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Warwick, Rhode Island facts for kids

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City of Warwick
City
Warwick City Hall, Brush Neck Cove, the Caleb Greene House, and T. F. Green Airport
Official seal of City of Warwick
Seal
Location in Kent County, Rhode Island
Country United States
State Rhode Island
County Kent
Founded 1642
Incorporated (town) August 8, 1647
Incorporated (city) April 21, 1931
Named for Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick
Government
 • Type Mayor-council
Area
 • Total 49.75 sq mi (128.85 km2)
 • Land 35.00 sq mi (90.65 km2)
 • Water 14.75 sq mi (38.20 km2)
Elevation
20 ft (6 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 82,823
 • Density 2,366.30/sq mi (913.64/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Codes
02886, 02888–02889
Area code(s) 401
FIPS code 44-74300
GNIS feature ID 1220018
Website www.warwickri.gov

Warwick is a city in Rhode Island, United States. It is the third-largest city in the state. In 2020, about 82,823 people lived there.

Warwick is located about 12 miles (19 km) south of Providence, Rhode Island. It is also about 63 miles (101 km) southwest of Boston, Massachusetts.

The city was started by Samuel Gorton in 1642. Warwick has been part of important moments in American history. It was badly damaged during King Philip's War (1675–1676). It was also the place of the Gaspee Affair. This was the first armed resistance against the British. It happened even before the Boston Tea Party. This event helped lead to the American Revolution.

Warwick was home to important military leaders. Nathanael Greene, a general in the American Revolutionary War, lived here. He was George Washington's second-in-command. George S. Greene, a general in the American Civil War, was also from Warwick. He was a hero at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Today, Warwick is home to T. F. Green Airport. This is Rhode Island's main airport. It serves the Providence area. It also helps with flights for Logan International Airport in Boston. Warwick was once home to Rocky Point Amusement Park. The park closed in 1995. Now, it is a state park.

Warwick's Early History

See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Kent County, Rhode Island

Warwick was settled by Samuel Gorton in 1642. A Native American leader named Miantonomi sold him the land. This area was called the Shawhomett Purchase. It included land where Coventry and West Warwick, Rhode Island are today.

However, two other leaders, Sacononoco and Pumham, said Miantonomi sold the land without their permission. They asked the Massachusetts colony for help. In 1643, soldiers from the Massachusetts Bay Colony came to Shawomett. They wanted to arrest Gorton and his group. Most of Gorton's followers gave up.

Gorton then sailed to England to ask the King for a special document called a charter. This charter would protect his settlement. A powerful person named Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick helped him. Because of his help, Gorton and the settlers changed the name of their colony from Shawumet to Warwick.

The Massachusetts Bay Colony kept bothering the settlers. So, Warwick and three other colonies in the area decided to join together. These were Providence Plantations, Portsmouth, and Newport. They got a British royal charter. This allowed them to form the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

The Gaspee Affair

In 1772, Warwick was the site of the first violent act against the British King. This event was called the Gaspee Affair. Local patriots boarded a British ship called the Gaspee. This ship was enforcing unpopular tax laws in Narragansett Bay.

During the fight for the ship, the Gaspee's commanding officer was shot and badly hurt. This was the first time blood was spilled in the American Revolution. The patriots took all the cannons and weapons from the Gaspee. Then, they burned the ship.

During the Revolutionary War, soldiers from Warwick fought in many battles. These included Montreal, Quebec, Saratoga, Monmouth, and Trenton. They were also present when the British surrendered at Yorktown in 1781.

Getting Around Warwick

Warwick has several major highways that help people travel.

  • I-95.svg Interstate 95 is the main highway in Rhode Island.
  • I-295.svg Interstate 295 connects to I-95. It leads to Woonsocket and Massachusetts.
  • Rhode Island 37.svg Route 37 connects I-295 to U.S. Route 1.
  • The T. F. Green Airport Connector Road helps people get to the airport.

T. F. Green International Airport

The Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport is in Warwick. It is the main airport for Rhode Island. Its name was changed in 2021.

There is also a train station at the airport called T. F. Green Airport. It is part of the Commuter Rail Line. This train provides service to Providence Station and South Station in Boston on weekdays.

Warwick's Geography

Warwick is located at 41.7181 degrees North and -71.4152 degrees West.

The city covers about 49.6 square miles (128.5 square kilometers). About 35.5 square miles (91.9 square kilometers) is land. The rest, about 14.1 square miles (36.5 square kilometers), is water.

Warwick has a long waterfront on its eastern side. The Providence River is at its northern border. Narragansett Bay begins where the river ends at Conimicut Point. The bay continues past Warwick's southern edge. Two peninsulas in southern Warwick, Warwick Neck and Potowomut, form Greenwich Bay.

Warwick shares borders with several other towns.

Warwick's southernmost area, Potowomut, is almost like a separate piece of land. You can only reach it by land by going through East Greenwich. Through Potowomut, Warwick also touches North Kingstown. Because of this, Warwick borders two Rhode Island counties: Providence County and Washington County.

Villages in Warwick

Many smaller communities, called villages, are located within Warwick:

Warwick's Population

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1830 5,529 —
1840 6,726 21.6%
1850 7,740 15.1%
1860 8,916 15.2%
1870 10,453 17.2%
1880 12,164 16.4%
1890 17,761 46.0%
1900 21,316 20.0%
1910 26,629 24.9%
1920 13,481 −49.4%
1930 23,196 72.1%
1940 28,757 24.0%
1950 43,028 49.6%
1960 68,504 59.2%
1970 83,694 22.2%
1980 87,123 4.1%
1990 85,427 −1.9%
2000 85,808 0.4%
2010 82,672 −3.7%
2020 82,823 0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

Warwick is part of the larger Providence metropolitan area. This area had over 1.6 million people in 2010.

In 2020, Warwick had 82,823 people living in 36,555 households. Most residents (about 85.7%) were white. About 2.1% were black, and 3.1% were Asian. About 6.1% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

About 22.5% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.3 people. The average family had 2.9 people. About 25.3% of the population had a college degree or higher.

The median age in Warwick was 46.0 years old. About 16.9% of the population was under 18. About 21.9% were 65 or older.

Warwick's Economy

Warwick is considered part of the Pawtuxet River Valley. Many people work in the city.

Some of the largest employers in Warwick include:

  • Kent Memorial Hospital
  • Citizens Bank- Warwick Call Center
  • UPS
  • MetLife
  • The City of Warwick government
  • Leviton Manufacturing
  • Wal-Mart
  • Community College of Rhode Island
  • J.C. Penney
  • Kenney Manufacturing
  • Inskip Automall

Famous People from Warwick

Many notable people have connections to Warwick:

  • Bill Almon: A baseball player who went to Warwick Veterans Memorial High School.
  • Rocco Baldelli: A baseball player and manager for the Minnesota Twins. He attended Bishop Hendricken High School.
  • Brenda Bennett: A musician from the band Vanity 6, born in Warwick.
  • John Brown: An American merchant who was part of the Gaspee Affair. Brown University is named after him.
  • Vanessa Carlton: A musician.
  • John Hynes: Head coach for the NHL Nashville Predators, born in Warwick.
  • Michaela McManus: An actress known for roles on One Tree Hill and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She went to Toll Gate High School.
  • Martha McSally: A former Senator from Arizona, born and raised in Warwick.
  • Walt Mossberg: A journalist who writes about technology, born and raised in Warwick. He attended Pilgrim High School.
  • Nolan North: A voice actor who attended Bishop Hendricken High School.
  • David Petrarca: A director of TV, film, and theater, including Game of Thrones.
  • Dave Shalansky: An actor who attended Toll Gate High School.
  • Chris Terreri: An NHL goalie who attended Pilgrim High School.
  • James Woods: An actor who attended Pilgrim High School.

Education in Warwick

Community College of Rhode Island Knight Campus-side
The Knight Campus building of the Community College of Rhode Island

Public schools in Warwick are managed by Warwick Public Schools.

High Schools

  • Toll Gate High School
  • Pilgrim High School

These two public high schools are planning renovations in March 2025. The city council approved $350 million to rebuild them.

Middle Schools

  • Winman Junior High School
  • Warwick Veterans Junior High School

Aldrich Junior High School and Gorton Junior High School closed in 2016. This was part of a school consolidation plan. The school department is led by Superintendent Lynn Dambruch.

Private Schools and Colleges

  • Bishop Hendricken High School: An all-boys Catholic high school that prepares students for college.
  • Rocky Hill School: A school for students from Pre-Kindergarten to 12th grade. It is a co-ed school located on the Potowomut peninsula.
  • Community College of Rhode Island: The Knight Campus of this college is also in Warwick. It is located on what used to be the Knight Estate.

Climate

Climate data for Providence, Rhode Island (T. F. Green Airport), 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1904–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 69
(21)		 72
(22)		 90
(32)		 98
(37)		 96
(36)		 98
(37)		 102
(39)		 104
(40)		 100
(38)		 88
(31)		 81
(27)		 77
(25)		 104
(40)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 57.2
(14.0)		 58.3
(14.6)		 68.4
(20.2)		 80.3
(26.8)		 86.2
(30.1)		 91.3
(32.9)		 94.5
(34.7)		 92.3
(33.5)		 87.0
(30.6)		 78.1
(25.6)		 70.0
(21.1)		 60.8
(16.0)		 96.2
(35.7)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 37.4
(3.0)		 40.3
(4.6)		 47.8
(8.8)		 58.6
(14.8)		 68.4
(20.2)		 77.5
(25.3)		 82.8
(28.2)		 81.4
(27.4)		 74.2
(23.4)		 63.3
(17.4)		 53.2
(11.8)		 42.3
(5.7)		 60.6
(15.9)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 21.0
(−6.1)		 23.6
(−4.7)		 30.0
(−1.1)		 39.6
(4.2)		 48.6
(9.2)		 58.4
(14.7)		 64.2
(17.9)		 63.2
(17.3)		 55.3
(12.9)		 43.9
(6.6)		 35.7
(2.1)		 26.3
(−3.2)		 42.5
(5.8)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 2.9
(−16.2)		 7.7
(−13.5)		 14.7
(−9.6)		 28.8
(−1.8)		 36.9
(2.7)		 47.1
(8.4)		 55.0
(12.8)		 52.4
(11.3)		 42.2
(5.7)		 31.2
(−0.4)		 21.7
(−5.7)		 10.4
(−12.0)		 0.9
(−17.3)
Record low °F (°C) −13
(−25)		 −17
(−27)		 1
(−17)		 11
(−12)		 29
(−2)		 39
(4)		 48
(9)		 40
(4)		 32
(0)		 20
(−7)		 6
(−14)		 −12
(−24)		 −17
(−27)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.86
(98)		 3.29
(84)		 5.01
(127)		 4.36
(111)		 3.55
(90)		 3.64
(92)		 3.29
(84)		 3.60
(91)		 3.92
(100)		 3.93
(100)		 4.51
(115)		 4.22
(107)		 47.18
(1,198)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 9.0
(23)		 8.5
(22)		 5.5
(14)		 0.6
(1.5)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 1.5
(3.8)		 8.7
(22)		 33.8
(86)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 10.9 9.7 11.9 11.3 12.0 10.9 9.4 9.0 8.7 9.4 10.1 11.6 124.9
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 5.7 4.6 3.5 0.4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.6 3.9 18.7
Average relative humidity (%) 63.9 63.0 62.9 61.4 66.6 70.1 71.0 72.5 73.0 70.2 68.9 67.0 67.5
Mean monthly sunshine hours 171.7 172.6 215.6 225.1 254.9 274.1 290.6 262.8 233.0 208.7 148.0 148.6 2,605.7
Percent possible sunshine 58 58 58 56 57 60 63 61 62 61 50 52 58
Source: NOAA (relative humidity and sun 1961–1990), The Weather Channel

See also

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