BRIDGEWATER, a town of Plymouth county (Mass.), U.S.A., 27m. south of Boston. It is served by the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad. The population in 1930 (Federal census) was 9,055. The manufactures include shoes, nails, lumber, tubes and brick. A State normal school (established 1840) is pleasantly situated near the centre of the town. In 1656 the part of Duxbury called New Plantation was established as the town of Bridgewater. North, West and East Bridgewater were separately established in 1821, 1822 and 1823.