Johnston, Rhode Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johnston, Rhode Island
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Johnston Town Hall
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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 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 24.4 sq mi (63.1 km2) |
| • Land | 23.7 sq mi (61.3 km2) |
| • Water | 0.7 sq mi (1.8 km2) |
| Elevation | 246 ft (75 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 29,568 |
| • Density | 1,247.6/sq mi (482.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
02919
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| Area code(s) | 401 |
| FIPS code | 44-37720 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1220073 |
Johnston is a town located in Providence County, Rhode Island, in the United States. In 2020, about 29,568 people lived there.
It's home to the Clemence Irons House, a historic museum built in 1691. Johnston also has Rhode Island's only major landfill. The town became official on March 6, 1759. It was named after Augustus Johnston, who was the colonial attorney general at the time.
Contents
Exploring Johnston's Location
Johnston covers a total area of about 24.4 square miles (63.1 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 23.7 square miles (61.3 square kilometers), is land. The remaining 0.7 square miles (1.8 square kilometers) is water.
Johnston's Neighborhoods
Johnston has several unique neighborhoods. These include:
- Winsor Hill
- Thornton (which also includes part of Cranston)
- Graniteville
- Hughesdale
- Morgan Mills
- Manton
- Simmonsville
- Pocasset
- West End
- Belknap
- Frog City
A Look Back: Johnston's History
English settlers first came to this area in the 1600s. They started a farming community here. In 1759, Johnston officially separated from the city of Providence. It became its own town on March 6, 1759.
The town was named after Augustus Johnston. He was the colonial attorney general. Later, people protested against him during the Stamp Act in 1765. He then left Rhode Island during the American Revolution in 1779.
The first church in Johnston was the Baptist Meeting House. It opened in Belknap in 1771. During the American Revolution, Rhode Island's only gunpowder mill was built in Graniteville. In 1779, American General John Sullivan visited Johnston for dinner. He was on his way to fight in New York.
In 1790, the Belknap School opened. This was the town's first public school. A major road, the Providence and Norwich Turnpike, was created in 1791. Today, it's known as Plainfield Pike.
Who Lives in Johnston?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 1,320 | — | |
| 1800 | 1,864 | 41.2% | |
| 1810 | 1,516 | −18.7% | |
| 1820 | 1,542 | 1.7% | |
| 1830 | 2,115 | 37.2% | |
| 1840 | 2,477 | 17.1% | |
| 1850 | 2,937 | 18.6% | |
| 1860 | 3,440 | 17.1% | |
| 1870 | 4,192 | 21.9% | |
| 1880 | 5,765 | 37.5% | |
| 1890 | 9,778 | 69.6% | |
| 1900 | 4,305 | −56.0% | |
| 1910 | 5,935 | 37.9% | |
| 1920 | 6,855 | 15.5% | |
| 1930 | 9,357 | 36.5% | |
| 1940 | 10,672 | 14.1% | |
| 1950 | 12,725 | 19.2% | |
| 1960 | 17,160 | 34.9% | |
| 1970 | 22,037 | 28.4% | |
| 1980 | 24,907 | 13.0% | |
| 1990 | 26,542 | 6.6% | |
| 2000 | 28,195 | 6.2% | |
| 2010 | 28,769 | 2.0% | |
| 2020 | 29,568 | 2.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, Johnston had 28,195 residents living in 11,197 households. About 7,725 of these were families. The population density was about 1,191 people per square mile (460 people per square kilometer).
Most residents (96.66%) were White. A large number, 46.7%, were of Italian heritage. This was the highest percentage of Italian Americans in any U.S. city at that time. Other groups included 0.65% African American and 1.08% Asian. About 1.89% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 27.8% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.47 people. The average family had 3.02 people.
The median age in Johnston was 41 years old. This means half the people were older and half were younger. About 20.9% of the population was under 18. About 18.9% were 65 or older.
The median income for a household was $43,514. For families, it was $54,837. The average income per person was $21,440. About 8.3% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 9.0% of those under 18.
Parks and Fun in Johnston
Johnston has several parks for outdoor activities. These include the Johnston War Memorial Park and Snake Den State Park.
A statue of Christopher Columbus was moved to Memorial Park in 2023. It was unveiled on Columbus Day.
Learning in Johnston
The Johnston Public School System includes four elementary schools. There is also one middle school and one high school. Johnston Senior High School was recognized as a top school in 2005.
In 2008, two elementary schools, Graniteville and Calef, were closed. Students from these schools moved to Brown Avenue Elementary and Winsor Hill Elementary. This decision caused some debate. People worried about crowded schools and traffic.
Local News and Media
Johnston has its own local newspaper, the Johnston Sun Rise. It's a free weekly paper found in many local businesses.
Several TV news channels broadcast in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. These include:
- WJAR NBC News Channel 10
- WLNE-TV ABC 6 Rhode Island News Channel
- WPRI-TV 12 Fox 64 Providence Eyewitness News Channel
New England Cable News (NECN) is a cable news station. It covers news from all over New England.
Johnston's Economy
Johnston is home to the insurance company FM Global.
In 2018, Citizens Bank opened a large office campus in Johnston. This project cost $285 million. It covers 425,000 square feet and employs about 3,000 people.
Famous People from Johnston
Many notable people have connections to Johnston:
- Noel Acciari – A hockey player for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
- Zenas Work Bliss – Served as Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island from 1910 to 1913.
- Jeanine Calkin – A state senator in Rhode Island.
- Amanda Clayton – An actress who graduated from Johnston Senior High School.
- Paul DelVecchio (also known as Pauly D) – A DJ and reality TV star from Jersey Shore. He also graduated from Johnston Senior High School.
- Deborah Fellela – A member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives.
- Mat Franco – A famous magician.
- Samuel Ward King – The 15th Governor of Rhode Island.
- Lou Lamoriello – A well-known general manager in the NHL.
- Aria Mia Loberti – An actress.
- Frank Lombardo – A Rhode Island state senator.
- Christopher Lowrey – A countertenor (a type of singer).
- Dan Mazzulla – A basketball player and coach.
- Joe Mazzulla – The head coach for the Boston Celtics.
- Mario Mendez – A member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives.
- Joe Polisena – A Rhode Island state senator and former mayor of Johnston.
- Joey Spina – A professional boxer.
- Nathan B. Sprague – A politician from the 1800s.
- Stephen Ucci – A member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives.
Sister City
Johnston has a sister city in Italy:
Panni, Apulia, Italy
