First District Communities - Woonsocket

The area known as Woonsocket, which is the Indian name for "thundermist," was first settled in the late 17th century. The early settlers farmed the land and utilized the power of the Woonsocket Falls. The City's abundant waterpower was a major factor in its development as an industrial center. From the time it was first settled until nearly 100 years later, Woonsocket was a quiet, backwoods region inhabited by Quaker farmers and millers. It was a noted stop on the highway to Boston, Worcester, Providence, and Connecticut.

New settlers, including a large number of French Canadians were drawn to the area's six manufacturing villages between 1810 and 1830 and in a short time Woonsocket became a bustling, industrial and ethnically diverse community. Today, manufacturing still dominates Woonsocket's economy, but to a lesser degree. Its many residents now work within the City and in nearby Massachusetts. Woonsocket's central location and easy accessibility makes the City an ideal location for business development and residence.

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