Northbridge is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. In 2020, about 16,335 people lived there. The main town hall is in Whitinsville.

Northbridge is now part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. This area is special because it was one of the first places in the United States to become industrialized. The town has a rich history, including being home to the Nipmuc Native Americans and playing a role in the American Revolution. It was also the birthplace of President Millard Fillmore's mother.

Northbridge's Past: A Look at Its History
Manufacturing and Mill Villages
Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor
Town Goals and Development
Geography of Northbridge
Northbridge's Population and People
Getting Around Northbridge: Transportation
Learning in Northbridge: Education
Northbridge Public Library
Utilities and Services
Notable People from Northbridge
See also

Northbridge's Past: A Look at Its History

Early Days and Native Americans

The first people to live in this area were the Nipmuc tribe. Their name means "Small Pond People." They were skilled farmers and made their own tools.

Europeans first settled in Northbridge in 1704. The town officially became its own town on July 14, 1772. Before that, it was part of Mendon (from 1667 to 1726) and then part of Uxbridge (from 1727 to 1772).

Northbridge and the American Revolution

Many local people from Northbridge fought in the American Revolution. For example, Colonel John Spring led a group of soldiers from the Massachusetts Militia. Dozens of men from the town fought in important battles like the Lexington Alarm and the Battle of Bunker Hill.

John Spring's son, Samuel Spring, became a chaplain during the Revolutionary War. He served with famous leaders like Benedict Arnold and Aaron Burr. Two other important figures, Colonel Seth Read and his brother Colonel Joseph Read, owned a lot of land in Northbridge during the war. They both fought in the Massachusetts Militia and the Continental Army.

Famous People from Northbridge's History

Did you know that the mother of U.S. President Millard Fillmore, Phoebe Millard (Fillmore), was born in Northbridge?

Also, Ezra Taft Benson, Sr., a well-known Mormon pioneer, lived in Northbridge from 1830 to 1832. He lived on his sister's farm during that time.

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.

Northbridge has a strong history of manufacturing. The Blackstone River and Mumford River flow through the town. In the early 1800s, many factories were built along these rivers. The most famous was the Whitin Machine Works in Whitinsville. At one point, it was the largest maker of textile machines (machines that make fabric) in the world!

The company and the village around it were so successful that people from other countries, like Canada, the Netherlands, and Armenia, came to work there. Today, many of these old mill buildings have been updated. They are now used for homes and different businesses.

Northbridge is also home to Lookout Rock, a place where bike trails pass and you can see the river below. The areas outside the main town have many horse farms. While most of the old mill buildings are not used for full-scale manufacturing anymore, they provide space for small businesses to start. Much of the town's old architecture from the 1800s has been kept safe.

Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor

Northbridge is an important part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. This group works with nearby towns to celebrate the area's special history. The Blackstone River Valley was the very first industrialized region in the United States. The National Park Service has recognized many sites in Northbridge as part of this important history.

The West Hill Dam is also located in Northbridge. This dam helps control floods and is also a popular place for recreation.

Town Goals and Development

Northbridge has goals to make the town even better. They want to make the local economy stronger by using old industrial areas for new businesses. They also want to help existing businesses stay in town. Another goal is to keep Northbridge a great place to live. This means protecting its natural resources and improving town services.

In 2009, Northbridge was recognized as a 'Bio-Ready' community by the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council. This means the town is ready to support and grow businesses in the biotechnology field.

Geography of Northbridge

Northbridge covers about 18.1 square miles (46.8 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Villages within Northbridge

Northbridge is made up of several smaller communities, or villages:

Whitinsville
Linwood
Rockdale
Riverdale
Northbridge Center
Adams' Corners
Plummer's Corner
Prentice Corner
Quaker District

Neighboring Towns

Northbridge is surrounded by several other towns:

To the North: Grafton
To the Northeast: Upton
To the East: Mendon
To the South: Uxbridge
To the West: Sutton

Northbridge's Climate

Climate data for Northbridge, Massachusetts
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	68 (20)	70 (21)	87 (31)	94 (34)	97 (36)	100 (38)	102 (39)	104 (40)	96 (36)	90 (32)	82 (28)	76 (24)	104 (40)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	37 (3)	41 (5)	48 (9)	60 (16)	70 (21)	79 (26)	84 (29)	83 (28)	75 (24)	64 (18)	53 (12)	42 (6)	61 (16)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	15 (−9)	18 (−8)	25 (−4)	35 (2)	45 (7)	55 (13)	60 (16)	59 (15)	49 (9)	38 (3)	30 (−1)	21 (−6)	38 (3)
Record low °F (°C)	−25 (−32)	−20 (−29)	−13 (−25)	11 (−12)	25 (−4)	31 (−1)	38 (3)	30 (−1)	23 (−5)	16 (−9)	−2 (−19)	−16 (−27)	−25 (−32)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	3.89 (99)	3.67 (93)	4.59 (117)	4.50 (114)	3.90 (99)	4.40 (112)	3.81 (97)	4.10 (104)	3.96 (101)	4.56 (116)	4.54 (115)	4.26 (108)	50.18 (1,275)

Northbridge's Population and People

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1790	569	—
1800	544	−4.4%
1810	713	+31.1%
1820	905	+26.9%
1830	1,053	+16.4%
1840	1,449	+37.6%
1850	2,230	+53.9%
1860	2,633	+18.1%
1870	3,774	+43.3%
1880	4,053	+7.4%
1890	4,603	+13.6%
1900	7,036	+52.9%
1910	8,807	+25.2%
1920	10,174	+15.5%
1930	9,713	−4.5%
1940	10,242	+5.4%
1950	10,476	+2.3%
1960	10,800	+3.1%
1970	11,795	+9.2%
1980	12,246	+3.8%
1990	13,371	+9.2%
2000	13,220	−1.1%
2010	15,707	+18.8%
2020	16,335	+4.0%
2022*	16,337	+0.0%
* = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data.

In 2010, there were 15,707 people living in Northbridge. The town had 5,896 households, with many families living together. About 34% of households had children under 18.

The population is spread out, with many young people, adults, and seniors. The median age in 2010 was 36 years old.

Getting Around Northbridge: Transportation

Northbridge is located near major highways like Interstates 90, 146, 395, and 495. This makes it easy to travel to bigger cities like Worcester, Providence, and Boston. Route 122 also runs through the town.

If you want to take a train to Boston, the closest station is in Grafton, about nine miles away. There are also bus services provided by the WRTA to Grafton station and Millbury.

A special bike path, the Blackstone River Greenway, is planned to go through Northbridge. This path would connect the town to Worcester's Union Station and other towns like Woonsocket, Providence, and Newport.

Historically, Northbridge had trolleys and a commuter train line. While the train line is currently used for freight, there are talks about bringing back commuter train service in the future.

Whitinsville Social Library, Northbridge, 1899 – Now current town hall

Learning in Northbridge: Education

Northbridge has both public and private schools. The public schools are managed by Northbridge Public Schools.

Elementary School: For Pre-K through 5th grade, students go to Northbridge Elementary School.
Middle School: Grades 6-8 attend Northbridge Middle School.
High School: Grades 9-12 go to Northbridge High School.

There is also a private school called Whitinsville Christian School. It teaches students from Pre-K all the way through 12th grade.

For students interested in hands-on learning, the Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School is nearby in Upton. It offers technical training for grades 9-12.

Northbridge Public Library

The public library in Northbridge has been around since 1844. It's a great place to find books, learn new things, and use computers.

Utilities and Services

In Northbridge, cable TV service is provided by Charter Communication. Electricity comes from National Grid, and gas is provided by Nstar/Commonwealth Gas Company.

Notable People from Northbridge

Many interesting people have connections to Northbridge:

Glenn Adams (born 1947), a professional baseball player.
Ezra T. Benson (1811–1869), an important Mormon pioneer.
Lou Lucier (1918–2014), another professional baseball player.
Harmon Oscar Nelson, who was married to famous actress Bette Davis.
Steve Spagnuolo, a well-known football coach.
Marcus Spring, a cotton merchant who started a special community in New Jersey.
Samuel Spring, a chaplain during the Revolutionary War.
Phil Vandersea, a football player for the Green Bay Packers in the 1960s.
Col. Paul C Whitin (1767), who founded the textile machine manufacturing business.
James Whitin, also involved with the Whitin Machine Works.
Thomson M. Whitin (1923–2013), a management scientist.
Steven Dorian (born 1977), a musician.

Northbridge, Massachusetts facts for kids

Contents