West Greenwich, Rhode Island

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West Greenwich, Rhode Island
Town
Louttit Library, West Greenwich RI.JPG
Louttit Library
Kent County Rhode Island incorporated and unincorporated areas West Greenwich highlighted.svg
Location in Kent County and the state of Rhode Island.
Coordinates: 41°37′46″N71°39′37″W / 41.62944°N 71.66028°W / 41.62944; -71.66028
Country United States
State Rhode Island
County Kent
Government
 • TypeFive-member Town council
 • Town CouncilMark Tourgee (R)
Mark Boyer (R)
Sheryl Green (R)
Lee Kissinger (R)
Thomas E. Mulcahey (R)
Area
 • Total
51.3 sq mi (132.9 km2)
 • Land50.6 sq mi (131.1 km2)
 • Water0.69 sq mi (1.8 km2)
Elevation
[1]
472 ft (144 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
6,528
 • Density129/sq mi (49.8/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
02817
Area code 401
FIPS code 44-77720 [2]
GNIS feature ID1220059 [1]
Website www.wgtownri.org

West Greenwich is a town in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 6,528 at the 2020 census. [3] West Greenwich was named for the historic town of Greenwich, Kent, England. It was separated from East Greenwich in 1741. Students go to Exeter-West Greenwich Regional School in West Greenwich.

Contents

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 51.3 square miles (133 km2), of which, 50.6 square miles (131 km2) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) of it (1.34%) is water. Escoheag Hill is located within the town and is the site of a former ski area. Wickaboxet State Forest is also located in West Greenwich.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1790 2,054—
1800 1,757−14.5%
1810 1,619−7.9%
1820 1,92719.0%
1830 1,817−5.7%
1840 1,415−22.1%
1850 1,350−4.6%
1860 1,258−6.8%
1870 1,133−9.9%
1880 1,018−10.2%
1890 798−21.6%
1900 606−24.1%
1910 481−20.6%
1920 367−23.7%
1930 4029.5%
1940 52630.8%
1950 84761.0%
1960 1,16938.0%
1970 1,84157.5%
1980 2,73848.7%
1990 3,49227.5%
2000 5,08545.6%
2010 6,13520.6%
2020 6,5286.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [4] [5]

As of the 2020 U.S. census, there were 6,528 people and 2,401 households in the town. The population density was 129.8 inhabitants per square mile (50.1/km2). There were 2,575 housing units in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 89.89% White, 0.84% African American, 0.19% American Indian, 2.82% Asian, 1.01% from other races, and 5.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.27% of the population.

Of the 2,401 households, 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.1% were married couples living together, 18.4% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 6.7% had a male householder with no spouse present. 6.7% of households were one person and 1.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 2.89.

The age distribution was 17.9% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% 65 or older. The median age was 43.7 years.

The median household income was $137,485 and the median family income was $137,993. 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 0.0% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Government

West Greenwich town vote
by party in presidential elections [6]
Year GOP DEM Others
2016 57.88%1,95334.35% 1,1597.77% 262
2012 50.28%1,59047.53% 1,5032.18% 69
2008 48.65% 1,56749.39%1,5911.96% 63
2004 51.66%1,46645.81% 1,3002.54% 72
2000 43.80% 1,03548.24%1,1407.96% 188
1996 35.67% 80845.96%1,04118.37% 416
1992 32.96% 77334.54%81032.49% 762
1988 58.45%98941.19% 6970.35% 6

In the Rhode Island Senate, West Greenwich is split into three senatorial districts, one of which is currently held by Democrat Leonidas P. Raptakis (District 33) and other by Republican Elaine J. Morgan (District 34). The other, District 21, is currently vacant but was last held by Republican Nicholas D. Kettle before his resignation in February 2018 following a sex scandal. At the federal level, West Greenwich is a part of Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district, which is currently represented by James R. Langevin.

In presidential elections, West Greenwich tends to be a fairly independent or swing municipality with a slight Republican tilt. That red lean was strengthened in 2016 when Donald Trump won the town by 23.5 points, the best performance for a Republican in the town in three decades.

Historic places

References

  1. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: West Greenwich, Rhode Island
  2. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ↑ "Growth in cities drove RI population increase in 2020 Census".
  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. ↑ "Rhode Island Board of Elections: Previous Election Results". Archived from the original on August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
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