Bristol County | |
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_State_House.jpg) Bristol County Courthouse in Bristol | |
 Show Bristol County Show Rhode Island Show the United States | |
| Coordinates:41°42′N71°17′W / 41.70°N 71.28°W /41.70; -71.28 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Rhode Island |
| Region | New England |
| Metro area | Providence |
| Formed | February 17, 1747; 278 years ago (1747-02-17) |
| Named after | Bristol, England |
| County town | Bristol |
| Largest town | Bristol |
| Incorporated municipalities | 3 towns |
| Area | |
• Total | 45 sq mi (120 km2) |
| • Land | 24 sq mi (62 km2) |
| • Water | 21 sq mi (54 km2) 46% |
| Highest elevation | 221 ft (67 m) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 50,793 |
| • Density | 1,128.7/sq mi (435.8/km2) |
| GDP | |
| • Total | $2.286 billion (2022) |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code format | 028xx |
| Area code | 401 |
| FIPS code | 44-001 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1219777 |
| Congressional district | 1st |
Bristol County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofRhode Island. As of the2020 census, the population was 50,793,[4] making it the least populous county in Rhode Island. In terms of land area, it is thethird-smallest county in the United States, at only 25 square miles (65 km2). The county was created in 1747 when it was separated fromBristol County, Massachusetts.[5] Bristol County is included in theProvidence metropolitan area, which in turn constitutes a portion of theGreater Boston area.
The county was formed by the transfer of part ofBristol County, Massachusetts, to theColony of Rhode Island in 1746, having been the subject of a long-running border dispute.[6]
The original county was part of thePlymouth Colony and named after its "shire town" (county seat), what is nowBristol, Rhode Island. The new Rhode Island county was formed in 1746 with the full modern territory of Bristol, Barrington, and Warren.[7]
SeeBristol County, Massachusetts, for later land transfers between Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 45 square miles (120 km2), of which 24 square miles (62 km2) is land and 21 square miles (54 km2) (46%) is water.[8] It is the smallest county in Rhode Island. In land area only (water area omitted), it is the third-smallest county in the United States, followingKalawao County, Hawaii andNew York County, New York (Manhattan).[citation needed] The highest point in the county isMount Hope, inBristol, which stands 217 feet (66 m) above sea level.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 3,211 | — | |
| 1800 | 3,801 | 18.4% | |
| 1810 | 5,072 | 33.4% | |
| 1820 | 5,637 | 11.1% | |
| 1830 | 5,446 | −3.4% | |
| 1840 | 6,476 | 18.9% | |
| 1850 | 8,514 | 31.5% | |
| 1860 | 8,907 | 4.6% | |
| 1870 | 9,421 | 5.8% | |
| 1880 | 11,394 | 20.9% | |
| 1890 | 11,428 | 0.3% | |
| 1900 | 13,144 | 15.0% | |
| 1910 | 17,602 | 33.9% | |
| 1920 | 23,113 | 31.3% | |
| 1930 | 25,089 | 8.5% | |
| 1940 | 25,548 | 1.8% | |
| 1950 | 29,079 | 13.8% | |
| 1960 | 37,146 | 27.7% | |
| 1970 | 45,937 | 23.7% | |
| 1980 | 46,942 | 2.2% | |
| 1990 | 48,859 | 4.1% | |
| 2000 | 50,648 | 3.7% | |
| 2010 | 49,875 | −1.5% | |
| 2020 | 50,793 | 1.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11] 1990–2000[12] 2010–2019[13] | |||
As of the2000 United States census,[14] there were 50,648 people, 19,033 households, and 13,361 families living in the county. The population density was 2,052 inhabitants per square mile (792/km2). There were 19,881 housing units at an average density of 805 per square mile (311/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.81%White, 0.69%Black orAfrican American, 0.16%Native American, 1%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.3% fromother races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Of the population 1.13% wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 24.7% were ofPortuguese, 18.6%Italian, 12.4%Irish, 10.5%English and 5.9%French ancestry. 85.4% spokeEnglish, 10.4%Portuguese and 1.3%Spanish as their first language. The United States Census Bureau reported Bristol County as being one of two counties in the United States with a plurality of people ofPortuguese ancestry[15] (the other being contiguousBristol County, Massachusetts).
There were 19,033 households, out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% weremarried couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. Of all households 25.10% were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.90% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $50,737, and the median income for a family was $63,114. Males had a median income of $41,902 versus $28,985 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $26,503. About 4.40% of families and 6.30% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 6.20% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.
As of the2010 United States census, there were 49,875 people, 19,150 households, and 12,750 families living in the county.[16] The population density was 2,064.0 inhabitants per square mile (796.9/km2). There were 20,850 housing units at an average density of 862.8 per square mile (333.1/km2).[17] The racial makeup of the county was 95.7% white, 1.4% Asian, 0.8% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.0% of the population.[16] The largest ancestry groups were:[18]
24.8% Portuguese
22.2% Irish
21.0% Italian
14.5% English
9.8% French
8.1% German
4.4% French Canadian
4.3% Polish
2.9% Scottish 2.7% American
2.4% Swedish
2.0% Scotch-Irish
1.5% Greek
1.4% RussianOf the 19,150 households, 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.4% were non-families, and 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.99. The median age was 42.9 years.[16]
The median income for a household in the county was $68,333 and the median income for a family was $87,781. Males had a median income of $59,725 versus $44,060 for females. The per capita income for the county was $35,588. About 3.5% of families and 6.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.[19]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 10,048 | 35.46% | 17,458 | 61.61% | 829 | 2.93% |
| 2020 | 9,745 | 34.30% | 18,050 | 63.52% | 620 | 2.18% |
| 2016 | 8,965 | 35.19% | 14,609 | 57.35% | 1,901 | 7.46% |
| 2012 | 9,231 | 37.41% | 14,974 | 60.68% | 471 | 1.91% |
| 2008 | 9,260 | 35.75% | 16,162 | 62.39% | 483 | 1.86% |
| 2004 | 9,855 | 39.85% | 14,448 | 58.42% | 429 | 1.73% |
| 2000 | 8,375 | 35.99% | 13,424 | 57.68% | 1,473 | 6.33% |
| 1996 | 6,988 | 32.25% | 12,257 | 56.56% | 2,426 | 11.19% |
| 1992 | 8,208 | 32.95% | 11,414 | 45.82% | 5,289 | 21.23% |
| 1988 | 10,626 | 48.56% | 11,168 | 51.04% | 89 | 0.41% |
| 1984 | 11,635 | 55.18% | 9,386 | 44.52% | 63 | 0.30% |
| 1980 | 8,508 | 38.93% | 9,851 | 45.08% | 3,493 | 15.98% |
| 1976 | 10,131 | 47.29% | 11,228 | 52.41% | 66 | 0.31% |
| 1972 | 12,009 | 54.62% | 9,928 | 45.16% | 48 | 0.22% |
| 1968 | 7,403 | 38.01% | 11,561 | 59.36% | 511 | 2.62% |
| 1964 | 4,466 | 23.79% | 14,306 | 76.21% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 7,537 | 40.44% | 11,099 | 59.56% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 10,070 | 59.88% | 6,748 | 40.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 8,468 | 50.44% | 8,313 | 49.51% | 8 | 0.05% |
| 1948 | 5,343 | 41.16% | 7,562 | 58.25% | 77 | 0.59% |
| 1944 | 4,919 | 43.83% | 6,287 | 56.02% | 16 | 0.14% |
| 1940 | 5,314 | 47.09% | 5,967 | 52.88% | 3 | 0.03% |
| 1936 | 4,867 | 45.65% | 5,327 | 49.96% | 468 | 4.39% |
| 1932 | 3,833 | 44.04% | 4,775 | 54.87% | 95 | 1.09% |
| 1928 | 3,780 | 48.01% | 4,080 | 51.82% | 13 | 0.17% |
| 1924 | 4,076 | 60.57% | 2,500 | 37.15% | 153 | 2.27% |
| 1920 | 3,692 | 68.80% | 1,569 | 29.24% | 105 | 1.96% |
| 1916 | 1,574 | 53.54% | 1,292 | 43.95% | 74 | 2.52% |
| 1912 | 1,126 | 41.78% | 1,077 | 39.96% | 492 | 18.26% |
| 1908 | 1,606 | 61.79% | 899 | 34.59% | 94 | 3.62% |
| 1904 | 1,457 | 59.08% | 963 | 39.05% | 46 | 1.87% |
| 1900 | 1,273 | 61.20% | 727 | 34.95% | 80 | 3.85% |
| 1896 | 1,321 | 72.11% | 424 | 23.14% | 87 | 4.75% |
| 1892 | 1,107 | 53.09% | 905 | 43.41% | 73 | 3.50% |
| 1888 | 981 | 55.58% | 703 | 39.83% | 81 | 4.59% |
| 1884 | 987 | 57.25% | 654 | 37.94% | 83 | 4.81% |
| 1880 | 1,039 | 69.54% | 443 | 29.65% | 12 | 0.80% |
| 1864 | 780 | 63.47% | 449 | 36.53% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1844 | 4,237 | 45.52% | 5,071 | 54.47% | 1 | 0.01% |
| 1840 | 3,792 | 46.39% | 4,382 | 53.61% | 0 | 0.00% |
Since 1928, Bristol County has leanedDemocratic, only voting forRepublicans in national landslide elections after that. The county has voted Democratic in every presidential election since 1984, often by margins of over 20 points.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 34.7%7,134 | 61.8%12,724 | 3.5%717 |
| 2018 | 32.0%6,772 | 58.1%12,316 | 9.9%2,091 |
| 2014 | 26.21%4,806 | 39.88%7,312 | 33.91%6,218 |
| 2010 | 34.37%6,796 | 19.98%3,950 | 45.64%9,025 |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 9,888 | 35.97% | 17,552 | 63.85% | 49 | 0.18% |
| 2018 | 7,757 | 36.51% | 13,441 | 63.26% | 48 | 0.23% |
| 2012 | 8,390 | 36.51% | 14,556 | 63.35% | 32 | 0.14% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 8,213 | 30.02% | 19,106 | 69.83% | 40 | 0.15% |
| 2014 | 4,940 | 27.71% | 12,856 | 72.12% | 29 | 0.16% |
The followingtowns are located in Bristol County:
There are two school districts in the county:Barrington Public Schools andBristol-Warren Regional School District.[24]
Places adjacent to Bristol County, Rhode Island | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofBristol County, Rhode Island,United States | ||
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| Other | |
