Charlton

Town in Worcester County, south-central Massachusetts, USA, 19 km/12 mi southwest of Worcester; population (1998 est) 10,350. Settled in 1735 and incorporated in 1755, Charlton is largely rural, and is an agricultural trade centre with an increasing suburban community.

Two historic districts in Charlton are recorded on the national register of historic places. Famous residents include James Capen Adams (1807–60), better known as Grizzly Adams, last of the old mountain men, who slew grizzly bears and toured with P T Barnum. The area was also home to Dr William T G Morgan (1819–68), an early pioneer of anaesthetics.