West Warwick

West Warwick, Rhode Island
—  Town  —
War Memorial Park West Warwick
Location of West Warwick in Rhode Island
Coordinates: 41°42′13″N 71°31′7″W / 41.70361°N 71.51861°W / 41.70361; -71.51861
Country	United States
State	Rhode Island
County	Kent
Area
- Total	8.1 sq mi (21.0 km2)
- Land	7.9 sq mi (20.5 km2)
- Water	0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)
Elevation	151 ft (46 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	29,581
- Density	3,728.7/sq mi (1,439.7/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	02893
Area code(s)	401
FIPS code	44-78440[1]
GNIS feature ID	1220060[2]

West Warwick is a town in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 29,581 at the 2000 census.

West Warwick was incorporated in 1913, making it the youngest town in the state. Prior to 1913, the town, situated on the western bank of the Pawtuxet River, was the population and industrial center of the larger town of Warwick. The town split because local Democratic politicians wanted to consolidate their power and isolate their section of town from the Republican-dominated farmland in the east.^[3]

History

The area that is now the town of West Warwick was the site of some of the earliest textile mills in the United States situated along the banks of the north and south branches of the Pawtuxet River. These small mill villages would play an important role in the early development of the textile industry in North America.

On February 20, 2003, The Station nightclub fire was caused by pyrotechnics used indoors during a Great White concert. The fire killed 100 patrons. The fire occurred in a single-story wooden building that was more than 70 years old. It had previously served as an Italian restaurant, and during World War II was a popular hangout for sailors from nearby Quonset Point Naval Air Station.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.1 square miles (21.0 km²), of which, 7.9 square miles (20.5 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (2.22%) is water. Geographical location: 41.69755 North, 71.51833 West.

The following villages are located in West Warwick:

• Arctic, formerly known as Jericho, in the center of West Warwick where most of the town municipal buildings are located
• Centerville
• Clyde
• Crompton
• Lippitt, home to the historic Lippitt Mill, which was constructed in 1809
• Natick, a neighborhood in the northeast section of the town. It was originally a predominantly Italian neighborhood. Natick was a village based on the operation of the B.B. and R. Knight mills which were located along the west bank of the Pawtuxet River. The village also was involved with the Rhode Island textile strike of 1922 when the employees barricaded the managers inside the mill and bombarded them with bricks and other items. Governor Emory J. SanSoucy sent the state militia to Natick to end the rioting at the mills. According to the Pawtuxet Valley Times, when the troops arrived in Brown Square in Natick they were met by a mob pelting them with rocks. This was ended when Rev. Achilles Tirrochi of St. Josephs came out of the rectory and pleaded with the crowd to go home. His warning was headed. A few days later the strikers reached an agreement and work at the mills was resumed. on July 4, 1942 the Natick Mills burned to the ground. Natick was also, for a short time, the home of a potential saint. C. 1910 Alfred Bessette was in desperate need of employment. He secured a job as a spindle operator in the Natick mill and took up residence with his three nieces on Fiume street. C. 1920 Alfred was professed to the brother hood and became known as Br. Andre. Br. Andre was a great visionary and commisioned and oversaw the construction of St. Joseph's basilica in Montreal. After his death in 1937, many miracles of healing have been attributed to his name. In 1988 Pope John Paul II beatified him as Bl. Br. Andre Bessette.
• Phenix, in the northwest corner of the town, was a mainly Portuguese area.
• River Point, home to the historic Royal Mills and to Horgan Elementary
• Wescott, in northern West Warwick, home to the Wescott train crossing

Demographics

Historic Centerville Mill

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 29,581 people, 12,498 households, and 7,698 families residing in the town. The population density was 3,728.7 people per square mile (1,440.3/km²). There were 13,186 housing units at an average density of 1,662.1/sq mi (642.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.78% White, 1.11% African American, 0.35% Native American, 1.42% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.44% from other races, and 1.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.10% of the population.

There were 12,498 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 10 females there were 99.7 males. For every 10 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $39,505, and the median income for a family was $47,674. Males had a median income of $35,128 versus $26,720 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,250. About 9.2% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.9% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

West Warwick has a council-manager form of government. There are five town councilors, one for each of the town's wards. Each is elected to a two-year term.

References

Rhode Island portal

1. ^ ^{a b} "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. ^ West Warwick, Rhode Island -- Past.

External links

• Official West Warwick, Rhode Island Web Site
• General History of Warwick, Rhode Island
• http://www.elocallink.tv/vp2/vp6_brain.php?loc=/clients3/ri/westwarwick/city-vp3.php&qstring=movie%3Dmv0%26spons%3Dz

• West Warwick, Rhode Island is at coordinates 41°42′14″N 71°31′07″W / 41.70375°N 71.518579°W / 41.70375; -71.518579 (West Warwick, Rhode Island)Coordinates: 41°42′14″N 71°31′07″W / 41.70375°N 71.518579°W / 41.70375; -71.518579 (West Warwick, Rhode Island)

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