SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS

The 'Town of Southbridge' is a city^[1] in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,214, at the 2000 census.
For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Southbridge, please see the article Southbridge (CDP), Massachusetts.

Contents

History

Geography

Demographics

Government

Education

Transportation

Points of interest

Notable residents

See also

References

External links

History

Southbridge was first settled in 1730 and incorporated in 1816. As early as 1638,John Winthrop Jr. purchased a tract of land for mining ore. Water power from the Quinebaug River made Southbridge a good location for saw and grist mills in the 1700s and textile mills in the 1800s. People that were unskilled came to work there usually from Irish, French Canadian, Italian and Polish descent. Southbridge has a long history of manufacture of optical products. Under the leadership of the Wells family, The American Optical Company ("AO") became the world's largest manufacturer of ophthalmic products and at its height employed more than 6,000 people around the world.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 54.0 km² (20.9 mi²). 52.7 km² (20.4 mi²) of it is land and 1.3 km² (0.5 mi²) of it (2.40%) is water.
The principal road in Southbridge is Route 131, known as Main Street through downtown and East Main Street past the "AO Rotary" and through Sandersdale, a village on the town's east side. North-south roads include Eastford Road and Elm Street (Route 198), and Worcester Street-Mechanic Street-North Woodstock Road (Route 169.
Southbridge was formed out of portions of two of its neighboring towns: Sturbridge to the west and Dudley to the east. Other neighboring towns are Charlton to the north, and Woodstock, Connecticut, to the south.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 17,214 people, 7,077 households, and 4,522 families residing in the city. The population density was 326.4/km² (845.4/mi²). There were 7,511 housing units at an average density of 142.4/km² (368.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.23% White, 1.43% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 1.52% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 8.70% from other races, and 2.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.17% of the population.
There were 7,077 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,913, and the median income for a family was $41,863. Males had a median income of $36,008 versus $25,685 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,514. About 13.0% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Education

Southbridge has three public elementary schools, formerly "neighborhood schools" serving grades K-5. Since the 1988-1989 school year, however, all kindergarten and 1st grade classes have been at Eastford Road School; all of grades 2-3 at Charlton Street School; and all of grades 4-5 at West Street School. Grades 6-8 are at Mary E. Wells Junior High School, the former high school building. Grades 9-12 are at Southbridge High School, which includes the old Cole Trade School building. Southbridge residents can also attend Bay Path Vocational Technical High School in Charlton, MA.
In addition to the public schools, a parochial private school, Trinity Catholic Academy, serves the elementary grades.

Transportation

Southbridge has a small airfield, Southbridge Municipal Airport.

Points of interest

★ Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center - Combination hotel and office complex built behind the historical American Optical building.

★ Westville Lake and Recreation Area - Outdoor recreation area along the Quinebaug River.

Notable residents

★ Félix Gatineau

★ George Thorndike Angell - Founder of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the first animal protection group in the country. Angell Animal Medical Centers are named after him. Born in Southbridge, MA. A plaque honoring him is at corner of Elm & Main Streets in Southbridge.

★ William L. Marcy - Senator and Governor of New York, Secretary of War, and Secretary of State. Born in Southbridge, MA. The street where he was born is named Marcy Street, and formerly a school was named after him.

★ John Fitzgerald - Center for the Dallas Cowboys. Played in Super Bowl XII. Born and raised in Southbridge. Played fullback for Southbridge High School, and then at Boston College.

See also

★ List of Registered Historic Places in Southbridge, Massachusetts

References

1.

External links

★ Southbridge official website

★ History and info of Southbridge, MA

★ History of Southbridge, MA (PDF)

★ The Southbridge Evening News

★ Southbridge Myspace Page

★ yourSouthbridge.com: Events, Activities, and Business Listings