Portsmouth, Rhode Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Portsmouth, Rhode Island
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Town Hall
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Location of Portsmouth in Newport County, Rhode Island
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| Country | United States |
| State | Rhode Island |
| County | Newport |
| Established | March 7, 1638 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 59.3 sq mi (153.6 km2) |
| • Land | 23.2 sq mi (60.1 km2) |
| • Water | 36.1 sq mi (93.5 km2) |
| Elevation | 203 ft (62 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 17,871 |
| • Density | 770/sq mi (297.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
02871
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| Area code(s) | 401 |
| FIPS code | 44-57880 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1220065 |
Portsmouth is a town located in Newport County, Rhode Island, in the United States. In 2020, about 17,871 people lived there. Portsmouth is the second-oldest town in Rhode Island, after Providence. It was one of the four original colonies that joined together to form the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. The other colonies were Providence, Newport, and Warwick.
Contents
Geography of Portsmouth
Portsmouth covers a total area of about 59.3 square miles (153.6 square kilometers). Most of this area is water, about 36.1 square miles (93.5 square kilometers). The land area is about 23.2 square miles (60.1 square kilometers).
Most of Portsmouth's land is on Aquidneck Island. This island is also home to the towns of Middletown and Newport. Portsmouth also includes several smaller islands. These include Prudence Island, Patience Island, Hope Island, and Hog Island. Part of the area called Melville is also within Portsmouth's borders.
History of Portsmouth
Portsmouth was first settled in 1638. It was founded by a group of people who had different religious beliefs from those in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Important founders included Dr. John Clarke, William Coddington, and Anne Hutchinson. The town was named after Portsmouth, England.
Originally, the settlers planned to go to New Jersey. However, Roger Williams convinced them to settle in this area instead. Portsmouth was founded by the people who signed the Portsmouth Compact. Its first name was Pocasset. On May 12, 1639, it was officially named Portsmouth. Later, it became part of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Eventually, it became part of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
Schools in Portsmouth
Portsmouth has several schools for students of all ages.
Public Schools
The Portsmouth School Department runs the public schools in town:
- Portsmouth High School
- Portsmouth Middle School
- Howard W. Hathaway Elementary School
- Melville Elementary School
- Prudence Island School (This is a special "Home School" program for students on Prudence Island.)
Private Schools
There are also private schools in Portsmouth:
- Portsmouth Abbey School (for grades 9 through 12)
- Saint Philomena School (for Pre-Kindergarten through 8th Grade)
- The Pennfield School (for Nursery through 8th Grade)
Commerce and Businesses
Portsmouth is home to the Portsmouth Business Park. You can also find several small shopping areas with different kinds of businesses. The Raytheon Missiles & Defense division is located here. Next to Raytheon, you can visit the Newport Car Museum. It opened in 2017 and attracts many visitors each year.
Sports in Portsmouth
Portsmouth is a center for sailing in the United States. It is the main office for US Sailing, which is the national group that organizes sailing events. The town also hosts the Newport International Polo Series at Glen Farm, where exciting polo matches take place.
Music Events
Portsmouth has a connection to famous music artists. On September 21, 2017, special plaques were put up at the Baypoint Inn & Conference Center. These plaques honored the legendary band The Beach Boys. They celebrated a concert the band held in Portsmouth on September 22, 1971. This concert was important because it was the first time Ricky Fataar and Billy Hinsche officially joined The Beach Boys' live performances. This made the band's touring group more diverse.
The famous singer Jimmy Buffett performed at the Sunset Cove restaurant on July 2, 2023. This was his last public concert before he passed away later that year.
Population of Portsmouth
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 1,560 | — | |
| 1800 | 1,684 | 7.9% | |
| 1810 | 1,795 | 6.6% | |
| 1820 | 1,645 | −8.4% | |
| 1830 | 1,727 | 5.0% | |
| 1840 | 1,706 | −1.2% | |
| 1850 | 1,833 | 7.4% | |
| 1860 | 2,048 | 11.7% | |
| 1870 | 2,003 | −2.2% | |
| 1880 | 1,979 | −1.2% | |
| 1890 | 1,949 | −1.5% | |
| 1900 | 2,105 | 8.0% | |
| 1910 | 2,681 | 27.4% | |
| 1920 | 2,590 | −3.4% | |
| 1930 | 2,969 | 14.6% | |
| 1940 | 3,683 | 24.0% | |
| 1950 | 6,578 | 78.6% | |
| 1960 | 8,251 | 25.4% | |
| 1970 | 12,521 | 51.8% | |
| 1980 | 14,257 | 13.9% | |
| 1990 | 16,857 | 18.2% | |
| 2000 | 17,149 | 1.7% | |
| 2010 | 17,389 | 1.4% | |
| 2020 | 17,871 | 2.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, the population of Portsmouth was 17,871 people. This was a small increase from 2010. The town has grown steadily over many years.
Historic Sites and Points of Interest
Portsmouth has many interesting places to visit that are important to its history:
- Battle of Rhode Island Site
- Borden Farm
- Greenvale Farm (built in 1864)
- Green Animals Topiary Garden (a garden with plants shaped like animals)
- Hog Island Shoal Lighthouse (built in 1901)
- Lawton-Almy-Hall Farm
- Mount Hope Bridge (built in 1929, connecting Portsmouth to Bristol)
- Oak Glen
- Portsmouth Friends Meetinghouse Parsonage and Cemetery (from around 1699)
- Prudence Island Lighthouse (built in 1823)
- Union Church (built in 1865)
- Wreck Sites of H.M.S. Cerberus and H.M.S. Lark (shipwrecks from 1778)
Notable People from Portsmouth
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Portsmouth:
- Ade Bethune (died 2002), an artist known for religious art.
- Jeremy Clarke (1605–1652), an early settler and the second governor of Rhode Island.
- Mike Cloud, a former professional football player for the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots.
- Thomas Cornell, one of the first settlers of Portsmouth.
- Chris Cosentino, a chef and TV personality.
- Charlie Day, a well-known actor, writer, and comedian.
- Sarah J. Eddy (1851–1945), an artist, photographer, and supporter of women's voting rights.
- Anthony Harkness (1793–1858), a businessman and inventor.
- Julia Ward Howe (died 1910), who wrote "The Battle Hymn of the Republic".
- Anne Hutchinson (died 1643), a key figure in founding the Rhode Island colony.
- Betty Hutton (died 2007), a famous film actress and singer.
- Patrick Kennedy, a former U.S. congressman for Rhode Island.
- Scotty Kilmer, a popular auto mechanic educator on YouTube.
- Frances Latham (1610–1677), an early settler known as the "mother of governors."
- Ronald Machtley, a former U.S. congressman and university president.
- Michelle McGaw, a state representative for Rhode Island.
- Peleg Slocum (1654–1733), a Quaker and landowner.
- Cole Swider, a professional basketball player.
- Ryan Westmoreland, a former baseball player prospect for the Boston Red Sox.
Gallery
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The Second Empire mansion at Borden Farm was built c. 1865
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The Friends Meeting was built c. 1699–1700
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The Union Church was built in 1865
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The 1725 schoolhouse owned by the Portsmouth Historical Society is one of the oldest surviving in the U.S.
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The Mount Hope Bridge, connecting Portsmouth with Bristol, Rhode Island
See also
In Spanish: Portsmouth (Rhode Island) para niños
