North Kingstown, Rhode Island facts for kids

Quick facts for kids North Kingstown, Rhode Island
Town
The Gilbert Stuart Birthplace in North Kingstown
Nickname(s):  "NK"
Location of North Kingstown in Washington County, Rhode Island
Country	United States
State	Rhode Island
County	Washington
Area
• Total	58.3 sq mi (151.1 km2)
• Land	43.6 sq mi (112.9 km2)
• Water	14.7 sq mi (38.2 km2)
Elevation	82 ft (25 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	27,732
• Density	636/sq mi (245.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	02852 (North Kingstown), 02874 (Saunderstown), 02877 (Slocum)
Area code(s)	401
FIPS code	44-51580
GNIS feature ID	1220088
Website	www.northkingstown.org

North Kingstown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. It is part of the larger Providence metropolitan area. In 2020, about 27,732 people lived here.

North Kingstown is famous as the birthplace of Gilbert Stuart. He was a well-known American portrait painter. You can find his birthplace in the village of Saunderstown within the town. The town is also home to Quonset Point. This was once a big naval air station. It's famous for the invention of the Quonset hut, a type of lightweight building. Another special place is the old village of Wickford.

Exploring North Kingstown's Past

North Kingstown has a rich history that dates back many years. It was first settled by important figures like Roger Williams and Richard Smith. They set up trading posts near Wickford, where Smith's Castle stands today.

How the Town Was Formed

The area was officially named Kings Towne in 1674 by the colonial government. This large area included what are now North Kingstown, South Kingstown, Exeter, and Narragansett.

In 1723, Kings Towne was divided into two parts: North Kingstown and South Kingstown. North Kingstown kept the original founding date of 1674 because it had the earliest settlements. Later, in 1742, the town of Exeter was created from the western part of North Kingstown.

A World War II Heritage City

On September 17, 2024, the National Park Service gave North Kingstown a special title. It was named a World War II Heritage City. This means the town played an important role during World War II.

North Kingstown's Location and Size

North Kingstown covers a total area of about 58.3 square miles (151.1 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 43.6 square miles (112.9 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 14.8 square miles (38.2 square kilometers), is water. The town is located right next to Narragansett Bay on its eastern side.

Who Lives in North Kingstown?

North Kingstown is home to many people from different backgrounds.

In 2010, there were 26,486 people living in the town. Most residents were White (94.7%). Other groups included African American (1.0%), American Indian/Alaska Native (0.6%), and Asian (1.3%). About 2.4% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

There were 10,436 households in the town. About 70.4% of these were families. Many households (31.2%) had children under 18 living with them. The average family size was about 3 people.

Getting Around North Kingstown

North Kingstown offers several ways to travel.

Train Service

Wickford Junction is a train station in town. It's the last stop on the Providence/Stoughton Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail. You can take a train from here to Providence Station and even to Boston's South Station on weekdays. It's the farthest station in the MBTA's train network.

Bus and Ferry Services

The RIPTA bus service also runs through North Kingstown. You can take buses to Providence or to nearby towns like Narragansett and Newport.

If you want to visit the island of Martha's Vineyard, there's a passenger ferry that connects from North Kingstown.

Learning in North Kingstown

The North Kingstown School Department manages the public schools in the town. This includes North Kingstown High School, where older students attend.

Famous People from North Kingstown

Many interesting people have connections to North Kingstown.

• Elizabeth Beisel: A talented swimmer who won two Olympic medals.
• John Cole (1715–1777): A lawyer who became the 12th Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
• Gilbert Stuart (1755–1828): A famous painter. His portrait of George Washington is even on the one dollar bill!
• Dee Dee Myers (born 1961): She served as the 19th White House Press Secretary.
• Robert J. Papp: A Naval Commander who received the Order of Naval Merit Admiral Padilla.

Fun Places to Visit in North Kingstown

North Kingstown has many cool places to explore, from old farms to museums.

Historical Sites and Museums

• Casey Farm (1725): This is an old colonial farm that is still working today. It's one of the oldest farms in New England.
• Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and Museum (1751): Visit the house where the famous painter Gilbert Stuart was born. The museum shows his artwork and has old mills that used to grind grain and snuff.
• Historic Wickford Village: This charming seaside village has one of the largest collections of old 18th-century houses in the Northeastern United States. It also has a beautiful harbor.
• Quonset Air Museum: Located at the old Naval Air Station Quonset Point, this museum focuses on the history of military airplanes.
• Smith's Castle (1678): An old colonial plantation right on the shore of Narragansett Bay.
• Quonset Point: This was once a military base and the home of the Seabees, a special group of Navy builders.

Nature and Unique Spots

• Davis Memorial Wildlife Refuge: A large area of forest and wetlands, about 96 acres, that is protected by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. It's a great place to see nature.
• Devil's Foot Rock: This is a rock with a natural impression that looks like a footprint. Old legends say it's where the devil left his footprint while chasing a Native American woman.

Other Historic Places in North Kingstown

Many other buildings and areas in North Kingstown are recognized as important historic places.

Images for kids

• 

  Old Narragansett Church, built in 1707, is the oldest Episcopal Church building in New England

• 

  Baptist Church in Wickford

See also

In Spanish: North Kingstown para niños