Blackstone Valley
Samuel Slater opened the first successful water-powered cotton mill in America at Pawtucket Falls. This facility relied on the waters of the Blackstone River to turn its machinery. The year was 1790 when this industrial engine began its work. Many other mills appeared along the river over time making it an important part of American industry. The region became a major factor in the American Industrial Revolution. It spread north from its origin at the Slater Mill to Worcester, Massachusetts. Then it moved to the rest of the nation. By the end of the 20th century, the river was identified as the primary source of Narragansett Bay pollution.
Construction began in 1825 and cost $750,000 which was twice its initial estimate. The canal opened on the 7th of October 1828 when the packet boat Lady Carrington arrived in Worcester. It took two days for the canal boats to travel from Worcester to Providence. Another two-day trip returned them to Worcester with Uxbridge serving as the overnight stopping point. Boston merchants moved to recapture the trade moving down the canal to Providence. They opened a rail line to Worcester in 1835. In 1847 the parallel Providence and Worcester Railroad began operation. The canal closed in 1848 after just twenty years of service. It represented the best available transportation technology at the time of its construction.
The original Native American name for the river was the "Kittacuck". This term meant "the great tidal river". William Blackstone arrived in Weymouth, Massachusetts in 623. He became the first European settler of present-day Boston in 1625. He relocated again to Rhode Island in 1635 and built his home on the river. His property sat in what would become Cumberland. With the Providence River, the Blackstone formed the northeastern border of Dutch claims for New Netherland. Adriaen Block charted Narragansett Bay in 1614 through the Hartford Treaty of 1650. The river was plentiful with salmon and lamprey in pre-colonial times.
The region was designated a National Heritage Corridor by Congress in November 1986. This designation composed 25 towns and cities throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor follows the valley from Worcester to Providence. In 2011 a report recommended the region for National Park status. The Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park was established in 2014. A typical summer view shows the landscape near Uxbridge, Massachusetts. Multiple recreation areas offer visitors access including Purgatory Chasm State Reservation in Sutton.
At the 2010 United States census, the population of the Blackstone Valley was 848,725. Pawtucket held 75,604 residents while Providence contained 190,934 people. Worcester had 206,518 inhabitants making it the largest town in the count. Central Falls recorded 22,589 people and Lincoln listed 22,529 residents. East Providence counted 47,139 souls within its borders. Woonsocket held 43,240 individuals according to the data. Auburn had 16,889 people living there. Millville remained small with only 3,174 residents. The total sum across all twenty-five towns reached 848,725.
Route 122 in Massachusetts is known as the Blackstone Canal Heritage Highway. This road travels through many of the region's mill villages. Route 146 runs through both Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Upgrades on the Massachusetts side have seen major economic benefits throughout the towns. Two MBTA Commuter Rail lines serve the area today. The Worcester Line and Providence Line have stations located within the valley. Both lines provide direct service to Boston's South Station. Providence station is also served by Amtrak trains on the Northeast Corridor. These trains provide service to New York City and beyond. Union Station in Worcester stands as a key transportation hub for the region.
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Common questions
When did Samuel Slater open the first successful water-powered cotton mill in America?
Samuel Slater opened the first successful water-powered cotton mill in America in 1790. This facility relied on the waters of the Blackstone River to turn its machinery at Pawtucket Falls.
What was the original Native American name for the Blackstone River and what does it mean?
The original Native American name for the river was the Kittacuck which means the great tidal river. The river was plentiful with salmon and lamprey in pre-colonial times before European settlement.
How long did the Blackstone Canal operate after opening in 1828?
The Blackstone Canal operated for just twenty years from its opening until it closed in 1848. Construction began in 1825 and cost $750,000 which was twice its initial estimate when the packet boat Lady Carrington arrived in Worcester on the 7th of October 1828.
When was the Blackstone River Valley designated a National Heritage Corridor and how many towns were included?
Congress designated the region as a National Heritage Corridor in November 1986. This designation composed 25 towns and cities throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island including locations like Uxbridge and Sutton.
What was the population of the Blackstone Valley according to the 2010 United States census?
At the 2010 United States census the population of the Blackstone Valley was 848,725. Worcester had 206,518 inhabitants making it the largest town in the count while Pawtucket held 75,604 residents.