Pawtucket, Massachusetts
Bristol county. The town of Pawtucket lies on the east side of the river of the same name. It is two miles square, and was taken from Seekonk in 1828. The population of the town in 1830, was 1,458; 1837, 1,881.
The village of Pawtucket is very pleasant;—it is an important manufacturing place, commanding a considerable trade, and contains a population of about 8,000. It lies on both sides of the river, and includes a part of the town of North Providence, in R.I.
The first manufacture of cotton cloth in this country, by water power machinery, was commenced at this place. The water power is immense, and the fall of the river within a short distance is 50 feet.
The river is navigable to the village for vessels of considerable burthen. It runs 4 miles S. by W. to Providence river, at India Point, near the depot of the Boston and Providence rail-road, one mile below the centre of the city of Providence. The river, above Pawtucket, in Massachusetts, takes the name of Blackstone; below the falls it takes the name of Seekonk. This place is 4 miles N. from Providence, 36 miles S. from Boston, 16 W. by S. from Taunton, and 38 S.E. from Worcester. At this place are 12 or more cotton mills and print works, and manufactures of cotton machinery, bobbins, spools, &c.; of boots, shoes, carriages, vessels, chairs, cabinet wares, &c.; total annual value, about two millions of dollars.
The turnpike road from this place to Providence is probably the best road of the kind in the world. It is very straight, wide, level, smooth, and shaded on each side by beautiful trees.
Samuel Slater, Esq., the father of cotton manufactures in America, resided in this village many years. He died at Webster, Mass., greatly respected, April 20, 1835, aged 67.
