Jump to content

North Kingstown, Rhode Island

Coordinates: 41°34′50″N 71°27′14″W / 41.58056°N 71.45389°W / 41.58056; -71.45389
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from North kingstown)
Not to be confused with Kingston, Rhode Island or South Kingstown, Rhode Island.

North Kingstown, Rhode Island
Town
The Gilbert Stuart Birthplace in North Kingstown
The Gilbert Stuart Birthplace in North Kingstown
Nickname: 
"NK"
Location of North Kingstown in Washington County, Rhode Island
Location of North Kingstown in Washington County, Rhode Island
Coordinates: 41°34′50″N 71°27′14″W / 41.58056°N 71.45389°W / 41.58056; -71.45389
CountryUnited States
StateRhode Island
CountyWashington
Government
 • Town CouncilGregory A. Mancini
Dr. Kimberly Ann Page
Katherine Anderson
Matthew B. McCoy
Lawrence C. Mandel
Area
 • Total
58.3 sq mi (151.1 km2)
 • Land43.6 sq mi (112.9 km2)
 • Water14.7 sq mi (38.2 km2)
Elevation
82 ft (25 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
27,732
 • Density636/sq mi (245.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
02852 (North Kingstown), 02874 (Saunderstown), 02877 (Slocum)
Area code401
FIPS code44-51580[1]
GNIS feature ID1220088[2]
Websitewww.northkingstown.org

North Kingstown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States, and is part of the Providence metropolitan area. The population was 27,732 in the 2020 census. North Kingstown is home to the birthplace of American portraitist Gilbert Stuart, who was born in the village of Saunderstown. Within the town is Quonset Point, location of the former Naval Air Station Quonset Point, known for the invention of the Quonset hut, as well as the historic village of Wickford.

History

[edit]

The area was first settled by Roger Williams and Richard Smith who set up trading posts near Wickford where Smith's Castle is today. The town of Kings Towne was founded in 1674, by the colonial government, and included the present day towns of North Kingstown, South Kingstown, Exeter, and Narragansett. In 1723, Kings Towne was split into two parts, North Kingstown and South Kingstown, with North Kingstown, having the earliest settlements, retaining the 1674 establishment date. In 1742, the town of Exeter was taken from the western part of North Kingstown.

On September 17, 2024, the National Park Service announced that North Kingstown was named a World War II Heritage City.[3]

Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 58.3 square miles (151 km2), of which 43.6 square miles (113 km2) is land and 14.8 square miles (38 km2) (25.28%) is water. It is bordered on the east by Narragansett Bay.

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
17902,907—
18002,794−3.9%
18102,9575.8%
18203,0071.7%
18303,0361.0%
18402,909−4.2%
18502,9712.1%
18603,1044.5%
18703,56314.8%
18803,94910.8%
18904,1936.2%
19004,1940.0%
19104,048−3.5%
19203,397−16.1%
19304,27926.0%
19404,6047.6%
195014,180208.0%
196018,97733.8%
197029,79357.0%
198021,938−26.4%
199023,7868.4%
200026,32610.7%
201026,4860.6%
202027,7324.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[4][5]

As of the 2020 census, there were 27,732 people and 11,338 households in the town. The population density was 642.4 inhabitants per square mile (248.0/km2). There were 12,189 housing units in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 89.59% White, 1.27% African American, 0.57% American Indian/Alaska Native, 1.90% Asian, 1.19% from some other race other races, and 5.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.65% of the population.

There were 11,338 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 23.6% had a female householder with no spouse present and 14.2% had a male householder with no spouse present. 11.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 18.4% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years.

The median income for a household in the town was $120,565, and the median income for a family was $144,898. The per capita income for the town was $61,280. About 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

[edit]

Wickford Junction is a terminus station on the Providence/Stoughton Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail, providing weekday train service to Providence Station and Boston's South Station. At 63 miles from Boston, it is the most distant station in the MBTA's 135-station commuter-rail network, and the only one in its most expensive fare zone.

RIPTA also services in the town inbound to Providence and outbound to Narragansett or Newport.

North Kingstown is also served by a passenger ferry connecting to the island of Martha's Vineyard.[6]

Education

[edit]

North Kingstown School Department is the municipal school district. It operates North Kingstown High School.

Notable people

[edit]

Points of interest

[edit]
  • Casey Farm (1725): An original colonial plantation that is today one of the oldest operational farms in New England.
  • Davis Memorial Wildlife Refuge: 96 acres of forest and wetlands preserved by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island.
  • Devil's Foot Rock: A footprint-like natural impression or possibly petrosomatoglyph. Legends going back to the colonial era tell of a Native American woman being chased by the devil. Some say that she fled from Boston. Her pursuer is said to have left his footprints at Devil's Foot Rock, then at Chimney Hill in South Kingstown, and finally at Block Island.
  • Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and Museum (1751): The house in which American portraitist Gilbert Stuart was born in 1755. The museum features works from throughout Stuart's career and operational grist and snuff mills.
  • Historic Wickford Village: A historic seaside village which contains one of the largest collections of preserved 18th-century houses in the Northeastern United States. Wickford also has a large and scenic harbor.
  • David S. Baker Estate: Home of Rhode Island's first elected Governor to never be seated.
  • Quonset Air Museum: A large museum located at the former Naval Air Station Quonset Point which focuses on military aviation history.
  • Smith's Castle (1678): A colonial plantation located on the shore of Narragansett Bay.
  • Quonset Point, a former military base which was once the home of the Naval Construction Battalions known as the Seabees

Other National Historic Places in North Kingstown

[edit]
  • Old Narragansett Church, built in 1707, is the oldest Episcopal Church building in New England
    Old Narragansett Church, built in 1707, is the oldest Episcopal Church building in New England
  • Baptist Church in Wickford
    Baptist Church in Wickford

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ^ Flower, Jusolyn (September 17, 2024). "North Kingstown named American World War II Heritage City". WPRI. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  4. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  5. ^ Snow, Edwin M. (1867). Report upon the Census of Rhode Island 1865. Providence, RI: Providence Press Company.
  6. ^ "Martha's Vineyard Ferry". Rhode Island Fast Ferry.
  7. ^ "Elizabeth Beisel". Olympic.org. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  8. ^ Updike, Wilkins (1907). A history of the Episcopal Church in Narragansett, Rhode Island: including a history of other Episcopal churches in the state. Vol. 1. Boston: Printed and published by D.B. Updike.
  9. ^ Cannon, Angie (June 12, 1994). "Myers Gives White House A Different Kind Of Face – Clinton's Young Press Chief Learns Fast Under Fire". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to North Kingstown, Rhode Island.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for North Kingstown.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=North_Kingstown,_Rhode_Island&oldid=1269933880"