Between 1806 and 1821, a dozen mills were built on the Pawtuxet River, shaping the economy of surrounding villages. The mills provided a livelihood for the villagers who settled in the valley and drew immigrants looking for a better life from Canada, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, and other faraway countries. For over 100 years, the mills were a thriving industry until it became more economical to move them to the South where cotton was grown. Pawtuxet Valley Villages: Hope to Natick to Washington travels down the North Branch of the Pawtuxet River from the village of Hope to Natick, then back up the South Branch to Washington Village. Over 200 previously unpublished images tell the story of 18 villages located in 5 cities and towns.