Jerusalem, Rhode Island facts for kids
Jerusalem is a small, charming fishing village located in Narragansett, Rhode Island, in the United States. It sits right on Point Judith, a well-known piece of land that sticks out into the ocean. Across the water, you'll find another fishing village called Galilee. Fun fact: Jerusalem is named after the famous ancient city of Jerusalem in the Middle East!
Even though Jerusalem is part of Narragansett, it's a bit separated! It doesn't connect to the rest of Narragansett by land. Instead, its only land neighbor is the Matunuck area, which is part of South Kingstown. It's interesting because even though Jerusalem isn't in South Kingstown, the fire and police services for the village are actually provided by South Kingstown. This helps keep everyone safe!
Jerusalem is also a great spot for beach lovers! It's located at the eastern end of East Matunuck State Beach, a popular place to swim, sunbathe, and enjoy the ocean.
The Story of Jerusalem's Name
Have you ever wondered how a place gets its name? For Jerusalem, Rhode Island, there's a fun story that dates back to 1902.
A Fisherman's Idea
The story begins with a fisherman named Thomas Mann. He came from Nova Scotia and settled in this area. As more fishing shacks appeared, a small village started to grow. Thomas Mann thought the new village should be called Galilee. He chose this name because it reminded him of the famous fishing village of Galilee from the Bible.
A Curious Stranger
One day, an older fisherman was sitting on the docks, busy repairing his nets. A stranger walked up to him and asked, "Where am I?" The old fisherman simply replied, "Galilee."
Then, the stranger pointed across the channel, which is a narrow body of water, and asked, "And what is that?" The old fisherman thought for a moment. He nodded his head and said, "That must be Jerusalem."
And just like that, the names Galilee and Jerusalem have been used ever since. They describe a very beautiful and picturesque part of Rhode Island, known for its fishing heritage and lovely views.
