North Kingstown, Rhode Island

Last updated

North Kingstown, Rhode Island
Town
Gilbert Stuart birthplace and barn.jpg
The Gilbert Stuart Birthplace in North Kingstown
Nickname: 
"NK"
N Kingstown RI lg.PNG
Location of North Kingstown in Washington County, Rhode Island
Coordinates: 41°34′50″N71°27′14″W / 41.58056°N 71.45389°W / 41.58056; -71.45389
CountryUnited States
State Rhode Island
County Washington
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 zone UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
02852 (North Kingstown), 02874 (Saunderstown), 02877 (Slocum)
Area code 401
FIPS code 44-51580 [1]
GNIS feature ID1220088 [2]
Website www.northkingstown.org

North Kingstown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States, and is part of the Providence metropolitan area. Its population was 27,732 in the 2020 census. North Kingstown is 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.

Contents

History

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

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

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1790 2,907—
1800 2,794−3.9%
1810 2,9575.8%
1820 3,0071.7%
1830 3,0361.0%
1840 2,909−4.2%
1850 2,9712.1%
1860 3,1044.5%
1870 3,56314.8%
1880 3,94910.8%
1890 4,1936.2%
1900 4,1940.0%
1910 4,048−3.5%
1920 3,397−16.1%
1930 4,27926.0%
1940 4,6047.6%
1950 14,180208.0%
1960 18,97733.8%
1970 29,79357.0%
1980 21,938−26.4%
1990 23,7868.4%
2000 26,32610.7%
2010 26,4860.6%
2020 27,7324.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [4] [5]

As of the 2020 census, 27,732 people and 11,338 households were in the town. The population density was 642.4 inhabitants per square mile (248.0/km2), with 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, and 5.42% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.65% of the population.

Of the 11,338 households, 28.1% had children under 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. About 11.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the town, the age distribution was 18.4% under 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 or older. The median age was 44 years. The median income for a household in the town was $120,565, and 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 18 and 6.6% of those 65 or over.

Transportation

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 serves 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

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

Notable people

Points of interest

Other National Historic Places in North Kingstown

See also

References

  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.
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