Smithfield, Rhode Island Facts for Kids

Smithfield is a town located in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. It's home to several historic villages like Esmond, Georgiaville, and Greenville. In 2020, about 22,118 people lived here. Smithfield is also where Bryant University, a private college, is located.

Smithfield's Story: A Look Back in Time
Where is Smithfield? Geography Facts
Who Lives in Smithfield? Population Details
Learning in Smithfield: Schools and Colleges
- Bryant University: A Local College
Smithfield's Economy: Top Employers
Famous Faces from Smithfield
Friendship Cities
See also

Smithfield's Story: A Look Back in Time

Greenville Bank at the turn of the twentieth century

The area that is now Smithfield was first settled in 1663. It started as a farming community. Early settlers were British colonists, including a man named John Steere.

Smithfield was originally part of Providence. But in 1731, it became its own separate town. The town was named after John Smith, one of the first settlers of Providence. You can find this information on the town's official website.

Important People and Movements

A judge named Peleg Arnold lived in early Smithfield. His house, built in 1690, is still standing today!

In the 1700s, a group called the Quakers lived in Smithfield. They were very active in the movement to end slavery, known as abolitionism. Important Quakers from Smithfield included Effingham Capron and Abby Kelley Foster. Another famous person from Smithfield was Elizabeth Buffum Chace. She worked hard to end slavery and fought for women's rights.

Captain James Buxton was a hero in the American Revolutionary War. He fought with a Massachusetts army group at Valley Forge. He was promoted to Captain and later received land in Massachusetts for his service.

From Farms to Factories

During the Industrial Revolution, Smithfield changed a lot. It went from being mostly farms to a place with many factories. By the mid-1800s, several textile mills were built along the Woonasquatucket River. These mills made fabrics and other goods.

Town Changes Over Time

In 1871, parts of Smithfield became new towns: North Smithfield and Lincoln. Later, in 1895, Lincoln also split, creating the city of Central Falls.

There's also a "ghost town" called Hanton City within Smithfield's borders. It was a busy community in the 1700s, but now it's just ruins.

In 1943, a U.S. Army plane crashed on Wolf Hill. Sadly, all three soldiers on board died.

Where is Smithfield? Geography Facts

Smithfield covers about 71.9 square kilometers (27.8 square miles). Most of this area, about 68.9 square kilometers (26.6 square miles), is land. The rest, about 3.1 square kilometers (1.2 square miles), is water. So, about 4.25% of the town's total area is water.

Who Lives in Smithfield? Population Details

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	3,171	—
1800	3,120	−1.6%
1810	3,828	22.7%
1820	4,678	22.2%
1830	6,857	46.6%
1840	9,534	39.0%
1850	11,500	20.6%
1860	13,283	15.5%
1870	2,605	−80.4%
1880	3,085	18.4%
1890	2,500	−19.0%
1900	2,107	−15.7%
1910	2,739	30.0%
1920	3,199	16.8%
1930	3,967	24.0%
1940	4,611	16.2%
1950	6,690	45.1%
1960	9,442	41.1%
1970	13,468	42.6%
1980	16,886	25.4%
1990	19,163	13.5%
2000	20,613	7.6%
2010	21,430	4.0%
2020	22,118	3.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2020, Smithfield had 22,118 residents. The average age was about 43.7 years old. About 15.4% of the people living there were under 18.

Most residents (84.7%) were White. Other groups included Asian (7.5%), African American (1.2%), and Native American (0.2%). About 3.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino. The average household income was $85,337. Only a small number of people, 3.4%, lived below the poverty line.

Learning in Smithfield: Schools and Colleges

Smithfield has several schools for kids and teens. There are three public elementary schools: Pleasant View, Raymond LaPerche, and Old County Road School. For middle school, students go to Vincent J. Gallagher Middle School. Older students attend Smithfield High School. In 2006, Smithfield High was ranked 17th out of 52 high schools in Rhode Island.

There's also a private Catholic school called St. Phillip's School. It teaches students from kindergarten to 8th grade in Greenville. Overbrook Academy, a private Catholic boarding school, also uses facilities in Smithfield for middle and high school programs.

Bryant University: A Local College

Bryant University's campus

Bryant University is a private university in Smithfield. It offers programs in business and other subjects like arts and sciences.

In 1971, the university moved to its current location in Smithfield. This happened because Earl Tupper, who created Tupperware and was a Bryant graduate, donated the land. He gave 428 acres (about 1.7 square kilometers) for the new campus. The famous Bryant Archway was also moved to the new campus.

The land where Bryant University now stands used to be the Emin Homestead and Captain Joseph Mowry homestead. The Emin family farmed this land for three generations. Today, many of their descendants still live near the campus. Some family members have even graduated from Bryant! The school also has a scholarship for accounting students to honor the Emin family. You can see old pictures of the Emin Homestead in the Alumni house.

Smithfield's Economy: Top Employers

Smithfield has many businesses that provide jobs. Here are some of the biggest employers in the town, based on a 2021 report:

#	Employer	# of employees
1	Fidelity Investments	3,900
2	Bryant University	850
3	Town of Smithfield	500
4	Citizens Bank	400
5	Honeywell	300
6	Village at Waterman Lake	300
7	Stop & Shop	300
8	FGX International	250
9	Target Corporation	200
10	Rubius Therapeutics	100

Famous Faces from Smithfield

Many interesting people have connections to Smithfield:

Cyrus Aldrich (1808–1871) – Born in Smithfield, he became a Congressman for Minnesota.
Peleg Arnold (1751–1820) – A delegate to the Continental Congress.
Sullivan Ballou (1829–1861) – A Civil War Officer known for his famous letter.
Elizabeth Buffum Chace (1806–1899) – An activist who fought against slavery and for women's and prison rights.
Ronald K. Machtley (born 1948) – A former Congressman and President of Bryant University.
Gina Raimondo (born 1971) – She was the Governor of Rhode Island and is now the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
Danny Smith (born 1959) – A producer, writer, and voice actor.
David Wilkinson (1771–1852) – He helped build the famous Slater Mill.

Friendship Cities

Smithfield has a special connection with another city:

Stepanakert, Artsakh (since 2023)

Smithfield, Rhode Island facts for kids

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