Whitinsville, Massachusetts facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Whitinsville, Massachusetts
Census-designated place
Downtown Whitinsville
Location in Worcester County and the state of Massachusetts.
Area map
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Worcester
Government
• Type	(None) Part of Northbridge, Massachusetts
Area
• Total	4.03 sq mi (10.43 km2)
• Land	3.64 sq mi (9.43 km2)
• Water	0.39 sq mi (1.00 km2)
Elevation	322 ft (98 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,750
• Density	1,853.38/sq mi (715.52/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	01588
Area code(s)	508
FIPS code	79495
GNIS feature ID	0611078

Whitinsville is a small village located within the town of Northbridge in Worcester County, Massachusetts. It's a special kind of community called a census-designated place (CDP). In 2020, about 6,750 people lived there.

Whitinsville is pronounced "White-ins-ville." It was named after the Whitin family, who founded it. The village has its own post office with the ZIP Code 01588. It sits along the Mumford River, which flows into the Blackstone River.

This village is very important to America's early industrial history. It's one of only four villages chosen by the John H. Chaffee Blackstone River Valley National Historic Corridor Commission for its historical significance.

History of Whitinsville

A Mill Village

The Brick Mill, 1826

Whitinsville Cotton Mill, 1846

Whitin Machine Works

The land where Whitinsville now stands was originally home to the Nipmuc Native American people. The first European settlers arrived in 1662, and it was part of Mendon. Later, it became part of Uxbridge from 1727 to 1772. In 1772, Northbridge became its own separate town. Before the Whitin family became famous, the village was known as "South Northbridge."

During the American Revolution, a local military group from Uxbridge, led by Col. John Spring, fought in the war. Col. Spring was from the area that became South Northbridge.

Today, you can still see many of the original buildings in Whitinsville. These include homes for workers, churches, and the Whitin Community Center. The Whitin Machine Works, founded in 1831, grew to be the biggest maker of textile machines in the world. It closed in 1964.

A famous swimmer named Alice Bridges trained in Whitinsville. She won a medal in backstroke at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Whitin Community Center

The Whitin Community Center is a non-profit organization often called "The Gym." It's located at 60 Main Street on what used to be the 11-acre estate of John C. Whitin.

In 1922, four of John C. Whitin's daughters gave money to build a gym and pool. They wanted to create a place for local people to enjoy, in memory of their father. This recreation center was one of the best in Massachusetts. It was well-known for its swimming program and even sent swimmers to the 1932 and 1936 Olympics.

A fire damaged the Gym in 1959, but it was rebuilt with help from many people. In the 1990s, the center was expanded and updated. New areas were added for child care and adult fitness. They also built a new lobby, an elevator, and racquetball courts. The original 1922 building was also updated.

In 1996, they started building a new, modern swimming pool. It opened in 1998 as an outdoor pool and then was covered for year-round use in 1999. The center also worked to restore the historic look of its Main Street side. The parking areas were made bigger too.

In 2000, a plan was made to fix up and make Whitin Park beautiful. This park is 7.5 acres behind the Community Center. Stone walls were rebuilt, new walking trails were added, and lights were installed. A new open-air shelter, the Gerry Gaudette pavilion, was built where an old teahouse used to be. This shelter is used by the center's child care and summer camp programs, and by the community.

Today, the Whitin Community Center is a busy place with 4,500 members. It also helps many non-members through its programs. It's a non-profit organization that offers child care and family fun. It's the largest Child Care Center in the Blackstone Valley, with a pre-kindergarten school, full-day care for preschoolers, and a big program for school-aged kids. This program provides care before and after school, and all day during school vacations.

In 1995, the center started a new Outreach program. This program helps bring together all the children in the community, no matter where they live or how much money their families have. They offer fun activities like Saturday afternoon events, open swimming, trips to museums and baseball games, youth theater, teen dances, and concerts. In 2002, they opened the Rockdale Youth Center. This center offers free after-school programs and supervision for kids aged 8–13.

Pine Grove Cemetery

The Pine Grove Cemetery is a historic cemetery that is 35 acres in size. It was started in 1878 by members of the Whitin family. The Town of Northbridge now owns the cemetery.

Geography

Whitinsville is located at 42°6′44″N 71°40′22″W / 42.11222°N 71.67278°W / 42.11222; -71.67278.

According to the 2010 United States Census Bureau, the village covers about 3.64 square miles. There were about 1,840 people living in each square mile. Whitinsville is a "village" inside the larger town of Northbridge, Massachusetts. It is found in Worcester County.

Climate

In Whitinsville, the temperature usually drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit for about 195 days each year. The area gets about 46.3 inches of rain or snow every year, which is a lot for the U.S. Snow usually covers the ground for about 60 days a year.

Population and People

Churches

Village Congregational Church

St. Patrick's Church

In 2010, there were 6,704 people living in Whitinsville. About 52.1% of the population were female. Most people (95.2%) were White. There were also smaller groups of African American, Native American, and Asian people. About 3.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino. About 4.6% of homes speak a language other than English.

There were 2,613 homes, and many of them were in buildings with multiple apartments. About 58.9% of people owned their homes. Most people (85.9%) had lived in the same home for a year or more.

The average home had about 2.87 people living in it. About 7.4% of the population was under 5 years old, and 28.1% was under 18. About 12.0% of people were 65 years old or older.

Most people over 25 (85.9%) have finished high school. About 27.2% have a college degree or higher. On average, people spend about 29.2 minutes traveling to work.

Different Cultures

In the 1800s, many Irish immigrants came to work in the Whitin mills. Today, Irish people make up 21.4% of the town's population. Other groups living in Whitinsville include Armenians, English, Italians, French-Canadians, and Dutch.

Education

Since Whitinsville is part of the town of Northbridge, students go to schools in the Northbridge Public Schools system. There is also a private school called Whitinsville Christian School, which teaches students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

Famous People from Whitinsville

• Vernon Ahmadjian: A scientist who studied lichens.
• John R. Driscoll: A businessman and politician from Massachusetts.
• Steve Spagnuolo: A football coach who has worked for teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and was head coach of the St. Louis Rams.
• Samuel Spring: A chaplain during the Revolutionary War.
• Phil Vandersea: A football player who played for the Green Bay Packers.
• Hildegarde Lasell Watson: A singer, actress, and writer.
• Sarah Elizabeth Whitin: She gave money to build the Whitin Observatory at Wellesley College.
• Paul Whitin: The person who started the Whitin Machine Works.

See also

In Spanish: Whitinsville (Massachusetts) para niños