Southbridge, Massachusetts

The Town of Southbridge is a city{{ref|city-town}} located in Worcester County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 17,214.

History

Southbridge was first settled in 1730 and was officially incorporated in 1816. As early as 1638, 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. Immigrants, mostly unskilled laborers or Irish, French-Canadian, Italian and Polish descent, came to work here. Southbridge has a long history of manufacture of optical products. Early in the 20th Century, when American Optical Company (AO) was growing, Southbridge was nicknamed "Spectown." AO, under the leadership of the Wells family, became the world's largest manufacturer of ophthalmic products and at its height employed more than 6,000 people around the world.

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1730 - 1816 - 1638

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Today Southbridge is a major center for fiber optics technology, as well as cutlery and hand tools. Southbridge has worked hard to renovate and revitalize the downtown area. It has successfully maintained a Moody's bond rating of A for over a decade while ensuring services for its residents.

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Many ethnic groups are part of Southbridge's history and present life. French-Canadians, Italians, Irish, Polish, Greek, Albanian, Armenian, Romanian, Hispanic, and Laotian populations all contribute to the heritage and diversity of the town. With the ever growing mix of ethnic groups, churches and religious institutions play a big part in the town's life.

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