Bradford, Rhode Island
Encyclopedia
Bradford is a census-designated place
(CDP) and historic district
in the town of Westerly in Washington County, Rhode Island
, United States. The population was 1,497 at the 2000 census
. The Bradford Village Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1996, as a 224 acres (90.6 ha) area including 149 contributing buildings, one other contributing site, and one other contributing structure.
Bradford was named for Bradford, West Yorkshire, England.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 4.9 km² (1.9 mi²), all land.
of 2000, there were 1,497 people, 482 households, and 397 families residing in the village. The population density
was 307.4/km² (795.0/mi²). There were 496 housing units at an average density of 101.9/km² (263.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.33% White, 0.67% African American, 0.73% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.40% from other races
, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.94% of the population.
There were 482 households out of which 51.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples
living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.6% were non-families. 13.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10 and the average family size was 3.39.
In the village the population was spread out with 35.7% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 34.1% from 25 to 44, 15.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 103.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $42,130, and the median income for a family was $40,370. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $24,353 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $14,004. About 12.4% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
In violation of the federal Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, the BDA plant polluted the Pawcatuck River and fouled the local air. The RI DEM (Department of Environmental Management) was not responding to local complaints about the contamination so the Bradford Coalition 2 Stop Pollution, a community group of homeowners and tenants, lobbied to reduce BDA's pollution.
A civil lawsuit was successfully filed in 2005 in collaboration with the TAC (Toxic Action Center), RIPIRG (Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group) and Sierra Club. The BDA settled in November 2005, agreeing to pay $150,000 in fines and make improvements on the textile mill to reduce pollution. The plant will build taller smokestacks, install a soot-reducing device and better manage its sewage sludge pond.
Bradford Dyeing Association has never built the smaller smokestacks.
“State and federal environmental regulators had given BDA a free pass for years,” explained RIPIRG Advocate Matthew Auten. “By requiring the company to significantly upgrade its air pollution and water pollution controls, this settlement demonstrates the important role that citizens can and often must play in enforcing our environmental laws.”
Bradford Dyeing Association has had two fire consistently in May 2004, as well as in 2005. In the 2005 Incident a total radius of 1.25 mile had to be evacuated early in the morning. At approximately 3am.
Bradford Dyeing Association is now Bradford Printing and Finishing,LLC.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) and historic district
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
in the town of Westerly in Washington County, Rhode Island
Washington County, Rhode Island
Washington County, commonly known colloquially as South County, is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Washington County borders Kent County to the north, New London County in Connecticut to the west, Suffolk County in New York to the southwest, the Atlantic...
, United States. The population was 1,497 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. The Bradford Village Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1996, as a 224 acres (90.6 ha) area including 149 contributing buildings, one other contributing site, and one other contributing structure.
Bradford was named for Bradford, West Yorkshire, England.
Geography
Bradford is located at 41°24′2"N 71°44′51"W (41.400657, -71.747607).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 4.9 km² (1.9 mi²), all land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,497 people, 482 households, and 397 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 307.4/km² (795.0/mi²). There were 496 housing units at an average density of 101.9/km² (263.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.33% White, 0.67% African American, 0.73% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.40% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.94% of the population.
There were 482 households out of which 51.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.6% were non-families. 13.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10 and the average family size was 3.39.
In the village the population was spread out with 35.7% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 34.1% from 25 to 44, 15.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 103.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $42,130, and the median income for a family was $40,370. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $24,353 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $14,004. About 12.4% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Environmental Contamination
Bradford is a working-class village in southwest Rhode Island where the Bradford Dyeing Association (BDA) has operated for nearly 100 years. BDA is the largest producer of battle dress uniform fabrics to the U.S. Dept. of Defense.In violation of the federal Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, the BDA plant polluted the Pawcatuck River and fouled the local air. The RI DEM (Department of Environmental Management) was not responding to local complaints about the contamination so the Bradford Coalition 2 Stop Pollution, a community group of homeowners and tenants, lobbied to reduce BDA's pollution.
A civil lawsuit was successfully filed in 2005 in collaboration with the TAC (Toxic Action Center), RIPIRG (Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group) and Sierra Club. The BDA settled in November 2005, agreeing to pay $150,000 in fines and make improvements on the textile mill to reduce pollution. The plant will build taller smokestacks, install a soot-reducing device and better manage its sewage sludge pond.
Bradford Dyeing Association has never built the smaller smokestacks.
“State and federal environmental regulators had given BDA a free pass for years,” explained RIPIRG Advocate Matthew Auten. “By requiring the company to significantly upgrade its air pollution and water pollution controls, this settlement demonstrates the important role that citizens can and often must play in enforcing our environmental laws.”
Bradford Dyeing Association has had two fire consistently in May 2004, as well as in 2005. In the 2005 Incident a total radius of 1.25 mile had to be evacuated early in the morning. At approximately 3am.
Bradford Dyeing Association is now Bradford Printing and Finishing,LLC.