Charlestown, Rhode Island
Encyclopedia
Charlestown is a town
in Washington County
, Rhode Island
, United States
. The population was 7,827 at the 2010 census
.
, and was incorporated in 1738. The area was formerly part of the town of Westerly. It was in turn divided and the part north of the Pawcatuck River became the town of Richmond
in 1747.
, the town has a total area of 59.3 square miles (153.6 km²), of which, 36.8 square miles (95.3 km²) of it is land and 22.5 square miles (58.3 km²) of it (37.86%) is water.
of 2000, there were 7,859 people, 3,178 households, and 2,278 families residing in the town. The population density
was 213.3 people per square mile (82.4/km²). There were 4,797 housing units at an average density of 130.2 per square mile (50.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.26% White, 0.38% African American, 1.26% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races
, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population.
There were 3,178 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.4% were married couples
living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $51,491, and the median income for a family was $56,866. Males had a median income of $40,616 versus $29,474 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $25,642. About 3.0% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
Ninigret Park, the former site of Charlestown NAAS, resides in Charlestown. It is a popular place for recreational sports games. There is also an observatory and wildlife refuge within the park. This area is also used for a majority of the large events such as the Seafood Festival and Big Apple Circus.
The biggest campaign took place on May 30, 1965 in order to watch a solar eclipse
.
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 Washington County
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...
, 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 7,827 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...
.
History
Charlestown is named after King Charles IICharles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
, and was incorporated in 1738. The area was formerly part of the town of Westerly. It was in turn divided and the part north of the Pawcatuck River became the town of Richmond
Richmond, Rhode Island
Richmond is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 7,708 at the 2010 census. The villages of Alton, Arcadia, Carolina, Hope Valley, Kenyon, Shannock, Usquepaug, Woodville, and Wyoming are located in Richmond.-History:The town of Richmond was originally part...
in 1747.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 59.3 square miles (153.6 km²), of which, 36.8 square miles (95.3 km²) of it is land and 22.5 square miles (58.3 km²) of it (37.86%) is water.
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 7,859 people, 3,178 households, and 2,278 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 213.3 people per square mile (82.4/km²). There were 4,797 housing units at an average density of 130.2 per square mile (50.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.26% White, 0.38% African American, 1.26% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.53% 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 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population.
There were 3,178 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.4% 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, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $51,491, and the median income for a family was $56,866. Males had a median income of $40,616 versus $29,474 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 town was $25,642. About 3.0% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
Parks and recreation
Charlestown has a number of different recreational activities, such as basketball, soccer, little league baseball, and football. After sixth grade, school-sponsored sports are offered at the Chariho Regional District Middle and High School.Ninigret Park, the former site of Charlestown NAAS, resides in Charlestown. It is a popular place for recreational sports games. There is also an observatory and wildlife refuge within the park. This area is also used for a majority of the large events such as the Seafood Festival and Big Apple Circus.
Seafood Festival
The Charlestown, RI Chamber of Commerce holds an annual seafood and lobster festival in the first week of August. Local businesses and vendors set up booths for various seafood based events. There is a large draw of locals and "out-of-staters" to this event.Rocket experiments
Since 1965 from Charlestown some sounding rockets were launched from 41°22′N 71°40′W.The biggest campaign took place on May 30, 1965 in order to watch a solar eclipse
Solar eclipse
As seen from the Earth, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun as viewed from a location on Earth. This can happen only during a new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth. At least...
.
National Historic Places in Charlestown
- Babcock House
- District Schoolhouse No. 2District Schoolhouse No. 2District Schoolhouse No. 2 is an historic school on Old Post Road in Charlestown, Rhode Island.The school was built in 1838 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980....
- Fort NinigretFort NinigretFort Ninigret is an historic fort or trading post site at Fort Neck Road in Charlestown, Rhode Island purportedly built and occupied by either Native Americans or early European settlers in the seventeenth century.-History:...
- Foster Cove Archeological SiteFoster Cove Archeological SiteFoster Cove Archeological Site is an historic site in Charlestown, Rhode Island.The site was added to the National Historic Register in 1980....
- Historic Village of the Narragansetts in CharlestownHistoric Village of the Narragansetts in CharlestownHistoric Village of the Narragansetts in Charlestown in Charlestown, Rhode Island, is an historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The district covers and is bounded by Route 112 on the east, U.S...
- Indian Burial GroundIndian Burial GroundThe Indian Burial Ground is a historic Native American cemetery in Charlestown, Rhode Island.The cemetery was used by the Narragansett Indians. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.-External links:...
- Joseph Jeffrey HouseJoseph Jeffrey HouseThe Joseph Jeffrey House is an historic house in Charlestown, Rhode Island.The house was added to the National Historic Register in 1978....
- Shannock Historic DistrictShannock Historic DistrictShannock Historic District is a historic mill village located along the Pawcatuck River in the towns of Richmond and Charlestown, Rhode Island, along Main Street, N. Shannock and W. Shannock Roads....
- Sheffield HouseSheffield HouseSheffield House is an historic house on Beach Road in Charlestown, Rhode Island.The house was added to the National Historic Register in 1976....
- Joseph Stanton HouseJoseph Stanton HouseThe Joseph Stanton House is an historic house on US 1 in Charlestown, Rhode Island.The house was built in 1739 and added to the National Historic Register in 1980...