North Kingstown, Rhode Island

North Kingstown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States, and is part of the Providence metropolitan area. Its population was 27,732 in the 2020 census. North Kingstown is the birthplace of American portraitist Gilbert Stuart, who was born in the village of Saunderstown. Within the town is Quonset Point, location of the former Naval Air Station Quonset Point, known for the invention of the Quonset hut, as well as the historic village of Wickford. History The area was first settled by Roger Williams and Richard Smith, who set up trading posts near Wickford where Smith's Castle is today. The town of Kings Towne was founded in 1674, by the colonial government, and included the present-day towns of North Kingstown, South Kingstown, Exeter, and Narragansett. In 1723, Kings Towne was split into two parts, North Kingstown and South Kingstown, with North Kingstown, having the earliest settlements, retaining the 1674 establishment date. In 1742, the town of Exeter was taken from the western part of North Kingstown. On September 17, 2024, the National Park Service announced that North Kingstown was named a World War II Heritage City. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 58.3 square miles (151 km2), of which 14.8 square miles (38 km2) (25.28%) are covered by water. It is bordered on the east by Narragansett Bay. Demographics As of the 2020 census, 27,732 people and 11,338 households were in the town. The population density was 642.4 inhabitants per square mile (248.0/km2), with 12,189 housing units in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 89.59% White, 1.27% African American, 0.57% American Indian/Alaska Native, 1.90% Asian, 1.19% from some other race, and 5.42% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.65% of the population. Of the 11,338 households, 28.1% had children under 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 23.6% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 14.2% had a male householder with no spouse present. About 11.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.98. In the town, the age distribution was 18.4% under 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 44 years. The median income for a household in the town was $120,565, and for a family was $144,898. The per capita income for the town was $61,280. About 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under 18 and 6.6% of those 65 or over. Transportation Wickford Junction is a terminus station on the Providence/Stoughton Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail, providing weekday train service to Providence Station and Boston's South Station. At 63 miles from Boston, it is the most distant station in the MBTA's 135-station commuter-rail network, and the only one in its most expensive fare zone. RIPTA also serves in the town inbound to Providence and outbound to Narragansett or Newport. North Kingstown is also served by a passenger ferry connecting to the island of Martha's Vineyard. Education North Kingstown School Department is the municipal school district. It operates North Kingstown High School. Notable people Elizabeth Beisel, two-time Olympic medalist swimmer John Cole (1715–1777), was a lawyer and 12th chief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court Captain Daniel Fones Dee Dee Myers (born 1961), 19th White House press secretary Robert J. Papp Jr. - naval commander and recipient of the Order of Naval Merit Admiral Padilla Gilbert Stuart (1755–1828), painter, his portrait of George Washington appears on the one-dollar bill Points of interest Casey Farm (1725): An original colonial plantation, it is today one of the oldest operational farms in New England. Davis Memorial Wildlife Refuge: These 96 acres of forest and wetlands are preserved by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. Devil's Foot Rock: A footprint-like natural impression or possibly petrosomatoglyph was found here. Legends going back to the colonial era tell of a Native American woman being chased by the devil. Some say that she fled from Boston. Her pursuer is said to have left his footprints at Devil's Foot Rock, then at Chimney Hill in South Kingstown, and finally at Block Island. Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and Museum (1751): The house in which American portraitist Gilbert Stuart was born in 1755 is now a museum, which features works from throughout Stuart's career, and operational grist and snuff mills. Historic Wickford Village: A historic seaside village, it contains one of the largest collections of preserved 18th-century houses in the Northeastern United States. Wickford also has a large and scenic harbor. David S. Baker Estate: This is the home of Rhode Island's first elected governor to never be seated. Quonset Air Museum: A large museum, it is located at the former Naval Air Station Quonset Point, which focuses on military aviation history. Smith's Castle (1678): This colonial plantation is located on the shore of Narragansett Bay. Quonset Point, a former military base, once was the home of the Naval Construction Battalions known as the Seabees. Other National Historic Places in North Kingstown See also Rhode Island portal References External links Town of North Kingstown website