Kent County, Rhode Island

Kent County
County
The East Greenwich Town Hall historically served as the Kent County Courthouse
Show Kent County Show Rhode Island Show the United States
Coordinates: 41°41′N71°35′W / 41.68°N 71.58°W / 41.68; -71.58
Country	United States
State	Rhode Island
Region	New England
Metro area	Providence
Formed	June 11, 1750;274 years ago (1750-06-11)
Named for	Kent, England
County town	East Greenwich
Largest city	Warwick
Incorporated municipalities	5 (total) 1 city, 4 towns
Area
• Total	188 sq mi (490 km2)
• Land	169 sq mi (440 km2)
• Water	20 sq mi (50 km2)  10%
Highest elevation [1]	629 ft (192 m)
Lowest elevation [2]	0 ft (0 m)
Population  (April 1, 2020)
• Total	170,363
• Density	910/sq mi (350/km2)
GDP [3]
• Total	$11.417 billion (2022)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code format	028xx
Area code	401
FIPS code	44-003
GNIS feature ID	1219778
Congressional district	2nd

Kent County is a county located in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. As of the 2020 census, the population was 170,363, ^[4] making it the second-most populous county in Rhode Island. The county was formed in 1750 from the southern third of Providence County. ^[5] It was named after the county of Kent, England. ^[6] Kent County, like other counties in Rhode Island, no longer has governmental functions (other than as court administrative and sheriff corrections boundaries). Its seat is East Greenwich. Kent County is included in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn constitutes a portion of the greater Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT Combined Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 188 square miles (490 km²), of which 169 square miles (440 km²) is land and 20 square miles (52 km²) (10%) is water. ^[7]

Adjacent counties

• Providence County - north
• Bristol County - east
• Washington County - south
• New London County, Connecticut - southwest
• Windham County, Connecticut - west
• Newport County - southeast

Major highways

• I-95
• I-295
• US 1
• US 1A
• Route 2
• Route 3
• Route 4
• Route 5
• Route 14
• Route 33
• Route 37
• Route 51
• Route 102
• Route 113
• Route 115
• Route 116
• Route 117
• Route 117A
• Route 118
• Route 401
• Route 402
• Route 403

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1790	8,851		—
1800	8,487		−4.1%
1810	9,834		15.9%
1820	10,228		4.0%
1830	12,789		25.0%
1840	13,083		2.3%
1850	15,068		15.2%
1860	17,303		14.8%
1870	18,595		7.5%
1880	20,588		10.7%
1890	26,754		29.9%
1900	29,976		12.0%
1910	36,378		21.4%
1920	38,269		5.2%
1930	51,390		34.3%
1940	58,311		13.5%
1950	77,763		33.4%
1960	112,619		44.8%
1970	142,382		26.4%
1980	154,163		8.3%
1990	161,135		4.5%
2000	167,090		3.7%
2010	166,158		−0.6%
2020	170,363		2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [8] 1790-1960 [9] 1900-1990 [10] 1990-2000 [11] 2010-2019 [12]

2000 census

As of the census ^[13] of 2000, there were 167,090 people, 67,320 households, and 44,969 families living in the county. The population density was 982 inhabitants per square mile (379/km²). There were 70,365 housing units at an average density of 414 per square mile (160/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.54% White, 0.93% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. 1.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.1% were of Italian, 18.9% Irish, 11.1% English, 10.1% French, 6.1% French Canadian and 6.1% Portuguese ancestry, 92.0% spoke English, 1.9% Spanish, 1.5% French, 1.4% Portuguese and 1.1% Italian as their first language.

There were 67,320 households, out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.20% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.20% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,617, and the median income for a family was $57,491. Males had a median income of $40,052 versus $29,130 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,833. About 4.80% of families and 6.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.90% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 166,158 people, 68,645 households, and 43,747 families living in the county. ^[14] The population density was 985.9 inhabitants per square mile (380.7/km²). There were 73,701 housing units at an average density of 437.3 per square mile (168.8/km²). ^[15] The racial makeup of the county was 93.4% white, 2.0% Asian, 1.4% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 1.0% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.2% of the population. ^[14] The largest ancestry groups were:

26.7% Irish

23.2% Italian

17.3% English

16.3% French

8.9% Portuguese

7.6% German

4.8% Polish

4.4% French Canadian

3.3% American

2.9% Swedish

2.4% Scottish

1.7% Scotch-Irish

1.4% Russian ^[16]

Of the 68,645 households, 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.3% were non-families, and 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 42.7 years. ^[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $61,088 and the median income for a family was $77,100. Males had a median income of $53,458 versus $41,380 for females. The per capita income for the county was $31,221. About 4.9% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over. ^[17]

Communities

Map of Kent County, Rhode Island showing cities, towns, and CDPs

City

• Warwick

Towns

• Coventry
• East Greenwich (traditional county seat) ^[18]
• West Greenwich
• West Warwick

Census-designated place

• Greene

Other villages

• Anthony
• Arkwright
• Blackrock
• Coventry Centre
• Crompton
• Fairbanks
• Harris
• Hillsgrove
• Hopkins Hollow
• Nooseneck
• Lippitt
• Quidnick
• Spring Lake
• Summit
• Tiogue
• Washington
• Whaley's Hollow

Politics

Kent County, like most of Rhode Island, has been strongly Democratic for the last half century. In 2016, Donald Trump became the first Republican to win the county since Ronald Reagan in 1984, although Joe Biden was able to bring it back over to the Democratic side four years later in 2020.

United States presidential election results for Kent County, Rhode Island ^[19]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	44,526	47.80%	46,269	49.67%	2,353	2.53%
2020	42,001	45.12%	49,113	52.76%	1,979	2.13%
2016	38,336	46.72%	37,788	46.05%	5,929	7.23%
2012	31,567	40.00%	45,564	57.73%	1,792	2.27%
2008	33,780	40.18%	48,406	57.58%	1,888	2.25%
2004	33,699	43.19%	42,830	54.90%	1,489	1.91%
2000	25,291	34.42%	43,265	58.89%	4,914	6.69%
1996	19,992	27.95%	41,018	57.35%	10,516	14.70%
1992	25,217	30.59%	35,934	43.60%	21,274	25.81%
1988	34,314	47.79%	37,221	51.84%	266	0.37%
1984	40,427	56.15%	31,352	43.55%	214	0.30%
1980	28,331	39.90%	31,350	44.15%	11,324	15.95%
1976	34,131	48.61%	35,855	51.07%	227	0.32%
1972	40,534	58.19%	29,004	41.64%	115	0.17%
1968	22,493	37.07%	35,609	58.69%	2,576	4.25%
1964	12,297	21.66%	44,476	78.34%	0	0.00%
1960	24,344	44.26%	30,662	55.74%	0	0.00%
1956	31,548	65.94%	16,298	34.06%	0	0.00%
1952	27,745	60.85%	17,824	39.09%	24	0.05%
1948	16,299	51.28%	15,287	48.10%	199	0.63%
1944	13,710	49.27%	14,059	50.52%	57	0.20%
1940	14,790	50.74%	14,333	49.17%	28	0.10%
1936	13,550	48.36%	13,238	47.25%	1,231	4.39%
1932	11,096	50.95%	10,398	47.74%	286	1.31%
1928	11,487	60.44%	7,460	39.25%	58	0.31%
1924	11,100	65.84%	5,429	32.20%	331	1.96%
1920	8,474	69.98%	3,394	28.03%	242	2.00%
1916	4,038	59.39%	2,632	38.71%	129	1.90%
1912	2,170	38.90%	2,030	36.39%	1,379	24.72%
1908	3,617	65.42%	1,700	30.75%	212	3.83%
1904	2,981	60.30%	1,859	37.60%	104	2.10%
1900	2,613	66.19%	1,126	28.52%	209	5.29%
1896	2,817	77.37%	645	17.71%	179	4.92%
1892	2,244	58.81%	1,469	38.50%	103	2.70%
1888	1,988	59.99%	1,261	38.05%	65	1.96%
1884	1,602	62.17%	886	34.38%	89	3.45%
1880	1,759	59.99%	1,153	39.32%	20	0.68%

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Kent County, Rhode Island

References

1. "Bald Hill, Rhode Island". peakbagger.com.
2. Sea level at the Atlantic Ocean.
3. "Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Kent County, RI". fred.stlouisfed.org.
4. "Census - Geography Profile: Kent County, Rhode Island". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved November 20, 2021.
5. "Rhode Island: Individual County Chronologies". Rhode Island Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2009. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
6. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  173.
7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
10. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
12. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
14. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
15. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
16. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
17. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
18. "42-3-5". webserver.rilin.state.ri.us. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 9, 2018.