Newport County, Rhode Island

Newport County
County
Old Colony House
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Coordinates: 41°31′N71°16′W / 41.51°N 71.26°W / 41.51; -71.26
Country	United States
State	Rhode Island
Region	New England
Metro area	Providence
Formed	June 22, 1703;321 years ago (1703-06-22)
Named for	Newport, Essex
County town	Newport
Largest city	Newport
Incorporated municipalities	6 (total) 1 city, 5 towns
Area
• Total	314 sq mi (810 km2)
• Land	102 sq mi (260 km2)
• Water	211 sq mi (550 km2)  67%
Highest elevation [1]	326 ft (99 m)
Lowest elevation [2]	0 ft (0 m)
Population  (April 1, 2020)
• Total	85,643
• Density	270/sq mi (100/km2)
GDP [3]
• Total	$7.843 billion (2022)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code format	028xx
Area code	401
FIPS code	44-005
GNIS feature ID	1219779
Congressional district	1st

Newport County is one of five counties located in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. As of the 2020 census, the population was 85,643. ^[4] It is also one of the seven regions of Rhode Island. The county was created in 1703. ^[5] Like all of the counties in Rhode Island, Newport County no longer has any governmental functions (other than as court administrative and sheriff corrections boundaries). All of those functions in Rhode Island are now carried out by the state government, or by the cities and towns of Rhode Island. Newport County is included in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is in turn constitutes a portion of the greater Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT Combined Statistical Area.

History

Newport County was constituted on June 22, 1703, as one of the two original counties of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. As originally established, Newport County consisted of four towns: Portsmouth, Newport, Jamestown, and New Shoreham. In 1746–47, two towns, Little Compton and Tiverton, were acquired from Massachusetts. In 1856, the town of Fall River was split off from Tiverton but was ceded to Massachusetts six years later in 1862 as part of the settlement of the boundary dispute between Rhode Island and Massachusetts. In 1963, the town of New Shoreham was transferred to Washington County. County government was abolished in Rhode Island in 1842 and today remains only for the purpose of delineating judicial administrative boundaries.

Geography

Summit of Pocasset Hill, highest point in the county

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 314 square miles (810 km²), of which 102 square miles (260 km²) is land and 211 square miles (550 km²) (67%) is water. ^[6]

The county consists of Aquidneck Island, Conanicut Island, Prudence Island, and the easternmost portion of the state on the mainland. The highest point in the county is Pocasset Hill, 320 feet (98 m) above sea level, located in Tiverton. The lowest elevation is at sea level.

Adjacent counties

• Bristol County - north
• Bristol County, Massachusetts - east
• Kent County - northwest
• Washington County - west

National protected areas

• Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge
• Touro Synagogue National Historic Site

Major highways

• Route 24
• Route 77
• Route 81
• Route 114
• Route 138
• Route 138A
• Route 179
• Route 214
• Route 238

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1790	14,351		—
1800	14,845		3.4%
1810	16,294		9.8%
1820	15,771		−3.2%
1830	16,535		4.8%
1840	16,874		2.1%
1850	20,007		18.6%
1860	21,896		9.4%
1870	20,050		−8.4%
1880	24,180		20.6%
1890	28,552		18.1%
1900	32,599		14.2%
1910	39,335		20.7%
1920	42,893		9.0%
1930	41,668		−2.9%
1940	46,696		12.1%
1950	61,539		31.8%
1960	81,891		33.1%
1970	94,559		15.5%
1980	81,383		−13.9%
1990	87,194		7.1%
2000	85,433		−2.0%
2010	82,888		−3.0%
2020	85,643		3.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790-1960 [8] 1900-1990 [9] 1990-2000 [10] 2010-2019 [11]

2000 census

As of the census ^[12] of 2000, there were 85,433 people, 35,228 households, and 22,228 families living in the county. The population density was 821 inhabitants per square mile (317/km²). There were 39,561 housing units at an average density of 380 per square mile (150/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.46% White, 3.73% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.09% from other races, and 1.99% from two or more races. 2.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 19.6% were of Irish, 13.2% Portuguese, 11.8% English, 9.2% Italian, 6.3% German and 5.2% French ancestry. 92.0% spoke English, 2.3% Spanish, 2.1% Portuguese and 1.3% French as their first language.

There were 35,228 households, out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.90% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.90% were non-families. 29.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.50% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $50,448, and the median income for a family was $60,610. Males had a median income of $41,630 versus $29,241 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,779. About 5.40% of families and 7.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.00% of those under age 18 and 6.70% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 82,888 people, 34,911 households, and 21,076 families living in the county. ^[13] The population density was 809.6 inhabitants per square mile (312.6/km²). There were 41,796 housing units at an average density of 408.2 per square mile (157.6/km²). ^[14] The racial makeup of the county was 90.2% white, 3.5% black or African American, 1.6% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.4% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.2% of the population. ^[13] The largest ancestry groups were:

• 25.5% Irish
• 17.4% English
• 16.5% Portuguese
• 10.9% Italian
• 10.5% German
• 9.4% French
• 5.0% Polish
• 3.9% French Canadian
• 3.3% Scottish
• 3.0% American
• 2.1% Scotch-Irish
• 1.8% Swedish
• 1.6% Puerto Rican
• 1.4% Russian
• 1.1% Dutch
• 1.0% Greek
• 1.0% Sub-Saharan African

^[15]

Of the 34,911 households, 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.6% were non-families, and 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age was 43.2 years. ^[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $67,239 and the median income for a family was $82,477. Males had a median income of $58,191 versus $43,623 for females. The per capita income for the county was $36,994. About 4.5% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.4% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over. ^[16]

Communities

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

City

• Newport

Towns

• Jamestown
• Little Compton
• Middletown
• Portsmouth
• Tiverton

Census-designated places

• Melville
• Newport East
• Tiverton

Villages

Villages have no separate corporate existence from the towns they are in.

• Adamsville
• Bridgeport
• Briggs Point
• Bristol Ferry
• Castle Hill
• Cedar Island
• Cedar Point
• Coasters Harbor
• Coddington Point
• Common Fence Point
• Corey Lane
• Despair Island
• Dutch Island
• Dyer Island
• Eagleville
• Easton Point
• Fogland Point
• Fort Adams
• Forty Steps
• Freebody Hill
• Goat Island
• Gould Island
• Grayville
• Green's End
• Hog Island
• Homestead
• Hope Island
• Hummocks
• Island Park
• Nannaquaket
• North Tiverton
• Ochre Point
• Patience
• Prudence
• Quaker Hill
• Rose Island
• Sachuest
• Sakonnet
• Tiverton Four Corners
• Tonomy Hill
• Tunipus

Politics

United States presidential election results for Newport County, Rhode Island ^[17]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	16,027	35.92%	27,332	61.26%	1,259	2.82%
2020	15,722	34.07%	29,486	63.89%	940	2.04%
2016	15,077	36.73%	22,851	55.67%	3,117	7.59%
2012	15,202	38.53%	23,463	59.47%	787	1.99%
2008	15,717	37.42%	25,479	60.67%	801	1.91%
2004	16,622	41.12%	22,992	56.87%	812	2.01%
2000	14,258	37.68%	20,790	54.94%	2,790	7.37%
1996	11,500	32.77%	18,951	54.00%	4,645	13.24%
1992	12,386	31.24%	17,584	44.35%	9,674	24.40%
1988	16,923	48.82%	17,597	50.76%	144	0.42%
1984	19,629	57.38%	14,466	42.29%	114	0.33%
1980	14,555	42.37%	13,904	40.47%	5,897	17.16%
1976	15,155	45.78%	17,768	53.67%	184	0.56%
1972	19,142	59.75%	12,844	40.09%	49	0.15%
1968	10,504	37.74%	16,251	58.39%	1,075	3.86%
1964	7,078	26.35%	19,782	73.65%	0	0.00%
1960	11,942	43.24%	15,677	56.76%	0	0.00%
1956	16,063	63.00%	9,433	37.00%	2	0.01%
1952	15,136	57.63%	11,116	42.33%	10	0.04%
1948	10,756	53.39%	9,254	45.93%	136	0.68%
1944	9,435	45.29%	11,375	54.61%	21	0.10%
1940	9,882	48.11%	10,645	51.82%	14	0.07%
1936	9,358	48.33%	9,499	49.06%	504	2.60%
1932	8,633	51.89%	7,838	47.11%	165	0.99%
1928	8,578	55.85%	6,748	43.94%	33	0.21%
1924	9,608	67.24%	3,975	27.82%	706	4.94%
1920	9,319	76.72%	2,228	18.34%	599	4.93%
1916	4,003	56.84%	2,932	41.63%	108	1.53%
1912	2,583	39.92%	2,487	38.44%	1,400	21.64%
1908	3,639	62.32%	1,949	33.38%	251	4.30%
1904	3,683	61.05%	2,263	37.51%	87	1.44%
1900	3,283	63.38%	1,776	34.29%	121	2.34%
1896	3,415	71.55%	1,092	22.88%	266	5.57%
1892	2,746	53.52%	2,258	44.01%	127	2.48%
1888	2,447	58.82%	1,634	39.28%	79	1.90%
1884	2,040	59.72%	1,205	35.28%	171	5.01%
1880	2,064	67.69%	979	32.11%	6	0.20%
1860	1,610	64.68%	879	35.32%	0	0.00%

Education

School districts include: ^[18]

K-12:

• Middletown Public Schools
• Newport Public Schools
• Portsmouth School District
• Tiverton School District

Elementary school

• Jamestown School District
• Little Compton School District

See also

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

References

1. "Pocasset Hill, Rhode Island". peakbagger.com.
2. Sea level at the Atlantic Ocean.
3. "Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Newport County, RI". fred.stlouisfed.org.
4. "Census - Geography Profile: Newport 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. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
9. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
13. "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.
14. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
15. "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.
16. "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.
17. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
18. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Newport County, RI" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022. - Text list

External links

• Newport County Chamber of Commerce