Middletown, Rhode Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Middletown, Rhode Island
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Dunlap-Wheeler Park
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Location of Middletown in Newport County, Rhode Island
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| Country | United States |
| State | Rhode Island |
| County | Newport |
| Incorporated | 1743 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 14.9 sq mi (38.7 km2) |
| • Land | 13.0 sq mi (33.6 km2) |
| • Water | 2.0 sq mi (5.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 148 ft (45 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 17,075 |
| • Density | 1,146/sq mi (441.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
02842
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| Area code(s) | 401 |
| FIPS code | 44-45460 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1220063 |
Middletown is a town located in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. It's home to 17,075 people, according to the 2020 census. You can find it on Aquidneck Island, nestled between the towns of Portsmouth to the north and Newport to the south. That's why it's called "Middletown" – it's right in the middle!
Contents
Middletown's Story
Long ago, people living in the northern part of Newport wanted to become their own town. They felt that taxes were unfair and their population was growing. So, they asked the government for independence.
In 1731, the land that is now Middletown was set aside. Then, in 1743, Middletown officially became its own town.
During the 1980s and 1990s, the main roads in Middletown, East Main Road and West Main Road, started to become busy with businesses. Soon, this area became the main shopping and business center for all of Aquidneck Island.
Today, Middletown has a strong business area. Many jobs are connected to Naval Station Newport and other defense companies. Even with all the businesses, Middletown still feels like a "small town." It has beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean, amazing beaches, and lots of trails for hiking and open spaces to enjoy.
Where is Middletown?
Middletown covers about 14.9 square miles (38.7 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 13.0 square miles (33.6 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 2.0 square miles (5.1 square kilometers), is water.
Middletown was once known as the "farming community" of Aquidneck Island. Today, most of the buildings and businesses are in the western part of town. The eastern part still has much of its rural, open land. Middletown is also famous for its beautiful beaches.
Parks and Beautiful Beaches
Middletown is home to the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge, a great place to see nature. It also has two public beaches and many other parks and outdoor spots for fun.
- Second Beach (also known as Sachuest Beach) faces south and has places to buy snacks, showers, and bathrooms. The western part of this beach is popular with surfers.
- Third Beach faces east and has calmer waves. It's a great spot for picnics with grills and tables.
Some of the many parks in Middletown include:
- Albro Woods
- Demery Memorial Park
- Dunlap-Wheeler Park
- Gaudet Athletic Complex
- Green End Fort
- Howland Park
- Linden Park
- Middletown Town Beach
- Middletown Valley Park
- Norman Bird Sanctuary
- Paradise Valley Park
- Prescott Farm
- Purgatory Chasm
- Sakonnet Greenway Trail
- Starlight Drive-In Multiuse Fields
- Witherbee School
- Wyatt Road Soccer Complex
Who Lives in Middletown?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 840 | — | |
| 1800 | 913 | 8.7% | |
| 1810 | 976 | 6.9% | |
| 1820 | 949 | −2.8% | |
| 1830 | 915 | −3.6% | |
| 1840 | 891 | −2.6% | |
| 1850 | 830 | −6.8% | |
| 1860 | 1,012 | 21.9% | |
| 1870 | 971 | −4.1% | |
| 1880 | 1,139 | 17.3% | |
| 1890 | 1,154 | 1.3% | |
| 1900 | 1,457 | 26.3% | |
| 1910 | 1,708 | 17.2% | |
| 1920 | 2,004 | 17.3% | |
| 1930 | 2,499 | 24.7% | |
| 1940 | 3,379 | 35.2% | |
| 1950 | 7,382 | 118.5% | |
| 1960 | 12,675 | 71.7% | |
| 1970 | 29,290 | 131.1% | |
| 1980 | 17,216 | −41.2% | |
| 1990 | 19,460 | 13.0% | |
| 2000 | 17,334 | −10.9% | |
| 2010 | 16,150 | −6.8% | |
| 2020 | 17,075 | 5.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 17,334 people living in Middletown. About 25% of the population was under 18 years old. The average age of people in Middletown was 38 years.
Getting Around Middletown
Middletown has its own airport, Newport State Airport. It's a public airport mainly used for smaller planes. It's the only airport on Aquidneck Island.
The two main roads that run north and south through Middletown are West Main Road (RI-114) and East Main Road (RI-138).
Sports and Fun in Middletown
Middletown is a great place for sports! It's home to the St Columba's Cricket Club, which hosts a yearly cricket tournament for teams from all over New England. The Newport National Golf Club is also located here.
The town has its own sports teams called the Middletown Islanders. They play hockey, football, baseball, volleyball, and lacrosse. Young athletes can also join Pop Warner football and cheerleading. Pop Warner is a league for different age groups:
- Kids ages 6–8: Mighty Mights
- Kids ages 9 & 10: Junior Pee Wee
- Kids ages 11 & 12: Pee Wee
- Kids ages 13 & 14: Midget
Learning in Middletown
Middletown has a public school district with four schools. They serve students from pre-kindergarten all the way through 12th grade.
- Aquidneck Elementary School (Pre-K to 3rd grade)
- Forest Avenue Elementary School (Kindergarten to 3rd grade)
- Joseph H. Gaudet Middle School (4th to 8th grade)
- Middletown High School (9th to 12th grade)
There are also private schools in Middletown, like All Saints Academy (Kindergarten to 8th grade), which is a Catholic school, and St. George's School (9th to 12th grade).
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Historic Places to Explore
Middletown has many interesting historic sites that you can visit:
- Boyd's Windmill, built in 1810
- Bailey Farm, built in 1838
- Clambake Club of Newport, built in 1895
- Gardiner Pond Shell Midden
- Hamilton Hoppin House, built in 1856
- Lyman C. Joseph House, built in 1882
- Norman Bird Sanctuary, with a central house built around 1755
- Paradise School, built in 1875
- Prescott Farm, dating back to around 1715
- Whitehall (Rhode Island), built in 1729
- Witherbee School, built in 1900
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Famous Faces from Middletown
Many interesting people have connections to Middletown:
- Israel T. Almy, an architect born in Middletown.
- George Berkeley, an Irish philosopher who lived in Middletown in the 1700s.
- Edwin Booth, a famous actor who built his summer home, "Boothden," in Middletown in 1884.
- Nicolas Cage, a well-known actor who once lived here.
- Bill Cowsill, a singer and musician born in Middletown.
- Charlie Day, an actor from the TV show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, grew up in Middletown.
- Charles A. Flynn, a retired United States Army General, born in Middletown.
- Michael T. Flynn, a retired United States Army Lieutenant General and former National Security Advisor, born in Middletown.
- Richard Hatch, a winner from the TV show Survivor, grew up in Middletown.
- Obadiah Holmes, an early Baptist minister and an ancestor of President Abraham Lincoln.
- John Huston, a famous film director who won an Oscar for The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. He died in Middletown.
See also
In Spanish: Middletown (Rhode Island) para niños
