in Douglas.
- Lincoln Woods State Park in Lincoln.
- Purgatory Chasm State Reservation in Sutton.
- Upton State Forest in Upton.
Getting Around the Valley
Roads for Travel
Two main roads go through the Blackstone Valley. Route 122 in Massachusetts is called the Blackstone Canal Heritage Highway. It passes through many old mill villages. The other important road is Route 146 in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Improvements to Route 146 in Massachusetts have helped the towns nearby.
Train Travel
Two train lines, the Worcester and Providence Lines, have stations in the Blackstone Valley. These trains can take you directly to Boston's South Station. Providence station also has Amtrak trains. These trains can take you to New York City and other places.
People of the Valley
In 2010, about 788,021 people lived in the Blackstone Valley. This area includes many towns and cities. The largest cities are Worcester and Providence.
