The Town of Shrewsbury is a suburban community with an uneven and hilly terrain cut by a number of minor streams providing several small water power sites.  The development of streetcar routes in the 19th century spurred the growth of single-family housing in town and a summer resort population on Lake Quinsigamond became consumers of the market garden produce grown by town farmers.  its role as a suburb of Worcester grew more important. 

The town's population doubled from 1915 to 1940 as continued streetcar suburb growth brought more modern settlers into the community.  Shrewsbury today is a modern suburban town of highly educated young families working in the hi-tech belt along 495.