Wyoming Village Historic District
Encyclopedia
Wyoming is a village and census-designated place
on the Wood River in southern Rhode Island
, primarily in the town
of Richmond
, but extending north across the river (which defines the town line) into the town of Hopkinton
. It is the site of the Wyoming Village Historic District and a post office
location, assigned zip code
02898.
known as Brothers Cotton Mill was established on the Richmond side of Wyoming in 1814. A stagecoach
road, the New London Turnpike (now the Hopkinton and Richmond Turnpike), was built through the area in the following year. Also in 1815 a tavern
was established on the Richmond side of the river to serve travelers on the turnpike. Two more textile mills were built on the Richmond, circa 1830 and 1845; they were later destroyed by fire.
In 1970, Interstate 95
was constructed a short distance east of Wyoming, with an exit close to the village. Proximity of the highway has led to commercial and residential development in and near the village.
roughly bounded by Rhode Island Routes 138
and 3, Old Nooseneck Hill Road, Bridge and Prospect Streets in Richmond. The district, which includes Brand's Ironworks, includes examples of Greek Revival, Late Victorian
, and Federal architecture and was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1974. Prospect Street on the Hopkinton side of the river is a residential neighborhood that grew up in the mid-19th century in connection with the growth of the textile industry
in Wyoming; it includes several Greek Revival houses built between 1846 and 1850. The historic district covers properties in both the towns of Richmond and Hopkinton, with a total area of 570 acres (230.7 ha), almost one square mile.
of Hope Valley
.
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...
on the Wood River in southern 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...
, primarily in the town
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...
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...
, but extending north across the river (which defines the town line) into the town of 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...
. It is the site of the Wyoming Village Historic District and a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
location, assigned zip code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
02898.
History
The village was first settled in 1757 and was the site of industrial activity early in its history due to the ready availability of water power from the river. Brand’s Iron Works already existed on the Hopkinton side of the river as of 1787. A textile millCotton mill
A cotton mill is a factory that houses spinning and weaving machinery. Typically built between 1775 and 1930, mills spun cotton which was an important product during the Industrial Revolution....
known as Brothers Cotton Mill was established on the Richmond side of Wyoming in 1814. A stagecoach
Stagecoach
A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
road, the New London Turnpike (now the Hopkinton and Richmond Turnpike), was built through the area in the following year. Also in 1815 a tavern
Tavern
A tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food, and in some cases, where travelers receive lodging....
was established on the Richmond side of the river to serve travelers on the turnpike. Two more textile mills were built on the Richmond, circa 1830 and 1845; they were later destroyed by fire.
In 1970, Interstate 95
Interstate 95
Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, running parallel to the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Florida and serving some of the most populated urban areas in the country, including Boston, Providence, New Haven, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore,...
was constructed a short distance east of Wyoming, with an exit close to the village. Proximity of the highway has led to commercial and residential development in and near the village.
Historic district
The Wyoming Village Historic District is a historic districtHistoric 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...
roughly bounded by Rhode Island Routes 138
Rhode Island Route 138
Route 138 is a numbered State Highway running in Rhode Island. It runs from the Connecticut state line to the Massachusetts state line and is the only state-numbered route that traverses the entire state.-Route description:...
and 3, Old Nooseneck Hill Road, Bridge and Prospect Streets in Richmond. The district, which includes Brand's Ironworks, includes examples of Greek Revival, Late Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
, and Federal architecture and was added to 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 1974. Prospect Street on the Hopkinton side of the river is a residential neighborhood that grew up in the mid-19th century in connection with the growth of the textile industry
Textile industry
The textile industry is primarily concerned with the production of yarn, and cloth and the subsequent design or manufacture of clothing and their distribution. The raw material may be natural, or synthetic using products of the chemical industry....
in Wyoming; it includes several Greek Revival houses built between 1846 and 1850. The historic district covers properties in both the towns of Richmond and Hopkinton, with a total area of 570 acres (230.7 ha), almost one square mile.
Demographics
The portion of Wyoming in the town of Hopkinton is included in the census-designated placeCensus-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...
of Hope Valley
Hope Valley, Rhode Island
Hope Valley is a village and census-designated place in the town of Hopkinton in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population of the CDP was 1,649 at the 2000 census...
.