Town in Rhode Island, United States
North Kingstown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States, and is part of the Providence metropolitan area. The population was 27,732 in the 2020 census. North Kingstown is home to 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.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 58.3 square miles (151 km2), of which 43.6 square miles (113 km2) is land and 14.8 square miles (38 km2) (25.28%) is water.
Demographics
Historical population
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|
| 1790 | 2,907 | | — |
|---|
| 1800 | 2,794 | | −3.9% |
|---|
| 1810 | 2,957 | | 5.8% |
|---|
| 1820 | 3,007 | | 1.7% |
|---|
| 1830 | 3,036 | | 1.0% |
|---|
| 1840 | 2,909 | | −4.2% |
|---|
| 1850 | 2,971 | | 2.1% |
|---|
| 1860 | 3,104 | | 4.5% |
|---|
| 1870 | 3,563 | | 14.8% |
|---|
| 1880 | 3,949 | | 10.8% |
|---|
| 1890 | 4,193 | | 6.2% |
|---|
| 1900 | 4,194 | | 0.0% |
|---|
| 1910 | 4,048 | | −3.5% |
|---|
| 1920 | 3,397 | | −16.1% |
|---|
| 1930 | 4,279 | | 26.0% |
|---|
| 1940 | 4,604 | | 7.6% |
|---|
| 1950 | 14,180 | | 208.0% |
|---|
| 1960 | 18,977 | | 33.8% |
|---|
| 1970 | 29,793 | | 57.0% |
|---|
| 1980 | 21,938 | | −26.4% |
|---|
| 1990 | 23,786 | | 8.4% |
|---|
| 2000 | 26,326 | | 10.7% |
|---|
| 2010 | 26,486 | | 0.6% |
|---|
| 2020 | 27,732 | | 4.7% |
|---|
|
As of the 2010 census,[1] there were 26,486 people, 10,436 households, and 7,347 families residing in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 94.7% White, 1.0% African American, 0.6% American Indian/Alaska Native, 1.3% Asian, 0.5% from some other race other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.4% of the population.
Of the 10,436 households, 70.4% were families, 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, and 29.6% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of householders living alone. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.02. 75.4% of households resided in owner-occupied units and 24.6% in rental units.
According to the 2017 American Community Survey, the median income for a household in the town was $87,311 (adjusted to inflation), the median income for a family was $105,954, and the median income for married-couple families was $120,103.[5]
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.
RIPTA also services 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.[6]
