ABOUT DUDLEY

Dudley is a rural college town in south central Massachusetts, 22 miles south of Worcester and 59 miles southwest of Boston. The town was incorporated in 1731 and was at first seen as not well suited for agriculture, but the large number of ponds and reservoirs created in the 19th century provided ample water power for significant textile, manufacturing and industrial development. Dudley also maintained an agricultural establishment, growing hay, grains and vegetables and raising sheep and cattle. The introduction of woolen mills made Dudley an industrial force in the 1800's. The town's economy was dominated by the textile industry until the 20th century. Modern Dudley, with a population of 10,036, still shows its rural background with poultry farms, dairy farms that produce milk, butter and cheese and vegetable and market gardens.