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NAVIGATION
Massachusetts
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Franklin County
Hampden County
Hampshire County
Middlesex County
Norfolk County
Worcester County
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Rays Place
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Officials in America
1906
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THIS county was incorporated in 1731, and was the tenth county formed in the state. This is the largest county
in Massachusetts. Its territory is larger than the whole state of Rhode Island, and its population greater than
that of the state of Delaware. The county crosses the state, from New Hampshire on the north to Connecticut and
Rhode Island on the south: It is sixty miles in length from north to south, and thirty seven in width, from east
to west. The surface of this county is rather undulating than very hilly. The soil is generally strong, and produces
all kinds of grain, grasses, fruits, &c. common to its climate. Till within a few years almost all the people
were farmers, and the great body still cultivate the soil. For the last few years many of the inhabitants have
been employed in manufactures, especially in the southern part of the county. Water privileges abound in almost
every town. Its principal rivers are the Blackstone, Quinebaug, Nashua, Ware, Miller’s, and Mill rivers. The only
elevation in the county which can properly be called a mountain is Wachusett. The following is a list of the towns,
which are 55 in number.
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Ashburnham,..
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Grafton,
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Northbridge,
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Sterling,
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Athol,
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Hardwick,
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N. Brookfield,
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Sturbridge,
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Auburn,
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Harvard,
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Oakham,
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Sutton,
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Barre,
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Holden,
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Oxford,
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Templeton,
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Berlin,
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Hubbardston,
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Paxton,
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Upton,
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Bolton,
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Lancaster,
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Petersham,
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Uxbridge,
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Boylston,
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Leicester,
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Phillipston,
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Warren,
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Brookfield,
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Leominster,
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Princeton,
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Webster,
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Charlton,
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Lunenburg,
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Royalston,
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Westborough,
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Dana,
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Mendon,
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Rutland,
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West Boylston,
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Douglass,
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Millbury,
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Shrewsbury,
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Westminster,
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Dudley,
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Milford,
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Southborough,..
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Winchendon,
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Fitchburg,
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New Braintree,..
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Southbridge,
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Worcester.
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Gardner,
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Northborough,
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Spencer,
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In 1820, the population of the county was 73,635; in 1830, it was 84,365; in 1837, it was 96,551.
FROM:
Historical Collections Relateing to the
History and Antiquities of
Every town in Massachusetts with
Geographical Descriptions.
By John Warner Barber.
Worchester
Published by Warren Lazell.
1848
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