Wakefield, Rhode Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wakefield
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Village
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Bell Block
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 Wakefield, Rhode Island
Location in Rhode Island
Wakefield, Rhode Island
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Rhode Island |
| County | Washington |
| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
02880
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| GNIS feature ID | 1219863 |
Wakefield is a village located in the town of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, United States. It's known as the main business area of South Kingstown. Wakefield is often grouped with the nearby village of Peace Dale for U.S. Census purposes, forming a place called Wakefield-Peacedale.
Even though West Kingston used to be the main county seat, the Washington County Courthouse has been in Wakefield since 1991. The Sheriff's Office, which handles corrections, is also located here.
The central part of Wakefield, along Main Street, is recognized as a historic district. This area is important because it was an early center for businesses and factories. It includes 53 historic buildings and covers a large area.
Contents
History of Wakefield
Wakefield became a popular place for people to settle because of its location. It was built near the Saugatucket River and the old Boston Post Road, which was an important travel route in the 1700s.
Early Settlement and Growth
Settlers started arriving in the early 1700s, building a small mill on the Saugatucket River. A tavern (a place to eat and drink) and a stagecoach stop opened in 1745. A mill for making snuff was built around 1765.
The textile industry, which makes cloth, became important in 1807 when a carding mill opened. By 1822, Wakefield had about 60 residents. It had nine houses, a store, the carding mill, a grist mill (for grinding grain), a saw mill (for cutting wood), and a blacksmith shop. Churches were also built, with a Baptist church in 1830 and an Episcopal church in 1840.
Becoming a Commercial Center
The local textile mill grew throughout the 1800s. However, as nearby Peace Dale became a bigger factory town, Wakefield started to focus more on business. It grew a lot in the 1840s, with new retail stores opening.
A Roman Catholic priest came to Wakefield in 1852, and the first Catholic church was built two years later. Kenyon's Department Store opened in 1856. A company that made carriages started in 1874. In 1876, the Narragansett Pier Railroad began operating, with a station in Wakefield. This old railroad path is now a bike trail called the William C. O'Neill Bike Path.
In 1877, the South Kingstown Town Hall was built in the village. A bank and other major businesses arrived in the 1880s. By 1895, Wakefield had 1,543 people. It started to connect with Peace Dale and Rocky Brook, forming a larger settlement.
Wakefield in the 20th Century
The Wakefield Mill changed owners and grew several times in the 1900s. In 1903, the Wakefield Woolen Company bought it and added new machines to make high-quality wool fabrics. The mill was sold many more times. By the 1950s, parts of the mill complex were used for other things, but much of it still made textiles in 1984.
Wakefield's first hospital opened in a house in 1919. A new South County Hospital building was built in 1925 on land that used to be a town farm.
Starting in the late 1950s, many businesses moved from the old downtown area to newer shopping areas outside the village center. In 1984, Wakefield was considered the biggest shopping area in South County.
Economy
A big part of Wakefield's economy comes from tourism, especially during different seasons. The main business area of South Kingstown is located here, stretching from the Saugatucket River to Old Tower Hill.
Arts and Culture
Many buildings in Wakefield are listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Rhode Island. These include:
- Wakefield Baptist Church
- Nathaniel C. Armstrong House
- John H. Armstrong House
- Hera Gallery
- Bell Block
Education
Wakefield is part of the South Kingstown School District. Schools in Wakefield include:
- South Kingstown High School
- Broad Rock Middle School
- Curtis Corner Middle School (now closed)
- Wakefield Elementary School (now closed)
Media
The Narragansett Times is a newspaper that comes out twice a week. It serves the towns of Narragansett and South Kingstown, and it is published in Wakefield.
Notable People
- Ron Locke, a baseball player
- Bob Rathbun, a sports announcer for the Atlanta Hawks basketball team
See also
In Spanish: Wakefield (Rhode Island) para niños
