Charlestown, Rhode Island Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Charlestown Charlestown, Rhode Island
Town
The historic Babcock House in Quonochontaug
Country	United States
State	Rhode Island
County	Washington
Area
• Total	59.3 sq mi (153.6 km²)
• Land	36.8 sq mi (95.4 km²)
• Water	22.5 sq mi (58.1 km²)
Elevation	59 ft (18 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	7,997
• Density	217/sq mi (83.8/km²)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	02813
Area code(s)	401
FIPS code	44-44009
GNIS feature ID	1220080

Charlestown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 7,997 at the 2020 census.

History
Geography
Demographics
Recreation
See also

History

Charlestown is named after King Charles II, and was incorporated in 1738. The area was formerly part of the town of Westerly. It was in turn divided and the part north of the Pawcatuck River became the town of Richmond in 1747.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 59.3 square miles (154 km²), of which 36.8 square miles (95 km²) is land and 22.5 square miles (58 km²) (37.86%) is water.

The town is bordered by Westerly on the west; Richmond on the north; and Hopkinton on the northwest; and South Kingstown on the east. The village of Charlestown is in the southeastern part of the town, Quonochontaug is in the southwest, and Carolina is on the northern border of the town.

In 2011, Charlestown became the first municipality in the United States to pass a ban on any size or type of electricity-generating wind turbines. The sweeping prohibition applies to large commercial as well as smaller residential turbines.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	2,022	—
1800	1,454	−28.1%
1810	1,174	−19.3%
1820	1,160	−1.2%
1830	1,284	10.7%
1840	923	−28.1%
1850	994	7.7%
1860	981	−1.3%
1870	1,119	14.1%
1880	1,117	−0.2%
1890	915	−18.1%
1900	975	6.6%
1910	1,037	6.4%
1920	759	−26.8%
1930	1,118	47.3%
1940	1,199	7.2%
1950	1,598	33.3%
1960	1,966	23.0%
1970	2,863	45.6%
1980	4,800	67.7%
1990	6,478	35.0%
2000	7,859	21.3%
2010	7,827	−0.4%
2020	7,997	2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,859 people, 3,178 households, and 2,278 families residing in the town. The population density was 213.3 inhabitants per square mile (82.4/km²). There were 4,797 housing units at an average density of 130.2 per square mile (50.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.26% White, 0.38% African American, 1.26% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population.

There were 3,178 households, out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.4% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $51,491, and the median income for a family was $56,866. Males had a median income of $40,616 versus $29,474 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,642. About 3.0% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

Students in Charlestown are part of the Chariho Regional School District.

Recreation

Parks

Ninigret Park, the former site of Naval Auxiliary Air Station Charlestown, is in Charlestown. It is now an extremely popular place for recreational sports games including a small beachfront, a bike track, sporting fields, and tennis courts. Along with these features, the park also contains the Frosty Drew Nature Center & Observatory. Ninigret Park is also used for the majority of large events occurring within the town of Charlestown including the Charlestown Seafood Festival, the Big Apple Circus and the Rhythm And Roots music festival.

Charlestown contains several beaches that are frequently described as "the best kept secret in Rhode Island." Miles of secluded, unspoiled, sandy beaches offer visitors a chance to enjoy many outdoor activities or just some relaxation under the sun. Some of these beaches include town operated areas such as "Blue Shutters Town Beach" and "Charlestown Town Beach" and other are state managed areas including "East Beach State Beach" and "Charlestown Breachway State Beach."

Burlingame State Park and Campground is entirely contained inside the town of Charlestown. The campground is 3,100 acres of rocky woodland that surrounds Watchaug Pond in Charlestown. Activities at the park include 755 campsites, fishing, swimming, picnicking, boating and hiking. The area north of Buckeye Brook Road, abutting the Pawcatuck River, is primarily a hunting area.

Seafood Festival

The Charlestown, RI Chamber of Commerce holds an annual seafood and lobster festival in the first week of August. Local businesses and vendors set up booths for various seafood based events. The Seafood Festival has been named one of the Top 100 Events in America by the American Tour Bus Association in 1988, 1996 and 2008.

National Historic Places in Charlestown

Babcock House
District Schoolhouse No. 2 (1838)
Fort Ninigret
Foster Cove Archeological Site
Historic Village of the Narragansetts in Charlestown
Indian Burial Ground
Joseph Jeffrey House
Shannock Historic District
Sheffield House (1700)
Joseph Stanton House (1739)

Charlestown, Rhode Island facts for kids

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