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Woonsocket

 
Dictionary: Woon·sock·et   (wūn-sŏk'ĭt, wūn'sŏk'-) pronunciation
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A city of northern Rhode Island north-northwest of Providence near the Massachusetts border. Settled c. 1666, it has long been a manufacturing center. Population: 43,900.

 

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Columbia Encyclopedia: Woonsocket
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Woonsocket (wūnsŏk'ĭt, wʊn-), city (1990 pop. 43,877), Providence co., N R.I., on both sides of the Blackstone River; settled c.1666, set off from Cumberland 1867, inc. as a city 1888. The demise of the textile industry, which long shaped the city, hurt its economy, but it remains a manufacturing center. Worsted weaving and package dyeing are still carried on, and electronic equipment, plastics, and sporting goods are produced. Of interest are the river falls in the center of the city and the unusual potholes worn by swirling stones in the riverbed. Also in Woonsocket are a library in which Abraham Lincoln spoke (1860), the John Arnold House (1712), and the Woonsocket Company Mill (1830s), a complex of industrial buildings and worker housing.

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OVERCAST		 Temperature: 48°F / 8°C
RealFeel Temperature™: 50°F / 10°C
Humidity: 61%
Winds: SSW 5 mph / 8 kmh
Pressure: 30.15"
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AccuWeather® 5-Day Forecast

Wednesday HI:  55°F / 12°C
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Friday HI:  48°F / 8°C
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Last updated December 02, 2009 11:49 (EST)

Wikipedia: Woonsocket, Rhode Island
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"Woonsocket" redirects here. For the city in South Dakota, see Woonsocket, South Dakota.
City of Woonsocket
—  City  —
Downtown Woonsocket
Location of Woonsocket in Rhode Island
Coordinates: 42°00′30″N 71°30′58″W / 42.00833°N 71.51611°W / 42.00833; -71.51611
Country United States
State Rhode Island
County Providence
Incorporated (town) 1867
Incorporated (city) 1888
Government
 - Type Mayor-council
 - Mayor Susan D. Menard
Area
 - Total 7.96 sq mi (20.62 km2)
 - Land 7.7 sq mi (20.0 km2)
 - Water 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km2)
Elevation 184 ft (56 m)
Population (2005)
 - Total 44,328
 - Density 5,749/sq mi (2,220/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 02895
Area code(s) 401
FIPS code 44-80780[1]
GNIS feature ID 1219339[2]
Website www.ci.woonsocket.ri.us

Woonsocket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 43,224 at the 2000 census, making it the sixth largest city in the state. Woonsocket lies directly south of the Massachusetts border.

The city is the corporate headquarters of CVS Caremark, a leading integrated pharmacy services provider. It is also home to Landmark Medical Center, St John the Baptist Union, the Museum of Work and Culture and the American-French Genealogical Society.[3] Woonsocket's oldest radio station, WOON (originally WWON), signed on in 1946 & continues to provide local service to Woonsocket. Its former sister station WWON-FM is now hip-hop radio station WWKX 106.3 "Hot 106" is licensed to broadcast from Woonsocket. Radio Station WNRI, established in 1954, broadcasts 24 hours daily (albeit on a limited nighttime signal of 18 watts) from its Diamond Hill Road studios.

Woonsocket is located at 42°0′6″N 71°30′26″W / 42.00167°N 71.50722°W / 42.00167; -71.50722 (42.001731, -71.507223).[4] The city is located approximately 15 miles North of Providence.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.0 square miles (20.6 km²), of which, 7.7 square miles (20.0 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (3.14%) is water. Woonsocket is drained by the Blackstone River. Adjacent communities include: Blackstone, Bellingham, Cumberland, and North Smithfield.

Contents

Demographics

Woonsocket City Hall, built in 1856

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 43,224 people, 17,750 households, and 10,774 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,608.8 people per square mile (2,164.6/km²). There were 18,757 housing units at an average density of 2,433.9/sq mi (939.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.14% White, 4.44% African American, 0.32% Native American, 4.06% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.86% from other races, and 3.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.32% of the population.

Woonsocket is a part of the Providence metropolitan area, which has an estimated population of 1,622,520.

There were 17,750 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,819, and the median income for a family was $38,353. Males had a median income of $31,465 versus $24,638 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,223. About 16.7% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.3% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.

According to the 2000 census, 46.1% of Woonsocket’s population is identified as being of French or French-Canadian ethnic heritage. The city has referred to itself as La ville la plus française aux États-Unis – the most French city in the United States.[5]

History

Woonsocket French Quarter
Woonsocket Medical Corporation, founded in 1839 by Dr. Seth Arnold
Woonsocket in 1855
See also: Historic mill villages of Woonsocket

Before the arrival of European settlers in northern Rhode Island during the 17th century, today's Woonsocket region was inhabited by three Native American tribes — the Nipmucs (Cowesett), Wampanoags, and Narragansetts [6]. In 1661, the English theologian Roger Williams purchased the area from the "Coweset and Nipmucks," and in a letter referred to modern day Woonsocket as "Niswosakit."[7] Other possible derivations to the name include several Nipmuc geographic names from nearby Massachusetts. These include Woonksechocksett, from Worcester County meaning "fox country," and Wannashowatuckqut, also from Worcester County, meaning "at the fork of the river".[8] Another theory states Woonsocket derives from "thunder mist," in reference to the largest waterfall on the Blackstone River, which lies at the center of the city. However, another theory proposes the city was named after Woonsocket Hill in neighboring North Smithfield. The term "thunder mist" is used by several local businesses, including Thundermist Health Center.[9] . There is also a series of novellettes titled "Thundermist" (Thundermist 04167 and A Week Without Sunshine) by local author David Lafleche.

Woonsocket's fortunes expanded in the 19th century as Industrial Revolution took root in nearby Pawtucket. With the Blackstone River providing ample water power, the region became a prime location for textile mills. Woonsocket was officially incorporated as a town in 1867 with the integration of three villages, and it was incorporated as city in 1888 following the integration of three additional industrial villages.[10]

After the Great Depression, the local textile industry closed. The city's fortunes were revived in World War II, when it became a center of fabric manufacturing for the war effort. In the postwar years, the Woonsocket economy adjusted to a mix of manufacturing, retail, technology and financial services operations.[10]

Beginning in 1977, Woonsocket became home to Autumnfest, an annual cultural festival that takes place on Columbus Day Weekend at World War II Veteran's Memorial State Park. It has become one of the city's most popular events.[11]

Properties and districts in Woonsocket listed on National Register of Historic Places

Stadium Building
Woonsocket Civil War Monument
Smithfield Friends Meeting House, Parsonage & Cemetery
L'Eglise du Precieux Sang

Notable residents

U.S. Attorney General Howard McGrath
Nap Lajoie, member of Baseball Hall of Fame

References

Flag of Rhode Island.svg 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. ^ "About Woonsocket". City of Woonsocket. http://www.ci.woonsocket.ri.us/backgnd.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-27. 
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  5. ^ Dani Safford (September 13, 2008). "Woonsocket’s Autumnfest draws thousands". The Woonsocket Call. http://www.woonsocketcall.com/content/view/51323/112/. Retrieved 2009-01-28. 
  6. ^ Woonsocket, Rhode Island - My Home Town - History
  7. ^ Walter Nebiker, The History of North Smithfield (New England History Press: Somersworth, NH: 1976), 12-13.
  8. ^ "“Nipmuc place names of New England". native tach.org. http://www.nativetech.org/Nipmuc/placenames/mainmass.html. Retrieved 2008-04-12. 
  9. ^ ""Thundermist Health Center"". 2008-09-24. http://www.thundermisthealth.org/. Retrieved 2008-09-24. 
  10. ^ a b Erik Eclison. "Growth of an Industrial City". Woonsocket: My Hometown on the Web. http://www.woonsocket.org/industrial.html. Retrieved 2009-01-27. 
  11. ^ Philip Marcelo (October 9, 2007). "Woonsocket’s Autumnfest draws thousands". Providence JournalWoonsocket: My Hometown on the Web. http://www.projo.com/news/content/NO_WOONSOCKET_AUTUMFEST_10-09-07_A17D20J.2c2a241.html. Retrieved 2009-01-28. 

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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/.  Read more
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