Dudley, Massachusetts | |
|---|---|
 War Monument by sculptorJohn A. Wilson | |
 Seal | |
| Motto: "All was others: All will be others" | |
 Location inWorcester County and the state ofMassachusetts. | |
| Coordinates:42°02′42″N71°55′50″W / 42.04500°N 71.93056°W /42.04500; -71.93056 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Settled | 1714 |
| Incorporated | 1732 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Open town meeting |
| • Board of Selectmen | Kerry Cyganiewicz, Steven Sullivan, Jason Johnson, Jana Deschenes, Mark Landry |
| Area | |
• Total | 22.0 sq mi (57.1 km2) |
| • Land | 21.0 sq mi (54.5 km2) |
| • Water | 1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2) |
| Elevation | 669 ft (204 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 11,921 |
| • Density | 567/sq mi (219/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP Code | 01571 |
| Area code | 508/774 |
| FIPS code | 25-17685 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0618361 |
| Website | www.dudleyma.gov |
Dudley is a town inWorcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,921 at the2020 census.[1]
Dudley was first carved out ofNipmuc land purchased byColonial administrators,Joseph Dudley andWilliam Stoughton in 1681. The new town was first settled in 1714 and was officially incorporated in 1732. The town was named for proprietors William andPaul Dudley.[2]
Before the town was settled, the area ofDudley Hill was a precontact Nipmuc village, centered aroundLake Chaubunagungamaug, which was aChristian Nipmuc village overlooked byReverend John Eliot.[3] TheFrench River that runs along the town line between Webster and Dudley, was named after a localHuguenot settlement led by Gabriel Bernon.[4][5]
In April 1776, on his way toNew York City fromBoston after his victory in theSiege of Boston, GeneralGeorge Washington camped in the town of Dudley with theContinental Army along what is now a portion ofRoute 31 near theConnecticut border. During the trip, it is rumored that a "large cache" of captured and recovered British weaponry and supplies was ordered "concealed in the grounds" in the rural area along the route. The cache, hidden to resupply reinforcements from Massachusetts or to cover a retreat from the south, was never used or recorded as having been recovered.[6]
Hezekiah Healy began building what would be known as theBlack Tavern around 1803.[7]
In 1816,Amasa Nichols (1773–1849) established Nichols Academy in the town center as aUniversalist Church institution. The Academy would later be known asNichols College. IndustrialistSamuel Slater was an early benefactor of the new academy.[8][9]
Union soldiers from Dudley, the15th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, suffered heavy casualties inflicted by theConfederacy during theBattle of Gettysburg.[10] Dudley was the primary manufacturer of "Brogan boots" worn by the Union Army and produced the majority of the standard issue Union uniforms worn during theCivil War.[11]
On July 5, 1909, theDudley Soldiers War Memorial was erected in front of the First Congregational Church by theSons and Citizens of Dudley. The memorial honors the veterans from Dudley who served in theRevolutionary War, theAmerican Civil War and theSpanish-American War. The monument was made byJohn A. Wilson.[12][13]
A proposal to create a Muslim cemetery by the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester on 55 acres (22 ha) of farmland elicited intense community opposition when discussed at a public hearing in February 2016.[14][15] After a complicated process, with much back and forth between the Islamic Society and town officials, the necessary permit was issued over a year later.[16]
Dudley is bounded on the northeast byOxford, on the north byCharlton, on the west bySouthbridge, on the south byWoodstock andThompson, Connecticut, and on the east byWebster, with which it traditionally had the closest cultural and political relations. According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 22.1 square miles (57 km2), of which 21.0 square miles (54 km2) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2), or 4.58%, is water.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 1,443 | — |
| 1860 | 1,736 | +20.3% |
| 1870 | 2,388 | +37.6% |
| 1880 | 2,803 | +17.4% |
| 1890 | 2,944 | +5.0% |
| 1900 | 3,553 | +20.7% |
| 1910 | 4,267 | +20.1% |
| 1920 | 3,701 | −13.3% |
| 1930 | 4,265 | +15.2% |
| 1940 | 4,616 | +8.2% |
| 1950 | 5,261 | +14.0% |
| 1960 | 6,510 | +23.7% |
| 1970 | 8,087 | +24.2% |
| 1980 | 8,717 | +7.8% |
| 1990 | 9,540 | +9.4% |
| 2000 | 10,036 | +5.2% |
| 2010 | 11,390 | +13.5% |
| 2020 | 11,921 | +4.7% |
| 2022* | 11,850 | −0.6% |
| * = population estimate. Source:United States census records andPopulation Estimates Program data.[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] | ||
As of thecensus[28] of 2000, there were 10,036 people, 3,737 households, and 2,668 families residing in the town. Thepopulation density was 476.7 inhabitants per square mile (184.1/km2). There were 3,910 housing units at an average density of 185.7 per square mile (71.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.83%White, 0.23%African American, 0.23%Native American, 0.74%Asian, 0.75% fromother races, and 0.97% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 2.01% of the population.
There were 3,737 households, out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% weremarried couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $48,602, and the median income for a family was $59,309. Males had a median income of $40,337 versus $27,589 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $21,546. About 3.1% of families and 5.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
| State government | |
|---|---|
| State Representative(s): | John Marsi (R) |
| State Senator(s): | Ryan Fattman (R) |
| Governor's Councilor(s): | Paul DePaulo (D) |
| Federal government | |
| U.S. Representative(s): | Richard E. Neal (D-1st District) |
| U.S. Senators: | Elizabeth Warren (D),Ed Markey (D) |
The public library in Dudley opened in 1897.[29][30] The library has changed location a few times since then, and in the early 21st century, a new building was constructed over the site of the former town hall, which had also been relocated. In fiscal year 2008, the town of Dudley spent 1.44% ($163,468) of its budget on its public library, approximately $14 per person.[31]
Dudley is the home ofNichols College, which maintains a campus on Dudley Hill, the historical center of the town. Public schools in Dudley include Mason Road School (grades Pre-K–1), Dudley Elementary School (grades 2–4), Dudley Middle School (grades 5–8) andShepherd Hill Regional High School (grades 9–12), the last of which also serves students from Charlton. All public schools in Dudley are part of the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District. Dudley is one of ten towns whose students have the option of attendingBay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School (grades 9–12).[32]
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