| History
Dudley was settled by colonists in 1684,
when the Nipmuck Indians sold large tracts
of land after King Philip's War.
Incorporated in 1732, it was the first town
incorporated after the formation of
Worcester County.
Reservoirs and ponds were created in the
19th Century and provided ample water power
for significant textile, manufacturing and
industrial development. Dudley also
maintained a large agricultural
establishment, growing hay, grains and
vegetables and raising sheep and cattle.
The introduction of woolen mills made Dudley
an industrial force in the county and by
1832, 40,000 yards of broadcloth and 70,000
yards of satinet were being produced by
residents and French Canadians and Irish
immigrants. The Town's economy was
dominated by the textile industry until the
20th Century. Stevens Linen Works,
founded in 1846, still operates a mill and a
retail store in Dudley. The black
Tavern, which still sits on Dudley Hill, was
a halfway point on stage routes between
Boston, Hartford, Springfield and
Providence. The tavern is a surviving
symbol of a hill village home, and both it
and the Quinebaug basin it is located in
convey history of earlier times.
Dudley today still has poultry farms,
dairy farms, and vegetable and market
gardens.
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| Town Facts
Population
(2000): 10,306
Registered Voters (1996): 5,236
School Enrollment (1996): 1,646
Worcester County
Square Miles: 22.06
Public Road Miles (1996): 79.19
Median Family
Income (2000): $59,309
Tax Rate (2003): $10.56
Contact Information |
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