List of towns in Rhode Island
Encyclopedia
This is a list of the 39 municipalities
in Rhode Island
. Eight of these municipalities were re-incorporated as cities, while the other 31 remain as towns. Note that towns in Rhode Island can adopt a city form of government without the need to re-incorporate as a city.
Some Rhode Island cities and towns also contain named localities known as villages that reflect historic settlements. Notable villages include Kingston, in the town of South Kingstown, which houses the University of Rhode Island, and Wickford, in North Kingstown, the site of an annual international art festival. Villages have no separate corporate existence from the town or city they are located in.
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 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...
. Eight of these municipalities were re-incorporated as cities, while the other 31 remain as towns. Note that towns in Rhode Island can adopt a city form of government without the need to re-incorporate as a city.
Some Rhode Island cities and towns also contain named localities known as villages that reflect historic settlements. Notable villages include Kingston, in the town of South Kingstown, which houses the University of Rhode Island, and Wickford, in North Kingstown, the site of an annual international art festival. Villages have no separate corporate existence from the town or city they are located in.
List
| Name | Status | County | Date incorporated | Date re-incorporated as a city | Form of government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrington Barrington, Rhode Island Barrington is a town in Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 16,310 at the 2010 census.In July 2005, CNN/Money and Money magazine ranked Barrington sixth on its list of the 100 best places to live in the United States.-History:... |
Town | Bristol | 1770 | — | Council-manager |
| Bristol Bristol, Rhode Island 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.... |
Town | Bristol | 1747 | — | Council-manager |
| Burrillville Burrillville, Rhode Island Burrillville is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. It was incorporated as an independent municipality on November 17, 1806 when the Rhode Island General Assembly authorized the residents of then North Glocester to elect its own officers. The population was 15,955 at the 2010... |
Town | Providence | 1806 | — | Council-manager |
| Central Falls Central Falls, Rhode Island Central Falls is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 19,376 at the 2010 census. With an area of only , it is the smallest and most densely populated city in the smallest state, and the thirty-second most densely populated incorporated place in the United... |
City | Providence | 1895 | 1895 | Mayor-council |
| Charlestown Charlestown, Rhode Island Charlestown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 7,827 at the 2010 census.-History:Charlestown is named after King Charles II, and was incorporated in 1738. The area was formerly part of the town of Westerly... |
Town | Washington | 1738 | — | Council-manager |
| Coventry Coventry, Rhode Island Coventry is a town in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 35,014 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of . of it is land and of it is water... |
Town | Kent | 1741 | — | Council-manager |
| Cranston Cranston, Rhode Island Cranston, once known as Pawtuxet, is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. With a population of 80,387 at the 2010 census, it is the third largest city in the state. The center of population of Rhode Island is located in Cranston... |
City | Providence | 1754 | 1910 | Mayor-council |
| Cumberland Cumberland, Rhode Island Cumberland is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States, incorporated in 1746. The population was 33,506 at the 2010 census.-History:... |
Town | Providence | 1747 | — | Mayor-council |
| East Greenwich East Greenwich, Rhode Island East Greenwich is a town in and the county seat of Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 13,146 at the 2010 census. East Greenwich is the wealthiest municipality within the state of Rhode Island.... |
Town | Kent | 1677 | — | Council-manager |
| East Providence East Providence, Rhode Island East Providence is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 47,037 at the 2010 census, making it the fifth largest city in the state.-Geography:East Providence is located at .... |
City | Providence | 1862 | 1958 | Council-manager |
| Exeter Exeter, Rhode Island Exeter is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. Exeter extends east from the Connecticut border to the town of North Kingstown. It is bordered to the north by West Greenwich and East Greenwich, and to the south by Hopkinton, Richmond and South Kingstown. Exeter's postal code... |
Town | Washington | 1743 | — | Town meeting Town meeting A town meeting is a form of direct democratic rule, used primarily in portions of the United States since the 17th century, in which most or all the members of a community come together to legislate policy and budgets for local government.... |
| Foster Foster, Rhode Island Foster is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, in the United States. The population was 4,606 at the 2010 census.- History :Foster was originally settled in the 17th century by British colonists as a farming community... |
Town | Providence | 1781 | — | Town meeting Town meeting A town meeting is a form of direct democratic rule, used primarily in portions of the United States since the 17th century, in which most or all the members of a community come together to legislate policy and budgets for local government.... |
| Glocester Glocester, Rhode Island Glocester is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 9,746 as of the 2010 census. The villages of Chepachet and Harmony are in Glocester. Putnam Pike Glocester is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 9,746 as of the 2010... |
Town | Providence | 1730 | — | Town meeting Town meeting A town meeting is a form of direct democratic rule, used primarily in portions of the United States since the 17th century, in which most or all the members of a community come together to legislate policy and budgets for local government.... |
| Hopkinton Hopkinton, Rhode Island Hopkinton is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 8,188 at the 2010 census.The villages of Ashaway and Hope Valley are located in Hopkinton.-Geography:Hopkinton is found at 41.461 N latitude and 71.778 W longitude... |
Town | Washington | 1757 | — | Town meeting Town meeting A town meeting is a form of direct democratic rule, used primarily in portions of the United States since the 17th century, in which most or all the members of a community come together to legislate policy and budgets for local government.... |
| Jamestown Jamestown, Rhode Island Jamestown is a town located in Newport County, Rhode Island, in the United States. The population was 5,405 at the 2010 census. Jamestown is situated almost entirely on Conanicut Island, the second largest island in Narragansett Bay.-History:... |
Town | Newport | 1678 | — | Council-manager |
| Johnston Johnston, Rhode Island Johnston is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 28,769 at the 2010 census. Johnston is the site of the Clemence Irons House a stone-ender museum and the only landfill in Rhode Island... |
Town | Providence | 1759 | — | Mayor-council |
| Lincoln Lincoln, Rhode Island Lincoln is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 21,105 at the 2010 census. Lincoln is located in northeastern Rhode Island, north of Providence.... |
Town | Providence | 1871 | — | Council-manager |
| Little Compton Little Compton, Rhode Island Little Compton is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. Its population was 3,492 at the time of the 2010 census. Little Compton is located in southeastern Rhode Island, between the Sakonnet River and the Massachusetts state border... |
Town | Newport | 1747 | — | Town meeting Town meeting A town meeting is a form of direct democratic rule, used primarily in portions of the United States since the 17th century, in which most or all the members of a community come together to legislate policy and budgets for local government.... |
| Middletown Middletown, Rhode Island Middletown is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 16,150 at the 2010 census. It lies to the south of Portsmouth and to the north of Newport on Aquidneck Island, hence the name "Middletown."-Geography:... |
Town | Newport | 1743 | — | Council-manager |
| Narragansett Narragansett, Rhode Island Narragansett is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 15,868 at the 2010 census, but there is a greater population in the summer. The nickname for the town is "Gansett". The town of Narragansett occupies a narrow strip of land running along the eastern bank... |
Town | Washington | 1901 | — | Council-manager |
| New Shoreham (Block Island) New Shoreham, Rhode Island New Shoreham is the town located on Block Island in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 1,051 at the 2010 census... |
Town | Washington | 1672 | — | Council-manager |
| 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... |
City | Newport | 1639 (original town) | 1784/1853 | Council-manager |
| North Kingstown North Kingstown, Rhode Island North Kingstown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 26,486 at the 2010 census. The famous American portraitist Gilbert Stuart was born in the village of Saunderstown, located in the southern region of North Kingstown.... |
Town | Washington | 1674 | — | Council-manager |
| North Providence North Providence, Rhode Island North Providence is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 32,078 at the 2010 census.The town has the distinction of being the smallest by area in the smallest state . Though at only , the city of Central Falls is Rhode Island's smallest municipality... |
Town | Providence | 1765 | — | Mayor-council |
| North Smithfield North Smithfield, Rhode Island North Smithfield is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States, settled as a farming community in 1666 and incorporated into its present form in 1871. North Smithfield includes the historic villages of Forestdale, Primrose, Waterford, Branch Village, Union Village, Park Square, and... |
Town | Providence | 1871 | — | Council-manager |
| Pawtucket Pawtucket, Rhode Island Pawtucket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 71,148 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth largest city in the state.-History:... |
City | Providence | 1862 | 1954 | Mayor-council |
| Portsmouth Portsmouth, Rhode Island Portsmouth is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 17,389 at the 2010 U.S. Census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water. Most of its land area lies on Aquidneck... |
Town | Newport | 1638 (original town) | — | Council-manager |
| Providence Providence, Rhode Island Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region... |
City | Providence | 1636 (original town) | 1832 | Mayor-council |
| 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... |
Town | Washington | 1747 | — | Town meeting Town meeting A town meeting is a form of direct democratic rule, used primarily in portions of the United States since the 17th century, in which most or all the members of a community come together to legislate policy and budgets for local government.... |
| Scituate Scituate, Rhode Island Scituate is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 10,329 at the 2010 census.-History:Scituate was first settled in 1710 by emigrants from Scituate, Massachusetts... |
Town | Providence | 1730 | — | Town meeting Town meeting A town meeting is a form of direct democratic rule, used primarily in portions of the United States since the 17th century, in which most or all the members of a community come together to legislate policy and budgets for local government.... |
| Smithfield Smithfield, Rhode Island Smithfield is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. It includes the historic villages of Esmond, Georgiaville, Mountaindale, Hanton City, Stillwater and Greenville... |
Town | Providence | 1730 | — | Council-manager |
| South Kingstown South Kingstown, Rhode Island South Kingstown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 30,639 at the 2010 census.South Kingstown includes the villages of Kingston, West Kingston, Wakefield, Peace Dale, Snug Harbor, Tuckertown, East Matunuck, Matunuck, Green Hill, and Perryville. Peace... |
Town | Washington | 1723 | — | Council-manager |
| Tiverton | Town | Newport | 1747 | — | Town meeting Town meeting A town meeting is a form of direct democratic rule, used primarily in portions of the United States since the 17th century, in which most or all the members of a community come together to legislate policy and budgets for local government.... |
| Warren 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... |
Town | Bristol | 1747 | — | Council-manager |
| Warwick Warwick, Rhode Island Warwick is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. It is the second largest city in the state, with a population of 82,672 at the 2010 census. Its mayor has been Scott Avedisian since 2000... |
City | Kent | 1642 (original town) | 1931 | Mayor-council |
| West Greenwich West Greenwich, Rhode Island West Greenwich is a town in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 6,135 at the 2010 census. West Greenwich was named for Greenwich, Kent, England... |
Town | Kent | 1741 | — | Town meeting Town meeting A town meeting is a form of direct democratic rule, used primarily in portions of the United States since the 17th century, in which most or all the members of a community come together to legislate policy and budgets for local government.... |
| West Warwick West Warwick, Rhode Island West Warwick is a town in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 29,191 at the 2010 census.West Warwick was incorporated in 1913, making it the youngest town in the state. Prior to 1913, the town, situated on the western bank of the Pawtuxet River, was the population and... |
Town | Kent | 1913 | — | Council-manager |
| Westerly | Town | Washington | 1669 | — | Council-manager |
| Woonsocket Woonsocket, Rhode Island Woonsocket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 41,186 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth largest city in the state. Woonsocket lies directly south of the Massachusetts border.... |
City | Providence | 1867 | 1888 | Mayor-council |
See also
- List of census-designated places in Rhode Island
- Rhode Island Villages
External links
- Complete List of all 39 Towns and Cities in RI (ri.gov)
- State and Community Profiles from the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation includes interactive map of town and city boundaries.