Southbridge, Massachusetts

As early as 1638, John Winthrop Jr.

Southbridge was first settled by Europeans in 1730.

In 1801 a poll parish, named the Second Religious Society of Charlton, and popularly called Honest Town, was formed from the west part of Dudley, the southwest part of Charlton ...

In 1816 this parish was incorporated to become the township of Southbridge.

The American Optical Company shut down in 1984, and Southbridge is still struggling from the loss of these and other manufacturing jobs.

Since the 1988–1989 school year, however, all kindergarten and 1st grade classes have been at Eastford Road School; all of grades 2–3 at Charlton Street School; and all of grade...

In fiscal year 2008, the town of Southbridge spent 1.03% ($426,025) of its budget on its public library—approximately $25 per person, per year ($32.94 adjusted for inflation to ...

== Demographics == As of the census of 2010, there were 16,719 people, 7,077 households, and 4,522 families residing in the city.

On January 26, 2016, the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education placed Southbridge School District in state receivership.