The History of Woburn, Middlesex County, Mass., from the Grant of Its Territory to Charlestown, in 1640, to the Year 1860.

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1868. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XVI. Progress of Woburn since 1800, in population, business, wealth, buildings, schools, and other means of promoting the public welfare. Giusat and rapid, during the last sixty years, have been the advances of Woburn in numbers, business and wealth; in all the means of literary and social progress, and of spiritual prosperity and enjoyment. It is the design of this last chapter of its history, to contrast the present condition of the town, in respect to the above-named and other particulars, with what it was at the commencement of this century, and in other previous portions of its history. Population. -- Within the last twenty years, the number of the inhabitants of Woburn has surprisingly increased. The total population of the town in 1765, was l,575.x According to tho colonial census in 1770, it had advanced only to 1,091.1 By the first census under the United States government in 1790, the sum of the white and colored inhabitants was but 1,750. By the second census in 1800, it had diminished to 1,240, in consequence of the detachment of Burlington from Woburn the year before. In 1810, the population was still further reduced in number to 1,219, which is less by twenty-seven than it was in 1800. In 1820, it was only 1,579, which is but four more than it was in 1705, fifty-five years before. But since 1820, the increase has been very rapid. In 1830, tho whole number of inhabitants, according to the census taken that year, was 1,977,* in 1840, it was 2,994; and although by the incorporation of Winchester as a separate town April 30, 1850, Woburn lost a large number of people who previously belonged to it, yet by the census of 1800, the sum total of its inhabitants had increased to 0,295, which is more than double the number it contained in 1840, only t...