Known as the cradle of the Industrial Revolution. the Blackstone Valley is the place where modern America begins200 years ago on the banks of the Blackstone River. in Pawtucket. RI. Samuel Slater built our Nations first waterpowered textile mill. an event which changed this country forever. Backed by capital from Providence. other entrepreneurs followed Slaters lead. Factories and villages sprang up along the rivers banks. Families migrated from farms into the towns. Canalsand later railroadswere built to improve the transportation of goods. Immigrants from all over Europe came to the region in search of work and opportunity. In the 1920s. the regions prosperity began to fade. Mills closed and moved south.
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