Central Falls, Rhode Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
City of Central Falls
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Central Falls Mill Historic District
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| Motto(s):
"A City With A Bright Future"
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Location in Providence County and the state of Rhode Island.
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Rhode Island | |
| County | Providence | |
| Settled | 1675 | |
| Incorporated | February 25, 1895 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Mayor-council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1.27 sq mi (3.30 km2) | |
| • Land | 1.19 sq mi (3.09 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.08 sq mi (0.21 km2) | |
| Elevation | 85 ft (26 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 22,583 | |
| • Density | 18,913.74/sq mi (7,302.64/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) | |
| ZIP Code |
02863
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| Area code(s) | 401 | |
| FIPS code | 44-14140 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1218931 | |
| Website | www.centralfallsri.us | |
Central Falls is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. It's a small city, covering only about 1.29 square miles (3.3 square kilometers). Even though it's tiny, it's one of the most crowded cities in the smallest state, Rhode Island.
The city got its name from a beautiful waterfall on the Blackstone River. In 2020, about 22,583 people lived there.
Central Falls faced some financial challenges in 2010-2012. It needed help managing its money, but after making some tough choices, the city worked hard to fix things and got back on track.
Contents
History
Long before Europeans came, the land where Central Falls now stands was home to Native American tribes. These included the Nipmuc, Wampanoag, and Narragansett peoples.
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Central Falls is an important historical place because of a big battle during King Philip's War. This war was fought between Native Americans and English colonists. On March 26, 1676, Narragansett warriors surprised Captain Michael Pierce and his soldiers. Almost all of the soldiers were killed. A stone monument called "Nine Men's Misery" marks their burial spot.
In the 1700s, a man named Captain Stephen Jenks built a workshop along the Blackstone River. This was the start of what would become Central Falls. Other businesses, like a chocolate maker, also set up shop there. Because of the chocolate factory, the new village was first known as Chocolateville!
In 1824, Stephen Jenks suggested the name Central Falls, and that name stuck. The area officially became a town in 1730.
Central Falls was originally part of a larger town called Smithfield. As it grew, it split off and became part of Lincoln in 1871. Then, in 1895, Lincoln also grew a lot and split, which is how Central Falls became its own city.
At first, many of the European settlers were Quakers. But soon, people from all over the world came to live and work in Central Falls. Immigrants from Ireland, Scotland, and French Canada arrived. Later, in the 20th century, many people from Hispanic countries moved there. Central Falls has always been a very diverse city. When the city celebrated its 100th birthday in 1995, people from over 100 different countries were represented in the parade!
In 1922, the textile mills in Central Falls, where many people worked, had to close for a short time. This happened during a big strike across New England because workers were unhappy about their pay and hours.
Geography
Central Falls is located in Rhode Island. It covers about 1.3 square miles (3.3 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. The Blackstone River flows through and drains the city.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 18,167 | — | |
| 1910 | 22,754 | 25.2% | |
| 1920 | 24,174 | 6.2% | |
| 1930 | 25,808 | 6.8% | |
| 1940 | 25,248 | −2.2% | |
| 1950 | 23,550 | −6.7% | |
| 1960 | 19,858 | −15.7% | |
| 1970 | 18,716 | −5.8% | |
| 1980 | 16,995 | −9.2% | |
| 1990 | 17,637 | 3.8% | |
| 2000 | 18,928 | 7.3% | |
| 2010 | 19,376 | 2.4% | |
| 2020 | 22,583 | 16.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The city's population has changed over the years, growing to 22,583 people in 2020.
Central Falls is known for its diverse population. In 2010, it was the only city in Rhode Island where most residents identified as Hispanic or Latino. Many people from Puerto Rico, Guatemala, and Colombia live there.
While Central Falls has faced economic challenges, its community is strong and working towards a bright future.
Education
Students in Central Falls go to schools run by the Central Falls School District. The state of Rhode Island helps fund and manage this school district.
In 2010, Central Falls High School was working to improve its student success rates. The school made changes to help students learn better, following rules from a law called "No Child Left Behind." The goal was to make sure all students had a good education.
There has been at least one Catholic school in Central Falls since 1895. Today, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Academy is the only non-public school in the city.
National historic places in Central Falls
- Central Falls Congregational Church
- Central Falls Mill Historic District
- Central Street School
- Samuel B. Conant House
- David G. Fales House
- Benjamin F. Greene House
- Holy Trinity Church
- Jenks Park & Cogswell Tower
- South Central Falls Historic District
- St. Joseph Church
- St. Matthew Church (now Holy Spirit Parish)
- Valley Falls Mill
- Valley Falls Mill, Office and Bath House
Notable people
Many interesting people have connections to Central Falls:
- Lincoln Carter Almond, a former Governor of Rhode Island, grew up here.
- Viola Davis, an Academy Award-winning actress, also grew up in Central Falls.
- Roland Hemond, an executive for several Major League Baseball teams, was born here.
- Jack McGee, an early aviation pioneer, was born in Central Falls.
See also
In Spanish: Central Falls para niños
