Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick is a city in
Kent County,
Rhode Island,
United States. It is the second largest city in the state. Its mayor, since 1998, is Scott Avedisian. Founded by
Samuel Gorton in 1642, Warwick has witnessed the major events of American history. Warwick was decimated during
King Philip's War (1675-76) and was the site of the first shot fired of the
American Revolution against the
British schooner Gaspée. Warwick is also the home of
revolutionary war general
Nathaniel Greene, George Washington's second-in-command, and the
Civil War hero of the
battle of Gettysburg, General
George S. Greene.
Warwick has an airport called
T. F. Green Airport, which serves much of
Rhode Island, including
Providence. The airport also functions as a reliever for
Logan International Airport in
Boston, Massachusetts.
Warwick was founded in 1642 by
Samuel Gorton when
Narragansett Indian Chief Sachem
Miantonomi agreed to accept 144 fathoms of
Wampumpeague for what was known as "The Shawhomett Purchase". This included the present day towns of
Coventry and
West Warwick.
In 1648, Gorton was granted a Charter by
Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick. Because of this, the name of the settlement was changed from Shawomett to Warwick.
In 1772, Warwick was the scene for the first violent act against the
Crown when, in what was to be called the
Gaspée Affair, local patriots boarded the British HMS Gaspée, a revenue cutter charged with enforcing the
Stamp Act 1765 and
Townshend Acts in an area where smuggling was common, the
Narragansett Bay. It was here that the first blood of the
American Revolution was spilled when the commanding officer of the Gaspée, Lt. Duddingston, was shot in his crotch while resisting the taking of his ship. The Gaspée was stripped of all cannon and arms before being torched.
During the Revolution, Warwick Militiamen participated in the battles of
Montreal,
Quebec,
Saratoga,
Monmouth,
Trenton,
Rhode Island, and were present for the surrender at
Yorktown.
Warwick is located at (41.718114, -71.415227).
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 128.5
km² (49.6
mi²). 91.9 km² (35.5 mi²) of it is land and 36.6 km² (14.1 mi²) of it (28.46%) is water.
Now, the town is home of "TAPS Headquarters", for The Atlantic Paranormal Society. The creators, Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson purchsed a place for the headquarters a few years ago.
The following
villages are located in Warwick:
*
Hillsgrove*
Norwood*
Warwick Neck*
Conimicut*
Cowesett*
Hoxsie*
Apponaug*
Oakland Beach*
Gaspee*
Pilgrim*
Buttonwoods*
Potowomut*
Greenwood*
Pontiac (also in
Cranston)
*
Lakewood*
Pawtuxet (also in
Cranston)
*
Wildes Corner*
NausauketAs of the
census of 2000, there were 85,808 people, 35,517 households, and 22,979 families residing in the city. The
population density was 933.3/km² (2,417.2/mi²). There were 37,085 housing units at an average density of 403.3/km² (1,044.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.21%
White, 1.16%
African American, 0.25%
Native American, 1.49%
Asian, 0.02%
Pacific Islander, 0.59% from
other races, and 1.28% from two or more races.
Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 1.60% of the population.
There were 35,517 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were
married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,483, and the median income for a family was $56,225. Males had a median income of $39,455 versus $28,946 for females. The
per capita income for the city was $23,410. About 4.2% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.
*
City of Warwick, Rhode Island Website*http://www.warwickpd.org/ City Of Warwick Police Department
*http://www.warwickfiredept.org/ City of Warwick Fire Department
**
General History**
More in-depth account of the Gaspee Incident*
Affair of the Gaspee*
Gaspee Days*
Warwick's Dept. of Tourism*
Quahog.org This site is a guide, with a strong emphasis on history, to travel within the Ocean State. Very cool site, with information on such sights as the
Condom Hut,
Florence Nightingale's Nursing Cap, and the
famous Nibbles Woodaway, the Big Blue Bug
