WELCOME TO Woonsocket A sleepy farming community until the 1800's, Woonsocket became one of the nineteenth century's great industrial centers on the Blackstone River. The French-Canadian immigrants who came to work in the mills truly shaped the culture of this city. St. Ann Arts & Cultural Center FOr MOrE abOuT WOOnsOCkET 66 TOuRBlACkSTONE.COm