Charlton
town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States of America
Charlton is a small town in Central Massachusetts located outside of Worcester. Charlton is within 50 mi (80 km) of five major New England cities: Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Hartford and Providence.
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Charlton was settled by European immigrants in 1735. It was established as a district separated from Oxford on January 10, 1755, and became a town in 1775 by a law that made all districts into towns. It was named after Sir Francis Charlton. During the 1800s, farming continued to be the major occupation, but woolen mills were being built along some of the town's brooks by the turn of the twentieth century.
Charlton is surrounded by towns filled with history and things to do. One would not often choose Charlton as a place to visit but throughout the year there are great events that an out-of-towner might want to see or partake in including the Old Home Day and Memorial Day parades or Dudley's Strawberry Festival. For someone from a big city this small town of about 13,000 people (2010) is a real culture shock yet could be enlightening to the relaxed atmosphere of its residents.