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Uxbridge
Uxbridge, from King Phillip's rock
Uxbridge, Massachusetts is located at the center of 'New England's historic National Park area', 8 miles NW of Woonsocket, RI
Uxbridge southern Worcester County southern Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°04′38″N 71°37′48″W / 42.07722, -71.63
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Worcester
Settled	1662
Incorporated	1727
Government
- Type	Representative town meeting
- Chairman, Board of Selectmen	Julie A. Woods
- Vice Chairman, Board of Selectmen	Kevin Kuros
- Clerk, Board of Selectmen	Michael Potaski
- Selectmen	Daniel P. Stack and (vacant)
- Town Manager	Jill R. Myers
Area
- Total	30.4 sq mi (78.7 km²)
- Land	29.5 sq mi (76.5 km²)
- Water	0.8 sq mi (2.1 km²)
Elevation	270 ft (82 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	11,156
- Density	377.6/sq mi (145.8/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code	01569
Area code(s)	508 / 774
FIPS code	25-71620
GNIS feature ID	0618387
Website: http://www.uxbridge-ma.gov/

Uxbridge is a town in in the center of the Blackstone Valley in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States, New England's historic National Park area.

Uxbridge was settled by Europeans in 1662 and officially incorporated as a town in 1727. Early town records record that Uxbridge was named in honor of the Earl of Uxbridge, whose title in turn derives from the town of Uxbridge in England, now part of Greater London. The town offers glimpses into early American history. There are many examples of colonial homes, brick commercial blocks, canal tow paths and textile mills. There are 53 local sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and over 250 sites on the State Historic Register. People here have made contributions to U.S., and regional history.

Uxbridge was the site of:

• The Taft family's origins in America,
• America's first woman voter, Lydia Taft,
• The residence claimed by "Robert Shurtlieff", America's first woman soldier,
• The birth of Colonel Seth Read, who added phrase "E Pluribus Unum" to coins,
• The Quaker Meeting where fiery abolitionist Abby Kelley Foster belonged,
• America's earliest cashmere woolen industry and textile innovations,
• Manufacturing of military uniforms, first Air Force "Blues", Bernat Mill fire.

The population at the 2000 census was 11,156 ; the 2005 state census was 12,625

Contents 1 Early history 2 Taft family, women's suffrage, presidents 3 Local stories of the Revolution 4 Local landmarks and histories 4.1 Quakers and abolition 4.2 South Uxbridge and Ironstone 4.3 The Middle Post Road 4.4 Rogerson's Village 4.5 Linwood/North Uxbridge 5 Textile industry, shoe manufacturing and commercial development 5.1 Textile mills 5.2 Shoe manufacturing 5.3 Mill villages and farms 6 Town center 6.1 Famous residents 6.2 Epidemics and history 6.3 The Blackstone Canal 7 Recent history 7.1 The end of local textiles 7.2 Historic parks and conservation lands 7.3 Late 20th century/early 21st century 7.4 Rural features today 8 Bernat Mill fire 9 Geography 10 Demographics 11 Government 12 See also 13 Adjacent towns 14 References 15 External links

• The Nipmuc; Uxbridge was originally settled by the Nipmuc, "small pond place" or “people of the fresh waters”.^[1] Nipmuc, not a specific tribe, are natives who inhabited central Massachusetts into Connecticut and Rhode Island. Nipmuc stayed within their homeland traveling with seasons, while the upland ecosystem supported agricultural and nutritional needs. The Nipmuc had a written language, tools, a graphite mine, and well developed agriculture including maize, beans and squash. In the King Philip's War, Praying Indians, who converted to Christianity, were settled in two local villages at Waentug or Wacentug(the "tribe that fished rich waters"), near Ironstone, and one at West Hill. Praying Indians were taught by Rev. John Eliot, who translated the Bible into native American languages. Over 500 Nipmuc live today near reservations at Grafton, and Webster.
• First European settlers; In 1659, pioneers from Braintree and Weymouth petitioned for a land grant, "8 miles square, 15 miles west of Medfield".^[2] In September of 1662, the deed was signed with Native American Chief, "Great John". The eight miles square of Native American land, was purchased from the Nipmuc, “for divers good and vallewable considerations there unto Moovinge and especiall for an in consideration of the summe of twenty fower pound Ster.”^[3] In 1662, Squinshepauke Plantation began, and was incorporated as Mendon in 1667.^[2] Settlers cleared roads that would mark settlement patterns. King Phillip's War disrupted early settlement, Mendon was burned^[2] , and the first Massachusetts settlers were killed on July 14, 1675. The town was abandoned, and then resettled in 1680.(see Mendon),
• Western Mendon; The proprietors of Mendon, settlers, migrated south and west.^[2] Families staked out farmsteads on Nipmuc Pond's west side, in fertile river flood plains which became their farm land.^[2] Swamps contained cedar and plants needed in colonial medicines.^[2] Far from the saw mill, grist mill and meetinghouse, the settlers of west Mendon became more independent.^[2] Lack of river crossings, made regular contact, more difficult.^[2] Settlers cited adversity reaching the center in their petition for separation. ^[2] Pioneers, described as "rabble rousing western inhabitants"^[2] wanted an independent town.
• Uxbridge separates; On June 27, 1727, Uxbridge was born.^[2] One of the first official acts, July 8, 1728, appropriated funds for "ÿe good rum for ye raising of ye meeting house.".^[2] Coronet John Farnum Jr House, was the site of the first town meeting.^[4] The Congregational Church, in 1731, was mentioned with the Great Awakening of new Congregational parishes in Massachusetts from 1730-1740.^[5] Rev. Nathan Webb, was the first minister. Congregational churches came into the abolition movement in New England. Massachusetts made slavery illegal in 1783. A hymn tune, by Lowell Mason is named "Uxbridge", after this town, "The Heavens Declare Thy Glory, Lord".^[6] On the Mumford, West and Blackstone Rivers, the future success, as a mill town was set. Northbridge separated in 1772.

Robert Taft, Sr, the first immigrant, built a homestead in 1680, in what later became Uxbridge. His second son, Robert Taft, 2nd, was on the first Uxbridge board of selectmen. Robert, Sr.'s third son, Daniel, had a son, Captain Josiah Taft, who served in the legislature, but died suddenly in 1756. Josiah's widow became "America's first woman voter",^[7] Lydia Taft, who voted in three Uxbridge town meetings, beginning in 1756. Upon his first election, President George Washington visited Uxbridge and stayed at Samuel Taft's Tavern on his "innaugural tour" of New England.^[7] President William Howard Taft's grandfather, Peter Rawson Taft I, was born here in 1785. Lydia and Josiah's son, Captain Bezaleel Taft, Sr., left a legacy of five generations of the Taft family in public service in Massachusetts. The Tafts, became an American political dynasty. Ezra Taft Benson, Snr., a famous Mormon Pioneer, lived here from 1817-1835, ran the local hotel, and married his first wife Pamela, here in 1832. In 1864, Judge Henry Chapin, three term Worcester mayor, quoted a local story: "A stranger came to town, met a new person and said, "Hello Mr. Taft". Mr Taft said, "How did you know my name?" The stranger replied, "I presumed that you were a Taft, just like the other 12 Tafts I have just met!"^[7] This was told at a famous Taft family reunion, recorded in the biograpahy of skull and bones founder, Alphonso Taft, a source of local Taft history.^[8] President Taft visited his ancestral homes, including the Samuel Taft tavern, during his Presidency. ^[9] see The Tafts of Mendon and Uxbridge. As a young boy, William Howard Taft spent many summers in this area in neighboring Millbury, Massachusetts, and attended schools there for a term. Other influential local families with beginnings here included the Aldriches, the Seagraves, and the Wheelocks among others.

• The American Revolution; Uxbridge citizens began preparing for the American Revolutionary War, on July 6, 1774 as recorded in Town meeting minutes.^[10] Uxbridge sons (and daughters) played important roles in the American Revolution, including Lt. Colonel Seth Read, who commanded the 26th regiment at Bunker Hill, under Colonel John Patterson. Other local Colonels, included: Col. Joseph Read, Seth's brother, (Massachusetts 20th Regiment), Col. Nathan Tyler, (Worcester Co. 3rd Regiment}, and Colonel Joseph Chapin, who each led regiments in the Continental Army or militia. Other officers from Uxbridge included: Captain Benjamin Green, Captain James Buxton, Captain Bezaleel Taft, Sr., Captain Baxter Hall, Captain Simon Rawson, Lieutenant Simeon Wheelock, Lt. Joseph Taft, Lt. Caleb Farnum, Lt. Peter White, Lt. Benjamin Green, and Lt. Nathan Rawson, who either answered the Lexington and Concord alarm, Bunker Hill, or other battles with the Massachusetts Militia or Continental Army. From the Taft family alone, we find at least 12 Revolutionary War soldiers named Taft, including Samuel Taft,^[11], of at least 46 local Sons of the American Revolution^[11]

• Fife and drum "The first documentation of fife and drum in Uxbridge was the enlistment of Baxter Hall, drummer. He was born in Uxbridge in 1757. At the age of eighteen he volunteered for service with the Minute Company formed during the Lexington Alarm of April 19, 1775. Hall later served as a Drummer with Col. Nathan Tylers, 15th Massachusetts Regiment of Continental Line. He served at many engagements; Bunker Hill, Tiverton, Rhode Island and Saratoga, New York just to name a few. He reported in his pension request that he was present at West Point, New York under General Benedict Arnold. Being a drummer, Baxter Hall, was not detached on a wood cutting pretense ordered by General Arnold, and was present at his Headquarters the morning of his escape. Captain Wyman's company of militia engaged at Bunker Hill, listing fifty-one in rank and file, the majority from Uxbridge, five sergeants, four corporals, two drums and two fifes." ^[12]

• A first woman soldier, "from" Uxbridge; In 1782, toward the end of the war, a woman born in Plympton, Massachusetts, Deborah Sampson, enlisted as a soldier, Robert Shurtlieff, of Uxbridge, "by joining one of the classes" required for the war from the Town of Uxbridge.^[13] She was not really from Uxbridge that we know of, but she pretended to be in order to get into the army. The name she picked, Robert Shurtlieff, was her brother who had died before she was born. She received a head wound and leg wound at Tarrytown, New York, and participated in a number of skirmishes. General Washington allowed her an honorable discharge.

• Shay's Rebellion When the war ended, a rebellion broke out known as Shay's Rebellion. Its opening salvos occurred in Uxbridge in 1783.^[14]. Governor John Hancock had to quell a riot at Uxbridge that same year.^[14] Lieutenant Simeon Wheelock, who fathered 8 children, including textile piooneer Jerry Wheelock, was killed in Shay's Rebellion in Springfield.^[15] He was the husband of Deborah Wheelock.^[15] The local Daughters of the American Revolution home is named for her.^[15] Dr. Samuel Willard fought in Shay's Rebellion.^[15]

• Martial music Baxter Hall had led Uxbridge military music. In 1962, Benjamin Emerick, founded the Captain James Buxton Fife and Drum Corps and re-created the military music of America's past, through a comprehensive re-enactment of "Martial Musick" in Uxbridge, Massachusetts.^[12] Captain James Buxton from Smithfield, Rhode Island, played a key role in south Uxbridge.

• Beginnings of America's Industrial Revolution Early on, Uxbridge made its impact on manufacturing in America. At the time of the Revolution, most cloth was still made at home.^[16] An Uxbridge farmer by the name of Richard Mowry successfully built and marketed the equipment needed to manufacture woolen, linen or cotton cloth. ^[16]

The major artery was the Providence and Worcester Road and along this road south Uxbridge, also known as Ironstone, mushroomed. Roads fed off what is now Route 146A (The Lydia Taft Highway) and led into cedar swamps, moist cranberry bogs and deep woods. Agriculture was the mainstay and farms still dot the landscape; some still belonging to families of the original settlers. This article 'takes a walking tour'^[15] through the villages, hills and rivers of Uxbridge and narrates its history. The "walking tour" starts in the southern part of Uxbridge, near Wacentug.

Quakers settled here from Smithfield, Rhode Island, adding their religion, and industrious ways.^[17] A commercial center, Quaker City, grew. George Southwick ran the general store which housed the "Uxbridge Social and Instructive Library". Benjamin Taft started a good quality iron mine, and forge here in 1734.^[15][18] Some of the Conestoga wagon wheels, of Quaker heritage,^[19], were created here by David Southwick^[15]. Quakers built local mills, railroads and tools. Aldrich Street brick houses were Quaker styled. Quakers here, among the first in America to free slaves, were active in the Underground Railroad. The Old Brick, Quaker meetinghouse, built in 1770 from a local brickyard, ^[20]claimed fiery abolitionist, Abby Kelley as a member.^[21] Abby Kelley aided the Underground Railroad here, and in Worcester's suburbs. She believed, freed slaves would colonize Liberia, but turned "ultra" abolitionist, advocating, immediate civil rights, for slaves. Part of the anti-slavery movement became known as "Abby Kelleyism". Kelley recruited Susan B. Anthony, and Lucy Stone to its cause. Quakers were influenced by the second Great Awakening, that sparked women's suffrage, human rights, and prison reform. "Ultra" Abby was later "disowned" by "the monthly meeting at Uxbridge".^[22] The second Great Awakening changed local mortuary practices for the poor. ^[23]

Water power from Emerson, Forge and Ironstone Brooks, powered mills in south Uxbridge, but now attracts trout fishing , and swimming. Village sections include: Albee, Aldrich, Chocolog, Happy Hollow, Ironstone and Scadden, reflecting Yankee pioneers and heritage. Ironstone was where Benjamin Taft set up an iron forge in 1734, from good quality bog iron ore.^[15] Caleb Handy used the iron from Benjamin Taft's forge to make tools, scythes and guns before 1800. ^[15] Scadden was home to a failed silver mine in the 1830s recorded in an Uxbridge Compendium, edition in 1886. An Albee home was cited in a 1980 New York Times article as an inn where President George Washington was actually "refused lodging",^[24] since the innkeeper's husband was away. "The house in Uxbridge had a good exterior appearance for a tavern, but the owner being from home, and the wife sick, we could not gain admittance", President Washington recorded in his diary in 1789.^[24] The one room school house at Ironstone still stands and is under the South Uxbridge Community Association.^[15] In 1732, the Uxbridge town meeting approved the construction of 13 schools, one for each village in the town.^[15]Agriculture remains in south Uxbridge.

The first east-west route in Uxbridge was the Boston-Hartford Turnpike.^[25] It began locally around "Colonel Crown's land", passed rocky hills, wooded lands and old Yankee farms. Yankee farmers fought hard to farm the rocky hillsides, but these farms remain today. There were troop movements on this road during the French and Indian War and it served as a major supply route in the War of 1812. ^[15] It was a section of the Middle Post Road, set down by Benjamin Franklin, also serving as the Ninth Massachusetts Turnpike. George Washington ate at Thayer Tavern, a later haven on the Underground Railroad. Hartford Avenue passes a working dairy farm and the business district of North Uxbridge.^[15] It begins at Mendon in open fields and wetlands, passes West Hill, and continues to Rice City, (once "the Wood Tavern"), a colonial tavern and probate court, and civil war encampment. ^[15]It crosses the Blackstone River at Rice City Pond and climbs "Stage Coach Hill", where passengers had to push the coach.^[15]

Continuing west on Hartford Avenue, is Rogerson's Village, home to the former Crown and Eagle Cotton Mill on the Mumford River. [1] ^[15] Robert Rogerson immigrated from England, and around 1817, purchased the Clapp Mill. The Clapp Mill, circa 1810, was the first cotton mill at Uxbridge, and was located on the Mumford River. Between 1823 and 1827, Rogerson then built two mills nearby, over the river. The Crown Mill was named for Rogerson's homeland, England, and the Eagle Mill for his adopted nation, the U.S. The tasteful, aesthetic mill village, spared no expense, for the mill, mansion, company store and mill worker homes.^[15] A large section burned in 1975, was remodeled and turned into senior housing. From Rogerson Village one can walk to Linwood, home to the French section, the "Bowery".

French Canadians came to work in the mills and added to the culture of the town.^[15] They had a meeting hall, the Progressive Club, and their own newspaper, Le Travailleur.^[15] West of the Crown and Eagle Mill the road comes to an important intersection. North Uxbridge was home to Italians who settled here, and was the “other” busy commercial/social center. Streets were filled and so was Lynch’s Drug Store or Tancrell’s Market. The road forks to the left to the Rivulet section, and the Rivulet Mill, started by Richard Sayles. The turnpike road climbs three hills, each steeper than the previous. Quarry Hill, was home to the former Blanchard granite quarry, well known in the eastern states, whose stones were used in northeastern building and public works projects.^[26] Uxbridge quarries helped rebuild Boston after the Great Fire^[27] Granite from this quarry was used in curbstones in New York City.^[15] On Williams and Castle Hills, dairy barns dot the scenic landscape near Douglas.

Uxbridge grew into a prominent Massachusetts mill town. The eastern section gave birth to a significant segment of the town’s textile industry. County history, p. 482 states^[2] that, "as early as 1790, on the Mumford River near the meeting house there were several sorts of mills and water-works, in excellent order, where much business was well performed." The earliest industrial development here is traced to 1730-1775.^[28] Saw mills, grist mills, distilleries, iron forges and fulling mills started.^[27] Over 20 mills operated here.^[15] The town was known for Cashmere wool, power looms, and "satinets" (smooth, shiny woolen or cotton).^[27][28] The first power looms for woolens and "satinets", in the U.S. were here.^[2] These were made in a machine shop in Cumberland, Rhode Island and were reportedly the first ever manufactured in America.^[27] Significant improvements in textile production were first developed here. Shoes were also manufactured locally. Water power ran the mills, and floated barges pulled by horses, along canals. Thousands of tons of goods were transported for export. Industry flourished along "America's Hardest Working River".^[29] Movement away from industries that produce greenhouse gases, and use scarce, non-renewable, energy sources, will decline. Examples of mills, once powered by renewable energy, will become more important.

As in all mill towns, each section of town that sprouted up around a mill took on the name and the identity of the mill. By 1855 the Uxbridge mills were producing 2.5 million yards of cloth annually.^[27] Each of the rivers and their tributaries became the hub of various mills and villages.^[28]

• Hecla: is an area of Uxbridge that took its name from the Hecla Mill, most recently known as "American Woolen". The Polish community lived here and established ethnic food markets.

• Calumet: grew up near Calumet Woolen Mill, also known as the Moses Taft Mill, and became the Stanley Woolen Mill owned by the Wheelock family. It sold Union Blue uniform cloth in the Civil War and ran 24/7. Its cloth was in high demand from top designers like Pierre Cardin and Bill Blass before it closed in 1990.

• Elmdale: is the site of the Daniel Day Mill (1810), the first woolen mill in Uxbridge, and the third textile mill in the valley after Slater's mill', the second oldest woolen mill in Massachusetts, (after one in Watertown, Mass.), the third textile mill in the state, and third oldest woolen mill in the U.S. (after a worsted mill in Hartford).^{[2] [7]} An historic one room school house, Elmdale School, is the site of local events.

• Wheelocksville: was home to the Waucantuck Mill, which branded wooden boxes with the symbol of an Indian chief. Waucantuck Mill made the first "wash and wear" fabric in America, and began as the Luke Taft Mill, in 1825.

Shoe manufacturing was also important in 19th Century Uxbridge. A branch of the Lowell family of Massachusetts lived here and had a factory which manufactured shoes. Mr. Hilena Lowell, was the head of the Lowell Shoe factory in Uxbridge circa 1880.

Fierce pride and competition developed with bowling leagues and baseball teams representing each mill. From the eighteen eighties, the weekly Uxbridge Compendium, carried results of league contests.^[15] Each mill had its own farm and dairy milk route: Elmwood Farm belonged to Waucantuck Mill, Elmdale Farms with Elmdale Mill and Hecla Mill, a division of the Calumet Mill, had Hecla Farms.^[15] The serene beauty of 'Pout' Pond and adjacent Henry Legg Conservation Land, add vistas. "Pout" is a contraction of a local word for catfish, "horn pout". Stanley Woolen and Waucantuck Mills are being redeveloped. Stanley Woolen is a public-private partnership for commercial rental space, and Waucantuck is being rebuilt for living and business space. Restoration of the mills will preserve them for the future.

Heading west from Wheelocksville, travelers reached Uxbridge center.^[15] bounded by Liberty, Independence and Prospect Hills. Uxbridge Academy was a feature of the Uxbridge Common, and graduated a number of prominent people^[15], including Marcus Spring. Capron Mill, started by John Capron, later known as Uxbridge Worsted and Bernat Mill, the saw mill, fulling mill and grist mill were here.^[2] John, and Effingham Capron became partners in Capron Mills. The mills drew water power from the Mumford River.^[2] 1880s sleighing parties from Mendon came to Wilson Hotel^[15] , and ice skated on the pond. Saver’s Bank rebuilt the landmark, the Uxbridge Inn^[15] . The Whitmore Block, now the bank’s parking lot, was home to the 'Bucket of Blood Tavern' and Sam Mabel’s Market. ^[15] The center had electricity and phones first. Town meetings were held in Taft’s Hall.^[15] The first Uxbridge Free Public Library was located in Barnes Jewelry Store.^[15] Town hall, built in 1883^[15] , held 'talking movies' and live bands in its auditorium. Ice cream, in Lynch’s store, was required after the movies.

Colonel Seth Read, fought at Bunker Hill, was "instrumental" in placing E Pluribus Unum on coins^[30], and was a pioneer at Erie, Pennsylvania.^[10] Two early Congressmen were from Uxbridge, Phineas Bruce and Benjamin Adams. A colorful early country doctor named Dr. Samuel Willard practiced here, pioneered a form of "cold water treatment" for mental disorders, ("dunking"), and fought in Shay's Rebellion. Benedict Arnold's widow, Peggy Shippen, died here on "Valentines Day", in 1836. Joshua Mason Macomber was a well respected educator, headmaster of Uxbridge Academy,^[15] and known through six states. Corporal Edward Sullivan was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery under enemy fire at Cienfuegos, Cuba in the Spanish American War.(see Famous residents of Uxbridge, Massachusetts).

Tuberculosis and smallpox, were endemic and Uxbridge deaths were recorded.^[11][7] Colonel Seth Read, was offered smallpox vaccine during the Canadian Campaign, when his regiment developed smallpox.^[10] Read left the 1776 campaign, due to illness.^[10] The Continental Army was protected with variolation, but British troops were not. "Viariolation" originated from the Ottoman Empire. In 1775, the Uxbridge town meeting voted to refuse "variolation"^[7] Dr. Samuel Willard attended patients with smallpox.^[31] Joseph Richardson Jr., a major landowner, died of smallpox in 1825.^[15]Daniel Day, woolen mill pioneer, died in 1848 of tuberculosis.^[11], In 1846, Hon. Bezaleel Taft, Jr, Lydia Taft's grandson, died of tuberculosis.^[11] Uxbridge today has a local Board of Health. Paul Revere was President of the first U.S. Board of Health, at Boston.

Transportation of goods from the upper Blackstone Valley was a growing concern by 1818. Teamsters drove huge wagons of textile goods to Woonsocket and to Worcester.^[2] This need gave way to an inland waterway, the Blackstone Canal(1828).^[2][32][33] The 45 mile canal connected Worcester to Providence, the closest port.^[2] The canal was built by imported Irish laborers, who worked on the Erie Canal, and settled here. The canal was a simple ditch alongside the Blackstone River with a dirt tow path for boats to be pulled by horses.^[32] A granite lock stands at Goat Hill and Uxbridge was the overnight stopping point. The canal connected inland Worcester, mills on the Blackstone, and Providence where textiles could be exported. But, by 1832, the Boston and Worcester Railroad began to carry freight to Boston and the role for the canal diminished.^[2][32] In 1847, the Providence and Worcester Railroad opened and completely replaced the canal for transportation. The transformation of transportation from horse drawn teams, to canal barges, to railroads was complete.

By the 1970s, the mills began to close and the looms were silent for the first time in 200 years. The rivers had become a dumping ground for chemical dye vats. The Blackstone River lost its title as "America's hardest working river" and became one of its most polluted .^[34] The center was largely boarded up and abandoned. Uxbridge's road back to vitality was long but successful. The Blackstone River was restored to its natural state. The community is growing again, and undergoing a renaissance of arts stores, and shops. The historic committee helps homeowners preserve old houses. Uxbridge has more than 60 houses of the "Federalist" Federal architecture style, popular in the 1780s.^[24] Georgian architecture is also found here, as in the home of Bezaleel Taft, Jr, known as "Elmshade", gathering place and home to the famous Taft family reunions.^[15] The local National Historic Register, records more architectural styles including: Italianate, Late Victorian, Gothic, Greek Revival, Renaissance, Queen Anne architecture, and various industrial periods.

Uxbridge, no longer known for fine Cashmere wool, is now known for many acres of Federal and state conservation lands and parks. Uxbridge is the mid point of the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, of the National Park Service.^[35] Uxbridge is home to the 1,000 acre Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park.^[36] The town has good portions of the scenic Blackstone River Bikeway,^[37] and the Southern New England Trunkline Trail. The Army Corps of Engineers maintains a wildlife refuge at West Hill Dam, built to control devastating floods.^[38] Parks in Uxbridge include: Rogerson's Village Historic District, Central Woolen Mills District, Linwood Historic District, Taft Memorial Park, Capron Park, Wheelockville District, and Uxbridge Common District. Nature trails allow hikers to walk the routes traveled by the Nipmuc, and depict how life is returning to the Blackstone River Valley.

At least three movies have been made in Uxbridge including two which included scenes at the Stanley Woolen Mill, Oliver's Story (1978), and The Great Gatsby (1974). Undersea photographer Brian Skerry, (Jacques Cousteau and National Geographic), grew up in and resides here.(see published work) [2] Uxbridge State Senator Richard T. Moore, is one of the nation's top speakers on health care reform having helped author the landmark Massachusetts health care reform legislation in 2006.^[39] Moore served as Associate Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under President Bill Clinton. Tim Fortugno, who graduated from Uxbridge High School in 1980, was a pitcher with the California Angels, Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds. The town's economy has diversified beyond the textile industry.

Rural attractions in 21st century Uxbridge include a working dairy farm on Williams Hill. A popular resort in south Uxbridge hosts weddings, and there is a nearby rustic golf resort at Chockolog. An upscale restaurant, occupies the Hon. Bezaleel Taft, Sr. estate, south of Uxbridge center. Uxbridge developed its reputation for New England style weddings in a rural picturesque setting. The future is bright as the parks plan re-creations of horse drawn tow paths from the Blackstone River Canal with boat rides, shops and restaurants in the old mills.

The original mill, the Capron Mill, was built in 1820, by John Capron, on the Mumford River at Uxbridge Center.^[15] Capron mills "introduced power loom weaving of woolen cloth" in their factory on the Mumford River, the first such looms ever constructed. Capron mills also developed the first satinets. The oldest and most historic part of the Capron mill, made of wood, survived the fire. The mill, and the CEO of the company, Harold Walter, was featured in the August 24, 1953 edition of Time Magazine, in an article entitled, "The Pride of Uxbridge"^[40] as the site of the Bachman Uxbridge Worsted Company, which was then one of the most successful textile industries in New England.^[40] Research into textiles at Bachman Uxbridge Worsted Company produced a range of blended fabrics, including the "wool-nylon serge" used for army uniforms. The original U.S. Air Force uniform produced at the factory was dubbed and patented "Uxbridge Blue" or "Uxbridge 1683", after blue dye color selected at Bachman Uxbridge. This dye was used in the manufacture of uniforms from 1947.^[41] Civil War uniforms, World War I khaki overcoats, and World War II U.S. Army uniforms , and nurse corps uniforms have all been manufactured in this mill.^[15] Latch hook yarn kits were developed by Bernat, here circa 1968 and the name of the mill changes to the Bernat Mill, then the third largest U.S. yarn mill. President Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote a letter to Uxbridge Worsted company, personally thanking everyone for their work in the war effort.^[15]

In the early morning of July 21, 2007, a fire erupted at the historic mill, devastating the complex on Mendon and Depot Street. 600 firefighters, from 66 communities, battled the blaze, but the complex was nearly totally destroyed. At the time of the fire, the 400,000 square feet structure, had ceased operating as a mill and had been converted into space containing 65 small businesses.^[42] The business losses following the fire were estimated in the millions of dollars and between 300–500 people lost their jobs. The two State incident command, disaster response was viewed as a regional model . The 10 alarm Uxbridge Mill fire, made National and local news for nearly a week. Senator John Kerry introduced loans from his committee in the U.S. Senate to support the business owners impacted by the fire. Governor Deval Patrick^[43] left the National Governor's Conference in Michigan to return to Uxbridge to be present for the immediate recovery. The Uxbridge Mill fire was the state's first major disaster of his new administration. Governor Patrick invoked immediate state and federal aide to victims and businesses of the Uxbridge mill fire. Hurricane Katrina funds are being applied to the relief efforts. See also the article, Bernat Mill. The fire marshall's report concluded that there was unpermitted welding occurring in a mill business, the sprinkler was not operable, and that both contributed to the fire.^[44] Mill owners planned to rebuild.^[44] Public policy needs to tighten oversight and fire protection of historic buildings.^[44] See external links below, Bernat mill fire, latest information.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 30.4 square miles (78.7 km²), of which, 29.5 square miles (76.5 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it (2.73%) is water. The town center is located 38 miles SW of Boston, 16 miles SE of Worcester, 175 miles NE of New York City, and 24 miles NW of Providence. Massachusetts Route 146 crosses town in just under 8 miles from NW Uxbridge at the Douglas line to SE Uxbridge at the Millville line and connects to I-290, and I-90 at Worcester, and I-95 at Providence. It is scheduled to be upgraded to Interstate status after 2010 as the southern extension of I-190. See the seven adjacent towns listed below, including two in Providence County, Rhode Island. Uxbridge is part of the Worcester, MA MSA, metropolitan statistical area. A large portion of this also falls within Greater Boston, the Boston-Worcester-Manchester, MA-RI-NH CSA, which extends to New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Uxbridge is in a New England upland region with elevations from 200 feet in the SE to 500 feet in the NW.

As of the census² of 2000, there were 11,156 people, 3,988 households, and 3,034 families residing in the town. Local population estimates put the 2007 population at 12,800. The population density was 377.6 people per square mile (145.8/km²). There were 4,090 housing units at an average density of 138.4/sq mi (53.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.04% White, 0.15% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population. This part of Massachusetts has historically not been as diverse as the State as a whole.

There were 3,988 households out of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.0% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.9% were non-families. 19.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the town the population was spread out with 29.2% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 35.1% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $61,855, and the median income for a family was $70,068. Males had a median income of $47,969 versus $30,889 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,540. About 3.6% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

Uxbridge has a representative town meeting form of government with a Board of Selectmen and a Town Manager. The members of the Board of Selectmen are:^[45]

• Julie A. Woods, Chairman
• Kevin J. Kuros, Vice Chairman
• Michael Potaski, Clerk
• Daniel P. Stack

Jill R. Myers is the Town Manager

County government: Worcester County
Clerk of Courts:	Dennis P. McManus (D)
County Treasurer:	Position Eliminated
District Attorney:	Joseph D. Early, Jr. (D)
Registrar of Deeds:	Anthony J. Vigliotti (D)
Registrar of Probate:	Stephen Abraham (D)
County Sheriff:	Guy W. Glodis (D)
State government
State Representative(s):	Jennifer M. Callahan (D), Paul Kujawski (D)
State Senator(s):	Richard T. Moore (D)
Governor's Councilor(s):	Thomas J. Foley (D)
Federal government
U.S. Representative(s):	Richard E. Neal (D-2nd District),
U.S. Senators:	Ted Kennedy (D), John Kerry (D)

• List of Registered Historic Places in Uxbridge, Massachusetts
• People from Uxbridge, Massachusetts
• The Tafts of Mendon and Uxbridge
• Famous residents of Uxbridge, Massachusetts
• John Capron's historic textile mill (Uxbridge mill fire)

• Douglas
• Mendon
• Millville
• Northbridge
• Sutton
• Burrillville, Rhode Island
• North Smithfield, Rhode Island

• Town of Uxbridge website
• Description and history of Uxbridge
• Photographs of Uxbridge and surrounds
• Bernat Mill Fire, latest information
• photo, Help Uxbridge, Bernat Mill ruins
• Rogerson's Village, The Crown and Eagle Mills
• Cornet John Farnum House 1710, site of the first Uxbridge Town Meeting. Blackstone Daily, photo link
• Friends Meetinghouse, The Old Brick, 1770, Blackstone Daily, with picture

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