Each Town's Beginning

The beginning of each town is a history in itself. Information concerning where and how they were named will be given according to the county they are officially assigned according to the state of Rhode Island. 

Bristol County

This area was the original homes of the Wampanoag tribe and is found on the east shore of Narragansett Bay. To its east is the state of Massachusetts. This area was considered an important area for whaling, shipbuilding and the shellfish industry. 

Barrington:

In 1653, some Pilgrims and Captain Miles Standish purchased this area from Native Americans. It had been the home area of Sachem Massasoit and his tribe. Standish called this area,"The Garden of the Plymouth Patent and the flower of the Garden." 

In 1717, this town became a separate village as part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

In 1747, Barrington rejoined Rhode Island along with Tiverton, Little Compton, Cumberland, and Bristol. In 1747, the town's boundary was changed and was called part of Warren.

In 1770, 8.9 square miles were taken from Warren (Indian name was Sowams) and renamed Barrington when it incorporated into a town.

Bristol:

It is believed that people have lived here for the past 10,000-12,000 years. (There are signs of Vikings having landed and lived in Bristol!) The town was named after Bristol, England. In 1681, the town was part of Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts and joined the state of Rhode Island in 1746. The area covers 10.2 square miles. 

Bristol is a peninsula and in the 18^th century Bristol merchants were able to deal in the prosperous foreign shipping trade with the West Indies, Europe and the Orient. The town was active in whaling and slave trade making it an important seaport. Bristol is 10.2 square miles.

Warren:

In 1746, Warren was released from Massachusetts to Rhode Island to settle a boundary dispute. (This town included Barrington at the time.) The town was named after naval hero Sir Peter Warren. During the Revolutionary War, Warren was a popular commercial and whaling port. It was so important that the British Soldiers looted and burned houses to the ground along Water Street. (The troops were looking for some RI rebel rousers.) It also held our states whaling fleet and was very important to the state as a shipping port and the ship building business. The town connects the towns of Bristol and Barrington. This area covers 5.8 square miles.

Kent County

These towns are west of Narragansett Bay and are shaped by water, mainly the Pawtuxet River. Narragansett Indians lived in this area where they had surrounding agricultural fields and the large fishing areas. Later, trade and shipbuilding made this area very successful. Mills sprang up along the banks of the Pawtuxet and other rivers in the area, creating mill towns. 

Coventry:This town was named after Coventry, England, and was taken from the area of Warwick in 1741. It covers 62.2 square miles

Warwick: This is the 4^th original town of RI. Samuel Gorton and a handful of religious followers bought the land from the Mahqament Indians who called it Shawomet at the time. He founded this 35 square mile town in 1642. He settled the area after disagreeing about Providence and the way Roger Williams ran it. In 1931, Warwick was incorporated as a city and is our 2^nd largest RI city.

West Warwick: One time part of Warwick, this town is one of the youngest towns in RI after its incorporation in 1913. For 30 years after colonial settlement, Warwick residents went looking to the west side of Warwick, to cut wood or catch fish in its streams. West Warwick covers only 8 square miles.

West Greenwich: This town covers 51 square miles. It became a town in 1741. In the beginning, the land was purchased by a group of 13 people who paid 1000 British pounds. The area was mainly used for farming and lumbering

East Greenwich: This town was incorporated in 1677 however, was given the name of Dedford in 1688. It was renamed East Greenwich in 1689. It has a coastline on Greenwich Cove and covers a 17 square mile area. 

Providence County

Within the boundary of Rhode Island, there are two levels of land called upland and the coastal. Providence County is primarily covering the upland and forests that were the Narragansett Indians favored hunting ground. The area surrounding the Blackstone River begins in Worcester, MA, and runs through Rhode Island to where it widens in Pawtucket and then forms the Seekonk River. This is where our country's Industrial Revolution was born. The building of the textile industry, the use of water run mill-giving energy to a mill called Slater Mill in 1793. The upper 25 mile long Narragansett Bay became industrial and merchant area of shipping for these towns.

Providence: Providence was settled in 1636, by Roger Williams, who named the area honoring the idea that he had reached a province that allowed freedom from religious prosecution. Providence is built on seven hills: College Hill, Constitution Hill, Tockwotten Hill, Smith Hill, Federal Hill, Christian Hill, and Weybosset Hill which was leveled because the hill had clay that made good bricks. The natural water spring helped Roger Williams survive his first winter and ensured a sufficient water supply for future settlers. As a capital city, this area became a city in 1831. It covers 18 square miles and was a major New England port.

North Providence: North Providence is actually one of the smallest towns in the state at 6 square miles. It was incorporated in 1765.

East Providence: East Providence was formerly part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and was added to Rhode Island in 1862, becoming a 13 square mile area. The Wampanoag tribe traveled through the area often. The trails they blazed have become major highways.

Johnston: In 1759, land was taken from Providence and made into a 24 square mile town. This was primarily a farming area in earlier days and is now considered an industrial town. It was named in honor of Attorney General Johnston. This area was one of the early quarries for soapstone and granite

Glocester: Local Indians sold this land to Roger Williams. It was divided land from Providence and began in 1731. It was named for the son of King George II, Frederick Lewis, a Duke of Glocester. Paper was manufactured in the town as early as 1750. It is 55 square miles and has Connecticut on the northwest border. The area covers 55 square miles.

Scituate: Scituate is 48 square miles and was taken from the town of Providence in 1731. It was named after a town called Scituate in MA. Scituate had sawmills, gristmills and factories later on. The Scituate Reservoir is in this town. 

Cranston: Cranston became a town in 1754. Friends of Roger Williams, known as the Pawtucket Purchasers, settled this area in 1638. The town was named for Samuel Cranston, governor from 1698 until 1727. Cranston is 29 square miles.

Pawtucket: Founded in 1671, however became part of RI in 1862. Pawtucket is situated on the Blackstone River. Pawtucket is 9 square miles and was taken from Seekonk, MA, and Providence. The Slater Mill was built in 1790 and was known around the United States.

Smithfield: This area is 27 square miles and was taken from Providence in 1731. In this area was quarries where once famous Smithfield scythe stones were obtained. This town was divided in 1871, where it was added to Woonsocket, North Smithfield, Lincoln and some kept as Smithfield.

North Smithfield: In 1871, this town was separated from Smithfield and renamed North Smithfield. This area covers 25 square miles.

Cumberland: This area was one of five towns that received a decree from Massachusetts in 1746. It was known as Attleboro Gore and was added to Providence County in 1747. It covers 27 square miles.

Foster: Foster was part of Scituate and incorporated in 1781 became a town. The area was first settled in 1717 however further development was delayed due to its rugged terrain, small streams and poor soil. It covers 51 square miles and has Jerimoth Hill (812 feet) which is the highest natural point in Rhode Island. This land was taken from Scituate.

Burrillville: Until 1731, Burrillville was part of Providence. Then in 1731, it was part of the town of Glocester. In 1806, it became its own town and was named after U.S. Senator James Burrill. The Nipmuc and Pascoag tribes inhabited the area. There are approximately 20 lakes and ponds. This area covers 56 square miles.

Woonsocket: Primarily a Quaker town, it became a highly industrialized city. Woonsocket Falls was used to waterpower many of the mills. A section of Smithfield was given to Woonsocket, making it 8 square miles. It became its own town in 1871 and then a city in 1888.

Lincoln: This area separated from Smithfield in 1871 and became a town named for Abraham Lincoln. It became well know for its jewelry and silverware companies. This area covers 19 square miles.

Central Falls: This area was part of Providence, then Smithfield and finally Lincoln. By 1895, it was so heavily populated that it became a 1-mile square city. In 1790, this town was called Chocolate Mill, after the chocolate factory was established there. 

Washington County

The Narragansett Indian tribes inhabited the towns to the west of Narragansett Bay. These Native American Indians would summer by the bay catching salmon and herring in the freshwater streams. When the first European settlers arrived they enjoyed the resources of the bay and began making their living in fishing, trade and shipbuilding. There was a group of wealthy landowners that developed a lifestyle similar to the plantation system of the south. These landowners exported horses, cattle, cheese and tobacco.

North Kingstown: In 1674 during colonial time, this area was called Kings Towne. It included today's towns of North Kingstown, South Kingstown, Narragansett and Exeter. In 1723, the towns were separated into three towns. It covers 14 square miles.

Exeter: This land was taken from North Kingstown in and became its own town in 1743. The land had been purchased from the Narragansett Indians in 1657 for $175. It covers 58 square miles.

Hopkinton:Once part of Westerly, in 1757 it became its own town and adopted the name of Stephen Hopkins the former colonial governor and signer of the Declaration of Independence. It covers 43 square miles.

Richmond: Richmond had been part of Westerly and Charlestown. It was named after Edward Richmond, an early RI attorney general. The area was established in 1747 and covers 40 square miles.

Westerly: Westerly's name comes from where it is, the western most town in the state. It became a town in 1669 and was the 5^th town to be created in RI. Its original name was Misquamicut, meaning a place for catching salmon. It originally held the tows of Richmond, Charlestown, and Hopkinton. It covers 30 square miles.

Charlestown:this area was named in honor of King Charles II of England. It became Charlestown in 1738. This is where the Narragansett Indians now make their home. The size is 36 square miles.

South Kingstown: Settled in 1658 as the village of Pettaquamscutt and this area was called Kings Towne. In 1689, it became known as Kingstown. Finally in 1723, Kingstown was divided into North and South Kingstown. South Kingstown was divided again and the second piece of South Kingstown was called Narragansett. It covers 57 square miles.

Narragansett:Taken from South Kingstown, the Narragansett and Niantic tribes originally inhabited this area in 1888. It became a town in 1901. European settlers became wealthy "Narragansett Planters."

New Shoreham: This town is usually known by the name of the island, Block Island. In 1614, the island was settled by a group of 16 families who farmed the inner land. Years later in 1672, the island came under the RI government when it was named New Shoreham. Adrian Block, a Dutch explorer with whom the island was named. In 1664, it was admitted to the colony of RI. It is 10 square miles.

Newport County

Land on Aquidneck Island was the second area of the state to be developed. In 1638, Anne Hutchinson purchased an Indian deed to the island of Aquidneck, or "Isle of Peace," with the help and suggestions of Roger Williams, the founder of Providence. (Hutchinson had hoped to stay in Providence however disagreements between Williams and Hutchinson concerning religion, cause Williams to strongly suggest her finding her own settlement.)

Newport: Settled in 1639, it was given the distinction of being one of RI's state capitals. Newport became one of five most important cities in the 13 colonies. It was considered to 2^nd to Boston in seaports. It was also known as the center of sea trade for the east coast. It covers 7 square miles.

Jamestown: This island is 9 miles long and 1 mile wide. It was bought from the Narragansett Indians in 1657 and was named after Narragansett sachem and friend of Roger Williams, named Conanicus. This sachem had his royal residence here. It is also a principal burial ground. Its Indian name was Quononoquitt and it was made into a town in 1678 and named in honor of King James II. In 1775, during the Revolutionary War, the British burned this town because soldiers would shoot at British boats as they entered the Narragansett Bay. The town is 10 square miles.

Tiverton: Tiverton became a town in 1694 in Massachusetts. Its Indian name was Pocasset. Tiverton was one of the five towns taken from Massachusetts and added to RI as a town in 1747 as part of a boundary settlement. It covers 30 square miles and has a long coastline on the Sakonnet River and Mt. Hope Bay. 

Little Compton: Little Compton was incorporated in Plymouth County, MA in 1682. It became a town in RI in 1747 and covers 22 square miles. This is where the original RI Red, the state bird, was first bred in 1854. The Sakonnet tribe became the first settlers in this area who fought with English colonists against King Philip, sachem of the Wampanoags.

Portsmouth:Portsmouth, Indian name of Pocasset, was the first settlement on Aquidneck Island settled in 1638. It was also the 2^nd developed settlement in the colony. It was named Rhodes Island. It was the first community in the colonies to be founded by a woman, Anne Hutchinson. This town had the first black regiment who fought in the Battle of Rhode Island during the Revolutionary War. Windmills were very prominent sights throughout colonial Portsmouth. This town covers 21 square miles.

Middletown:This town is between Newport and Portsmouth. It gets its name from being in the middle of the island of Rhode Island. The original forests were cleared for farms. It had been part of Newport and became its won town in 1743.

Newport:This town was the 3^rd town established in RI. Settled in 1639, this town was considered the center of sea trade for the East Coast. Founded by William Coddington, following disagreements with Anne Hutchinson and the Portsmouth community, Coddington moved to the end of Aquidneck Island and created a new port, named Newport. Coddington was able to get English law passed stated in that he would be the governor of Aquidneck and Conanicut Island. Many settlers were furious. Williams asked to return to England and he asked Parliament to revoke this lifetime title of governor. Williams even sold his trading post to get money for his trip. In 1654, the title was removed.

The island is 7 square miles.

Islands of Narragansett Bay

There are over 30 island in the bay. Roger Williams had given names to four of these islands. Youngsters recited a playful poem.

"Prudence, Patience, Hope and Despair,

And little Hog Island right over there."

Conanicut Island--See Jamestown

Aquidneck Island--See Portsmouth, Newport and Middletown

Prudence Island: Seven miles long and 1 and one half miles wide, Prudence Island is part of Portsmouth. Purchased in 1637 by roger Williams, the Indian name is Chibacuwese. Its early settlers used the island for grazing livestock. It is the only island in the bay that is inhabited year round that does not have accessibility by bridge. A 20-minute ferry ride from Bristol will get you there and back.

Dutch Island: the Indian name was Quotenis but it is called Dutch Island because of a Dutch trading post built on the island in 1625 that traded Dutch goods cloth, implements and liquor for Indian furs, fish and venison. It was bought form the Indians in 1625. It was a favorite site of traders and militia. It was a smallpox quarantine site in the 18^th century. Fort Greble was built to provide a strategic position for the defense of Narragansett Bay's West Passage.

Patience Island--Purchased by Roger Williams in 1637, it became part of Portsmouth. This island was never heavily populated and was used mainly for agriculture.

Rose Island--Indian name was Conockonoquit. It is privately owned and has a lighthouse on it. During Revolutionary War, it had Fort Hamilton built on it.

Gould Island--In east passage of Narragansett Bay it was a major Navy torpedo station during World War II. 

Despair Island: Rocks that are avoided by boaters and loved by nesting birds.

Dyer Island: Located between Prudence and Aquidneck. An island belonging to William Dyer, husband of Mary Dyer who returned to the Massachusetts Bay Colony to challenge laws against Quakers. She was hanged on Boston Commons.

Hog Island: Indian name of Chiseweanock and it was purchased from the Wampanoags in 1646. The early settlers of Portsmouth and Newport kept their swine there. The animals could not wander off and other predators, such as wolves and fox, couldn't get to the island. 

Fox Island: Lies between Conanicut and North Kingstown. It was purchased from the Indians in 1659 by a founder of Warwick.

Rock Island- A small rocky island near Pawtucket Village of Warwick.

Whale Rock: Located west of Beavertail, the rock probably got its name from the fact that it is shaped like a whale's back. It has caused many shipwrecks in the past.

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