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The Town of
Douglas is a residential upland community
between the Blackstone and French River valleys
on an historic east-west corridor. It is on the
southern border of Massachusetts where Rhode
Island and Connecticut come together. The
community was named after Dr. William Douglas of
Boston, who donated funds for the creation of
free schools in the town. There is also a state
forest in the town.
The community's
early economy was built on agriculture,
lumbering, charcoal making, cattle and sheep
farming. In the 19th century, this expanded to
include the manufacturing of cotton and woolen
textiles, shoes, axes and other edged tools. In
modern times, much agricultural land has gone
fallow and reverted to woods.
Douglas is an
unusual community in the extent to which it
preserves historic buildings, both residential
and commercial. The town retains farm buildings
and mill buildings, 19th and 20th century
residential buildings built for the working
classes, the middle classes and the well-to-do.
The town's architecture shows an unusually
complete picture of community development
through the middle of the 20th century.
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| Form
of Government: |
Open
Town Meeting |
| Population
(2010): |
8,471 |
| Registered
Voters (2010): |
6,310 |
| School
Enrollment (2011): |
1,676 |
| County: |
Worcester |
| Square
Miles (2004): |
36.93 |
| Public
Road Miles (2009): |
83.02 |
| Income
Per Capita (1999): |
$23,036 |
| Median
Family Income (1999): |
$67,210 |
| EQV
Per Capita (2010): |
$118,327 |
| Average
Tax Bill (2011): |
$3,447 |
| Tax Rate
(2011): |
$13.31 |
| Operating
Budget (2010): |
$26,213,227 |
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