Portsmouth

Portsmouth, Rhode Island
—  Town  —
Location of Portsmouth in Newport County, Rhode Island
Coordinates: 41°36′14″N 71°15′40″W / 41.60389°N 71.26111°W / 41.60389; -71.26111
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 (2000)
- Total	17,149
- Density	739.0/sq mi (285.3/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	02871
Area code(s)	401
FIPS code	44-57880[1]
GNIS feature ID	1220065[2]
Website	www.portsmouthri.com

Portsmouth is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 17,149 at the 2000 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 59.3 square miles (153.6 km²), of which, 23.2 square miles (60.1 km²) of it is land and 36.1 square miles (93.5 km²) of it (60.86%) is water. Most of its land area lies on Aquidneck Island, which it shares with Middletown and Newport. In addition, Portsmouth encompasses some smaller islands, including Prudence Island, Patience Island, Hope Island, and Hog Island.

History

Portsmouth Compact memorial at Founder's Brook.

Portsmouth was settled in 1638 by a group of religious dissenters from Boston Colony, including Dr. John Clarke, William Coddington, and Anne Hutchinson. It is named after Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. It was founded by the signers of the Portsmouth Compact. Its original Indian name was Pocasset. It was officially named Portsmouth on May 12, 1639.

It became part of the colony of Rhode Island (see Aquidneck Island) and eventually of the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and the state that bears that name.

Portsmouth is the site of an important capture during the American War for Independence. Lieutenant Colonel William Barton of Rhode island captured the British Commander at Rhode Island, General Richard Prescott there. It is also the site of Rhode Island's only major battle in that war on Butt's Hill. Nearby Founder's Brook is said to have run red with the blood of fallen British soldiers on August 29, 1778. During the Battle of Rhode Island the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, which comprised mostly African-American soldiers, served in the army of Gen. John Sullivan.

Schools

Public

Portsmouth High School
Portsmouth Middle School
Elmhurst Elementary School (Identified for closing by school facilities committee)
Howard H. Hathaway Elementary School
Melville Elementary School

Prudence Island School (A Charter/Co-op "Home School" as of September 2009)

Private

Portsmouth Abbey School (9^th Grade through 12^th Grade)
Saint Philomena School (Pre-Kindergarten through 8^th Grade)
The Pennfield School (Nursery through 8^th Grade)

The Mount Hope Bridge, connecting Portsmouth with Bristol, Rhode Island.

Commerce

Since 1980, Portsmouth has been home to Clements' Market, a large supermarket. In addition, Portsmouth is home to the Portsmouth Business Park, as well as a few small plazas with a variety of businesses. Portsmouth is also home to a branch of Raytheon, and its Integrated Defense Systems department.

Sports

Portsmouth is the headquarters of US Sailing, the National Governing Body of Sailing in the U.S. ^[3] Portsmouth is also home to the Newport International Polo Series held at Glen Farm. ^[4] Portsmouth is also home to the Portsmouth Pirates, the town's soccer league.

Demographics

At the time of the census^[1] of 1990, there were 16,857 people residing in the town. As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 17,149 people, or an increase of 1.7%, residing in the town. There were also 6,758 households, and 4,865 families recorded. The population density was 739.0 people per square mile (285.3/km²). There were 7,386 housing units at an average density of 318.3/sq mi (122.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.82% White, 1.17% African American, 0.19% Native American, 1.36% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.45% of the population.

There were 6,758 households out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.1% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the town the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $58,835, and the median income for a family was $68,577. Males had a median income of $46,297 versus $31,745 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,161. About 2.0% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

The 1725 schoolhouse owned by the Portsmouth Historical Society is one of the oldest surviving in the U.S.

Historic Sites in Portsmouth

• Battle of Rhode Island Site
• Greenvale Farm
• Green Animals Topiary Garden
• Hog Island Shoal Lighthouse
• Lawton-Almy-Hall Farm
• Mount Hope Bridge
• Oak Glen (Portsmouth, Rhode Island)
• Portsmouth Friends Meetinghouse Parsonage and Cemetery
• Prudence Island Lighthouse
• Union Church (Portsmouth, Rhode Island)
• Wreck Sites of H.M.S. Cerberus and H.M.S. Lark

Notable Residents

• Mike Cloud - NFL runningback for the Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, and New York Giants
• Chris Cosentino - American chef and cast member of "The Next Iron Chef"
• Helen Glover - cast member on Survivor: Thailand and host of the "Helen Glover Show" on TalkRadio 920 WHJJ
• Patrick Kennedy - U.S. congressman for Rhode Island's First district
• Ronald Machtley - former U.S. congressman, President of Bryant University

Deceased

• Ade Bethune (died 2002) - liturgical artist and Catholic Worker
• Julia Ward Howe (died 1910) - author of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic"
• Anne Hutchinson (died 1643) - founded colony of Rhode Island in 1638
• Betty Hutton (died 2007) - American film actress and singer^[5]

References

Rhode Island portal

1. ^ ^{a b c} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
3. ^ http://www.ussailing.org/
4. ^ http://www.glenfarm.com/
5. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/14/movies/14hutton.html Retrieved 2008-08-25.

Further reading

• Garman, James E. (1996). Traveling Around Aquidneck Island 1890-1930. Portsmouth: Hamilton Printing. ISBN 0-9631722-6-3.
• Pierce, John T. (1991). Historical Tracts of the Town of Portsmouth. Portsmouth: Hamilton Printing. ISBN 0-9631722-0-4.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Newport County, Rhode Island

• Town of Portsmouth
• OnAquidneck.com Portsmouth links page

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Newport County, Rhode Island City Newport Towns Jamestown | Little Compton | Middletown | Portsmouth | Tiverton CDPs Melville | Newport East | Tiverton

v • d • e   State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Providence (capital) Topics Culture | Geography | Government | History | Images | Narragansett Indian Tribe | People | Visitor attractions | State symbols Regions Counties: Bristol | Kent | Newport | Providence | Washington (South County) | Geographic: Blackstone Valley | Block Island Cities Central Falls | Cranston | East Providence | Newport | Pawtucket | Providence | Warwick | Woonsocket Towns Barrington | Bristol | Burrillville | Charlestown | Coventry | Cumberland | East Greenwich | Exeter | Foster | Glocester | Hopkinton | Jamestown | Johnston | Lincoln | Little Compton | Middletown | Narragansett | New Shoreham (Block Island) | North Kingstown | North Providence | North Smithfield | Portsmouth | Richmond | Scituate | Smithfield | South Kingstown | Tiverton | Warren | Westerly | West Greenwich | West Warwick

v • d • e Narragansett Bay Islands Aquidneck Island · Conanicut Island · Prudence Island · Patience Island · Hog Island · Dutch Island · Coaster's Harbor Island · Cornelius Island · Despair Island · Dyer Island · Fox Island · Goat Island · Gould Island · Greene Island · Hope Island · Lime Rock · Rabbit Island · Rock Island · Rose Island · Starvegoat Island · Whale Rock Major rivers Blackstone River · Pawtuxet River · Providence River · Taunton River · Sakonnet River · Seekonk River Cities & towns Providence · Newport · Cranston · Warwick · East Providence · Barrington · Bristol · East Greenwich · Jamestown · Middletown · Narragansett · North Kingstown . Portsmouth · Warren Bridges Newport Bridge · Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge · Mount Hope Bridge · Sakonnet River Bridge · Jamestown Bridge

Coordinates: 41°36′08″N 71°15′01″W / 41.60222°N 71.25028°W / 41.60222; -71.25028