A description of Worcester County published in 1873: Worcester County was incorporated April 2, 1731, and contains 192,718 inhabitants, with a valuation of $131,022,996. It extends entirely through the State from north to south, and embraces an area of about 1,500 square miles. The surface is undulating, broken, and varied by several prominent elevations. Mount Wachusett, in the town of Princeton, has an atitude of 2,480 feet; Asnebumsket Hill, in Paxton, of 1,407 feet; Hawe;s Hill, in Barre, of 1,284 feet; Tufts Hill, in New Braintree, of 1,179 feet; and Hatchet Hill, in Southbridge, of 1,016 feet, above sea-level.
The principal rivers are the Nashua, flowing north-easterly into the Merrimack; the French and the Blackstone, draining the south-easterly sections of the county; the Chicopee and Miller's River, flowing westerly into the Connecticut River. These streams, together with their numerous tributaries, afford a vast hydraulic power, which is, for the most part, utilized. The county is intersected by various railroad and telegraphic lines, rendering communication with the shire-towns, Worcester and Fitchburg, and also with the other cities of the state and county, easey and immediate.
The geological formation is, for the most part, calcareous and ferruginous gneiss, Merrimack schist, and the St. John's group. In these meta morphic rocks occurs a great variety of curious and interesting minerals. The flora is rich and varied; and the farms, especially in respect to the produce of the dairy, are equal, if not superior, to those of any other county in the State. The county has 865 public schools, six incorporated academies, and one college.