Bristol, Rhode Island
Encyclopedia
Bristol is a town
in and the historic county seat
of Bristol County
, Rhode Island
, United States
. The population was 22,954 at the 2010 census
. Bristol, a deepwater seaport, is named after Bristol
, England
.
Major industries include boat building
(and related marine
industries), manufacturing
and tourism
. The town's school system
is united with neighboring Warren, Rhode Island
. Prominent ethnic minorities include Portuguese-American
s, mostly Azorean, and Italian-Americans.
took place here in 1675; although Philip was eventually defeated, a variant of his Indian
name, Metacomet
, is now the name of a main road in Bristol: Metacom Avenue (RI Route 136).
King Philip made nearby Mount Hope
(Montaup) his base of operations. "King Philip's Chair", a rocky ledge on the mountain, was a lookout site for enemy ships on Mount Hope Bay. After that war concluded, the town was settled in 1680 as part of the Plymouth Colony
. It was presumably named after Bristol
, England
.
Bristol was the "shire town" (county seat) of Bristol County, Plymouth Colony, when the county was created in 1685. (It was later split into Bristol County, Rhode Island
and Bristol County, Massachusetts
.) It was sold for £1100 to four Boston investors by the names of Byfield, Walley, Oliver, and Burton. It remained a part of Massachusetts
until the Crown
transferred it to the Rhode Island Colony in 1747.
The DeWolf family was among the earliest settlers of Bristol. Bristol and Rhode Island became a center of slave trading. James DeWolf, a leading slave trader, later become a United States Senator from Rhode Island. Quakers from Rhode Island were involved early in the abolition movement.
During the American Revolutionary War
, the British Navy
bombarded Bristol twice. On October 7, 1775, a group of ships led by Captain
Wallace and the HMS Rose
sailed into town and demanded provisions. When refused, Wallace shelled the town, causing much damage. The attack was stopped when Lieutenant Governor William Bradford
rowed out to the Rose to negotiate a cease-fire, but then a second attack took place on May 25, 1778. This time, 500 British
and Hessian troops marched through the main street (now called Hope Street (RI Route 114)) and burnt 30 barracks and houses, taking some prisoners to Newport
.
Bristol has the oldest continuously celebrated Independence Day
festivities in the United States
. The first mention of a celebration comes from July 1777, when a British officer noted sounds coming from across Narragansett Bay
:
The annual official and historic celebrations (Patriotic Exercises) were established in 1785 by Rev. Henry Wight of the First Congregational Church and Veteran of the Revolutionary War, and later by Rev. Wight as the Parade, and continue today, organized by the Bristol Fourth of July Committee http://www.july4thbristolri.com/. The festivities officially start on June 14, Flag Day, beginning a period of outdoor concerts, soap-box races and a Firefighters muster at Independence Park. The celebration climaxes on July 4 with the oldest annual parade in the United States, "The Military, Civic and Firemen's Parade", an event that draws over 200,000 people from Rhode Island and around the world. These elaborate celebrations give Bristol its nickname, "America's most patriotic town". In 2009, a Tea Party group was briefly banned from future participation when they were accused of handing out political literature, including the Declaration of Independence, from a float in violation of parade rules.
The summer celebrations usually conclude at Independence Park, on Labor Day Sunday with an open aired free concert featuring the Rhode Island Philharmonic and a spectacular fireworks display.
Until 1854, Bristol was one of the five state capitals of Rhode Island.
Bristol is home to Roger Williams University
, named for Rhode Island founder Roger Williams
.
The southerly terminus of the East Bay Bike Path is located at Independence Park on Bristol Harbor. The Bike path continues North to East Providence, R.I. Constructed on an old abandoned railway, some of the best views of Narragansett Bay can be seen along this magnificent corridor. This path is a valued commodity to Bristol, it allows bikers, roller skaters and walkers to enjoy the area. The construction of the East Bay Bike Path was highly contested by Bristol residents before construction because of the potential of crime, the Bike Path has become a welcome asset to the community, and the anticipated crime was non-existent.
The Bristol-based boat company Herreshoff built five consecutive America's Cup Defenders between 1893 and 1920. The Colt Estate, now known as Colt Park, was home to Samuel P. Colt, nephew of the man famous for the arms company. Colt Park lies on magnificently manicured gardens abutting the West Passage of Narragansett Bay, and is popular for its unparalleled views of the waterfront and spectacular sunsets.
Bristol is the site of one National Historic Landmark
, the Joseph Reynolds House
built in 1700. The Marquis de Lafayette and his staff in 1778 used the building as headquarters during the Battle of Rhode Island
.
(the smaller sub-peninsula on the west is called Poppasquash), with Narragansett Bay
on its west and Mount Hope Bay on its east. According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 20.6 square miles (53.4 km2), of which, 10.1 square miles (26.2 km2) of it is land and 10.5 square miles (27.2 km2) of it (50.99%) is water. Bristol's harbor is home to over 800 boat moorings in seven mooring fields.
of 2000, there were 22,469 people, 8,314 households, and 5,653 families residing in the town. The population density
was 2,222.2 people per square mile (858.1/km2). There were 8,705 housing units at an average density of 860.9 per square mile (332.4/km2). The ethnic group makeup of the town was 97.14% European, 1.29% Hispanic or Latino (of any race), 0.67% Asian, 0.62% African, 0.16% Native American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.33% other ethnic group
, and 1.03% from two or more races.
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
in and the historic county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Bristol County
Bristol County, Rhode Island
The border with Bristol County, Massachusetts is rather unusual since the counties both share the same name. The only other instances in which two neighboring counties with the same name share a state border are Sabine County, Texas and Sabine Parish, Louisiana, Union Parish, Louisiana and Union...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 22,954 at the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
. Bristol, a deepwater seaport, is named after Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Major industries include boat building
Boat building
Boat building, one of the oldest branches of engineering, is concerned with constructing the hulls of boats and, for sailboats, the masts, spars and rigging.-Parts:* Bow - the front and generally sharp end of the hull...
(and related marine
Marine (ocean)
Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...
industries), manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
and tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
. The town's school system
Rhode Island schools
Rhode Island schoolsNote: The schools of Providence County, Rhode Island, USA are in a separate table: Providence County, Rhode Island schools-High schools:See also :Category:High schools in Rhode IslandRhode Island schools...
is united with neighboring Warren, Rhode Island
Warren, Rhode Island
Warren is a town in Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 10,611 at the 2010 census.-History:Warren was the site of the Indian village of Sowams on the peninsula called Pokanoket , and was first explored by Europeans in 1621, by Edward Winslow and Stephen Hopkins...
. Prominent ethnic minorities include Portuguese-American
Luso American
The prefix Luso- indicates a relation to the Lusitania, Portugal or the Portuguese people, as in the terms Portuguese American, Luso- Brasileiros, Luso-Africans, Luso-Asian. It is often used alone, somewhat loosely, to refer to people of Portugal descent in United States, South America, Africa,...
s, mostly Azorean, and Italian-Americans.
History
The first battle of King Philip's WarKing Philip's War
King Philip's War, sometimes called Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, or Metacom's Rebellion, was an armed conflict between Native American inhabitants of present-day southern New England and English colonists and their Native American allies in 1675–76. The war is named after the main leader of the...
took place here in 1675; although Philip was eventually defeated, a variant of his Indian
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
name, Metacomet
Metacomet
Metacomet , also known as King Philip or Metacom, or occasionally Pometacom, was a war chief or sachem of the Wampanoag Indians and their leader in King Philip's War, a widespread Native American uprising against English colonists in New England.-Biography:Metacomet was the second son of Massasoit...
, is now the name of a main road in Bristol: Metacom Avenue (RI Route 136).
King Philip made nearby Mount Hope
Mount Hope (Rhode Island)
Mount Hope is a small hill in Bristol, Rhode Island overlooking the part of Narragansett Bay known as Mount Hope Bay. The elevation of the summit is 209 feet, and drops sharply to the bay on its eastern side. Mount Hope was the site of a Wampanoag village...
(Montaup) his base of operations. "King Philip's Chair", a rocky ledge on the mountain, was a lookout site for enemy ships on Mount Hope Bay. After that war concluded, the town was settled in 1680 as part of the Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
. It was presumably named after Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Bristol was the "shire town" (county seat) of Bristol County, Plymouth Colony, when the county was created in 1685. (It was later split into Bristol County, Rhode Island
Bristol County, Rhode Island
The border with Bristol County, Massachusetts is rather unusual since the counties both share the same name. The only other instances in which two neighboring counties with the same name share a state border are Sabine County, Texas and Sabine Parish, Louisiana, Union Parish, Louisiana and Union...
and Bristol County, Massachusetts
Bristol County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 534,678 people, 205,411 households, and 140,706 families residing in the county. The population density was 962 people per square mile . There were 216,918 housing units at an average density of 390 per square mile...
.) It was sold for £1100 to four Boston investors by the names of Byfield, Walley, Oliver, and Burton. It remained a part of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
until the Crown
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
transferred it to the Rhode Island Colony in 1747.
The DeWolf family was among the earliest settlers of Bristol. Bristol and Rhode Island became a center of slave trading. James DeWolf, a leading slave trader, later become a United States Senator from Rhode Island. Quakers from Rhode Island were involved early in the abolition movement.
During the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, the British Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
bombarded Bristol twice. On October 7, 1775, a group of ships led by Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
Wallace and the HMS Rose
HMS Rose (1757)
HMS Rose was a 20-gun sixth-rate post ship of the Royal Navy, built in Hull, England in 1757. Her activities in suppressing smuggling in the colony of Rhode Island provoked the formation of what became the Continental Navy, precursor of the modern United States Navy. In the Seven Years' War, Rose...
sailed into town and demanded provisions. When refused, Wallace shelled the town, causing much damage. The attack was stopped when Lieutenant Governor William Bradford
William Bradford (1729-1808)
William Bradford was a physician, lawyer, and United States Senator from Rhode Island. He was born at Plympton, Massachusetts to Lt. Samuel Bradford and Sarah Gray, and was the great-great-grandson of the William Bradford who had been Governor of the Plymouth Colony...
rowed out to the Rose to negotiate a cease-fire, but then a second attack took place on May 25, 1778. This time, 500 British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and Hessian troops marched through the main street (now called Hope Street (RI Route 114)) and burnt 30 barracks and houses, taking some prisoners to Newport
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
.
Bristol has the oldest continuously celebrated Independence Day
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
festivities in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The first mention of a celebration comes from July 1777, when a British officer noted sounds coming from across Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay is a bay and estuary on the north side of Rhode Island Sound. Covering 147 mi2 , the Bay forms New England's largest estuary, which functions as an expansive natural harbor, and includes a small archipelago...
:
- "This being the first anniversary of the Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of independenceA declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
of the Rebel Colonies, they ushered in the morning by firing 13 cannons, one for each colony, we suppose. At sunset, the rebel frigateFrigateA frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s fired another round of 13 guns, each one after the other. As the evening was very still and fine the echo of the guns down the Bay had a grand effect."
The summer celebrations usually conclude at Independence Park, on Labor Day Sunday with an open aired free concert featuring the Rhode Island Philharmonic and a spectacular fireworks display.
Until 1854, Bristol was one of the five state capitals of Rhode Island.
Bristol is home to Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University, commonly abbreviated as RWU, is a private, coeducational American liberal arts university located on in Bristol, Rhode Island, above Mt. Hope Bay. Founded in 1956, it was named for theologian and Rhode Island cofounder Roger Williams...
, named for Rhode Island founder Roger Williams
Roger Williams (theologian)
Roger Williams was an English Protestant theologian who was an early proponent of religious freedom and the separation of church and state. In 1636, he began the colony of Providence Plantation, which provided a refuge for religious minorities. Williams started the first Baptist church in America,...
.
The southerly terminus of the East Bay Bike Path is located at Independence Park on Bristol Harbor. The Bike path continues North to East Providence, R.I. Constructed on an old abandoned railway, some of the best views of Narragansett Bay can be seen along this magnificent corridor. This path is a valued commodity to Bristol, it allows bikers, roller skaters and walkers to enjoy the area. The construction of the East Bay Bike Path was highly contested by Bristol residents before construction because of the potential of crime, the Bike Path has become a welcome asset to the community, and the anticipated crime was non-existent.
The Bristol-based boat company Herreshoff built five consecutive America's Cup Defenders between 1893 and 1920. The Colt Estate, now known as Colt Park, was home to Samuel P. Colt, nephew of the man famous for the arms company. Colt Park lies on magnificently manicured gardens abutting the West Passage of Narragansett Bay, and is popular for its unparalleled views of the waterfront and spectacular sunsets.
Bristol is the site of one National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
, the Joseph Reynolds House
Joseph Reynolds House
The Joseph Reynolds House is a National Historic Landmark in Bristol, Rhode Island built in 1700. It is located on Hope Street . According to the National Park Service, it is "[t]he oldest known 3-story upright structure in Rhode Island, and perhaps the earliest wooden structure of its form extant...
built in 1700. The Marquis de Lafayette and his staff in 1778 used the building as headquarters during the Battle of Rhode Island
Battle of Rhode Island
The Battle of Rhode Island, also known as the Battle of Quaker Hill and the Siege of Newport, took place on August 29, 1778. Continental Army and militia forces under the command of General John Sullivan were withdrawing to the northern part of Aquidneck Island after abandoning their siege of...
.
Notable inhabitants
- Benjamin BourneBenjamin BourneBenjamin Bourne was an American jurist and politician from Bristol, Rhode Island. He represented Rhode Island in the U.S. House of Representatives and served as a judge in both the federal district and federal appellate courts.Borurne was born in Bristol and graduated from Harvard College in 1775...
, lawyer, jurist, and politician - Pat McGeePat McGee (musician)Pat McGee is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Annandale, Virginia, and is a founding member and frontman of the Pat McGee Band.-Biography:...
, singer, songwriter, musician (see also Pat McGee Band) - John SaffinJohn SaffinJohn Saffin was a Boston merchant, best known for his A Brief and Candid Answer to Samuel Sewall's The Selling of Joseph.-Biography:...
, best known for his A Brief and Candid Answer to Samuel SewallSamuel SewallSamuel Sewall was a Massachusetts judge, best known for his involvement in the Salem witch trials, for which he later apologized, and his essay The Selling of Joseph , which criticized slavery.-Biography:...
's The Selling of Joseph (1700), over the issue of slavery. - William Bradford (1729-1808)William Bradford (1729-1808)William Bradford was a physician, lawyer, and United States Senator from Rhode Island. He was born at Plympton, Massachusetts to Lt. Samuel Bradford and Sarah Gray, and was the great-great-grandson of the William Bradford who had been Governor of the Plymouth Colony...
, physician, lawyer, and United States Senator - Jonathan Russell BullockJonathan Russell BullockJonathan Russell Bullock was a Rhode Island politician and a United States federal judge.Born in Bristol, Rhode Island, Bullock graduated from Brown University in 1834 and read law to enter the bar in 1836. He was in private practice in Alton, Illinois from 1836 to 1843, and served as on the Alton...
, jurist and legislator - Ambrose BurnsideAmbrose BurnsideAmbrose Everett Burnside was an American soldier, railroad executive, inventor, industrialist, and politician from Rhode Island, serving as governor and a U.S. Senator...
, railroad executive, industrialist, politician, and Union general - Jonathan DeFeliceJonathan DeFeliceFather Jonathan DeFelice, O.S.B. is the President of New England's third oldest Catholic college, Saint Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire. Growing up in Bristol, Rhode Island, he graduated from Portsmouth Abbey School in 1965, and then attended Saint Anselm College, earning a bachelors...
, President of Saint Anselm CollegeSaint Anselm CollegeSaint Anselm College is a nationally ranked, private, Benedictine, Catholic liberal arts college in Goffstown, New Hampshire. Founded in 1889 by Abbot Hilary Pfrängle, O.S.B. of Saint Mary's Abbey in Newark, New Jersey, at the request of Bishop Denis M. Bradley of Manchester, New Hampshire, the... - James De WolfJames De WolfJames DeWolf , nicknamed "Captain Jim", was a United States Senator from Rhode Island, a long-time state legislator and a successful Privateer during the war of 1812.-Biography:...
, slave trader and United States senatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each... - Nathanael HerreshoffNathanael HerreshoffNathanael Greene Herreshoff I , was an American naval architect-mechanical engineer. "Captain Nat," as he was known, revolutionized yacht design, and produced a succession of undefeated America's Cup defenders between 1893–1920....
, yacht designer & builder - Ira MagazinerIra MagazinerIra Magaziner was born in New York City, New York, USA. After being a student activist and business consultant, Magaziner became the senior advisor for policy development for President Clinton, especially as chief healthcare policy advisor. He now serves as chairman of the William J...
, former senior adviser for policy development to the Clinton Administration and chairman of the William J Clinton Foundation Initiatives - Ethel Barrymore ColtEthel BarrymoreEthel Barrymore was an American actress and a member of the Barrymore family of actors.-Early life:Ethel Barrymore was born Ethel Mae Blythe in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the second child of the actors Maurice Barrymore and Georgiana Drew...
, actor and lyricist - Samuel P. ColtSamuel P. ColtSamuel Pomeroy Colt was an industrialist and politician from Rhode Island.He was born in Paterson, New Jersey on January 10, 1852, the youngest of six children born to Christopher Colt and Theodora Goujand DeWolf Colt of Bristol, Rhode Island...
, entrepreneur, politician, lawyer, gentleman farmer & philanthropist - Anthony QuinnAnthony QuinnAntonio Rodolfo Quinn-Oaxaca , more commonly known as Anthony Quinn, was a Mexican American actor, as well as a painter and writer...
, actor - William Thomas "Billy" AndradeBilly AndradeWilliam Thomas Andrade is an American professional golfer.Andrade was born in Bristol, Rhode Island. He attended Wake Forest University where he helped lead the Demon Deacons to the 1986 NCAA Championship. He played on the U.S. team in the 1987 Walker Cup, and turned professional in the same year...
PGA Tour Professional Golfer - Edward L. LeahyEdward L. LeahyEdward Lawrence Leahy was a United States Senator and federal judge from Rhode Island. Born in Bristol, Rhode Island, he attended the public schools, was a student at Brown University in 1904 and 1905, graduated from the law school of Georgetown University in 1908, was admitted to the Rhode Island...
United States Senator and federal judge - Norman ReneNorman RenéNorman René was an American theatre and film director and film producer who frequently collaborated with playwright Craig Lucas.-Biography:...
, director - Todd SantosTodd SantosTodd Santos is an American on-camera meteorologist for The Weather Channel in Atlanta, Georgia.-Early life & Career:Todd was born and raised in Bristol, Rhode Island. In 2003, he began his career at CBS affiliate WLTX in Columbia, South Carolina...
, american meteorologist for The Weather ChannelThe Weather ChannelThe Weather Channel is a US cable and satellite television network since May 2, 1982, that broadcasts weather forecasts and weather-related news, along with entertainment programming related to weather 24 hours a day...
Geography
Bristol is situated on 10.1 square miles (26.2 km²) of a peninsulaPeninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
(the smaller sub-peninsula on the west is called Poppasquash), with Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay is a bay and estuary on the north side of Rhode Island Sound. Covering 147 mi2 , the Bay forms New England's largest estuary, which functions as an expansive natural harbor, and includes a small archipelago...
on its west and Mount Hope Bay on its east. 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 town has a total area of 20.6 square miles (53.4 km2), of which, 10.1 square miles (26.2 km2) of it is land and 10.5 square miles (27.2 km2) of it (50.99%) is water. Bristol's harbor is home to over 800 boat moorings in seven mooring fields.
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 22,469 people, 8,314 households, and 5,653 families residing in the town. 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 2,222.2 people per square mile (858.1/km2). There were 8,705 housing units at an average density of 860.9 per square mile (332.4/km2). The ethnic group makeup of the town was 97.14% European, 1.29% Hispanic or Latino (of any race), 0.67% Asian, 0.62% African, 0.16% Native American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.33% other ethnic group
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 1.03% from two or more races.
Points of interest and Registered Historic Places
- America's Cup Hall of FameAmerica's Cup Hall of FameThe America's Cup Hall of Fame, located at the Herreshoff Marine Museum of Bristol, Rhode Island, USA, honors individuals for outstanding achievement in the America's Cup sailing competition...
- Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and ArboretumBlithewold Mansion, Gardens and ArboretumThe Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum is an arboretum of , located at 101 Ferry Road, Bristol, Rhode Island, mid-way between Newport and Providence, Rhode Island, on Bristol Harbor with views over Narragansett Bay...
- Bristol County Courthouse (Rhode Island)Bristol County Courthouse (Rhode Island)Bristol County Courthouse is an historic courthouse on High Street in Bristol, Rhode Island, USA.The Federal style courthouse was built in 1816 by Russell Warren and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970....
- Bristol County JailBristol County JailBristol County Jail is an historic jail at 48 Court Street in Bristol, Rhode Island and home to the Bristol Historical and Preservation Society....
- Bristol Customshouse and Post OfficeBristol Customshouse and Post OfficeBristol Customshouse and Post Office is a historic post office and customshouse in Bristol, Rhode Island built in 1858.The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and is currently used as office space.-References:*...
- Bristol Ferry Lighthouse
- Bristol Waterfront Historic DistrictBristol Waterfront Historic DistrictBristol Waterfront Historic District is a historical district in Bristol, Rhode Island.The district stretches from Bristol Harbor to East side of Wood St...
- Colt State ParkColt State ParkColt State Park occupies on Poppasquash Neck adjoining the town of Bristol, Rhode Island and includes trails, picnic groves, a public boat ramp, an observation tower and the open air Chapel by the Sea. The park lands were previously owned by Bristol industrialist Samuel P. Colt...
- Gillary's Tavern
- Juniper Hill CemeteryJuniper Hill CemeteryJuniper Hill Cemetery is a historic cemetery at 24 Sherry Avenue in Bristol, Rhode Island.The original were purchased from Levi DeWolf. The cemetery was added in 1998 as site #98000632 to the National Register of Historic Places.-Notable burials:...
- Herreshoff Marine MuseumHerreshoff Marine MuseumThe Herreshoff Marine Museum, located in Bristol, Rhode Island, USA, is a maritime museum dedicated to the history of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, yachting, and the America's Cup...
- Linden PlaceLinden PlaceLinden Place is a historic house museum in Bristol, Rhode Island that was home to the Colts and DeWolfs, two of the largest slave trading families in the United States.The house was built in 1810 by Russell Warren for the seafarer and general, George DeWolf...
, Home of the DeWolfs - LongfieldLongfieldLongfield is a village in the Dartford borough of Kent. It is located four miles south east of Dartford and near Gravesend. It contains several shops, a pub, and a 14th century church...
- Mount Hope BridgeMount Hope BridgeThe Mount Hope Bridge is a two-lane suspension bridge spanning the Mount Hope Bay in eastern Rhode Island, at one of the narrowest gaps in Narragansett Bay. The bridge connects the Rhode Island towns of Portsmouth and Bristol, and is part of Route 114...
- Mount Hope FarmMount Hope FarmMount Hope Farm is an historic estate on Metacom Avenue in Bristol, Rhode Island, USA.The farm is located near the Mount Hope Bridge in Bristol, Rhode Island, and the grounds have been farmed since the 1680s...
- Poppasquash Farms Historic DistrictPoppasquash Farms Historic DistrictPoppasquash Farms Historic District is a historic district in Bristol, Rhode Island. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.The district is located off Route 114....
- Joseph Reynolds HouseJoseph Reynolds HouseThe Joseph Reynolds House is a National Historic Landmark in Bristol, Rhode Island built in 1700. It is located on Hope Street . According to the National Park Service, it is "[t]he oldest known 3-story upright structure in Rhode Island, and perhaps the earliest wooden structure of its form extant...
- Roger Williams UniversityRoger Williams UniversityRoger Williams University, commonly abbreviated as RWU, is a private, coeducational American liberal arts university located on in Bristol, Rhode Island, above Mt. Hope Bay. Founded in 1956, it was named for theologian and Rhode Island cofounder Roger Williams...
- Roger Williams University School of LawRoger Williams University School of LawRoger Williams University School of Law is the only law school in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It is located approximately 18 miles south east of Providence, Rhode Island, in the town of Bristol. It was the first program established by Roger Williams University in 1993...
- Coggeshall Farm Museum (c. 1790)
Places of Worship
- St. Elizabeth's Church (Roman Catholic)
- Masses in Portuguese: 7:30 am and 12:00 pm
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Roman Catholic)
- St. Mary's Church (Roman Catholic)
- First Congregational Church
- http://www.stmichaelsbristolri.org/St. Michael's Episcopal Church (EpiscopalEpiscopal Church (United States)The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
)] - http://www.frbc-ri.org/Freedom Road Baptist Church (BaptistBaptistBaptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
)] - First Baptist Church of Bristol (Baptist)
- United Brother's Synagogue (Jewish)
External links
- Official Town Website
- Unofficial Home Page
- Bristol Phoenix, weekly community newspaper
- Destination Bristol, official tourism site
- Bristol Fourth of July Committee, official site
- Colt State Park
- Bristol Youth Soccer Association
- Bristol Blues Vintage Base Ball Club
- Bristol Volunteer Fire Department, Division of Emergency Medical Services
- Bristol Volunteer Fire Department Ladder 1, Special Hazards & Marine 1