 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "West Warwick, Rhode Island" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(June 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
West Warwick, Rhode Island | |
|---|---|
 War Memorial Park West Warwick | |
 Coat of arms | |
| Nicknames: Home of W.W Wizards ,Rhode Island. | |
 Location inKent County and the state ofRhode Island. | |
| Coordinates:41°42′N71°31′W / 41.700°N 71.517°W /41.700; -71.517 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Rhode Island |
| County | Kent |
| Government | |
| • Town Council | Ward 1 – Maribeth Williamson (Democrat) Ward 2 – David Gosselin, Jr. (Democrat) Ward 3 – Jason K. Messier (Independent) Ward 4 – Jason E. Licciardi (Independent) Ward 5 – Mark Bourget (Republican) |
| Area | |
• Total | 8.1 sq mi (21.0 km2) |
| • Land | 7.9 sq mi (20.5 km2) |
| • Water | 0.19 sq mi (0.5 km2) |
| Elevation | 269 ft (82 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 31,012 |
| • Density | 3,918/sq mi (1,512.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 02893 |
| Area code | 401 |
| FIPS code | 44-78440[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1220060[1] |
| Website | www |
West Warwick is a town inKent County,Rhode Island, United States. The population was 31,012 at the2020 census.[3]
West Warwick was incorporated in 1913, making it the youngest town in the state.[4] Prior to 1913, the town, situated on the western bank of thePawtuxet River, was the population and industrial center of the larger town ofWarwick. The town split because localDemocratic politicians wanted to consolidate their power and isolate their section of town from theRepublican-dominated farmland in the east.[5]
The area that is now the town of West Warwick was the site of some of the earliesttextile mills in the United States situated along the banks of the north and south branches of thePawtuxet River.[4] These small mill villages of thePawtuxet River Valley [Wikidata] would play an important role in the early development of the textile industry in North America.Lippitt Mill, founded in 1809 by Revolutionary War heroChristopher Lippitt, was one of the first mills in the area.[6]
The 1810Lippitt Mill is on theNational Register of Historic Places, and is one of the earliesttextile mills in Rhode Island.[7] It was founded in 1809 and the current dam was constructed in 1889. The Mill is one of the earliest textile mills in Rhode Island and is one of the oldest American textile mills still used for manufacturing.[6] Another mill center,River Point, is located at the junction of the North and South branches of thePawtuxet River, and is home to several mills which have been converted to residences, and which make up theRoyal Mill Complex. The Original Bradford Soap Works, located in the Valley Queen Mill, dates back to the 1800s and is still in use today.[8]
The Station, a nightclub and music venue on Cowesett Avenue, wasdestroyed in a fire on February 20, 2003, that killed 100 people and injured 230 others.[9] The fire occurred during a concert by the rock bandGreat White, when a pyrotechnic display ignited packing foam that had been used to soundproof the building.[9] The site where the Station once stood was turned into a permanent memorial,Station Fire Memorial Park, which was opened in May 2017.[10]
In 2010, a massive rainfall caused thePawtuxet River to rise to 21 feet, which is 12 feet above flood stage which caused flooding through much of the town.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.1 square miles (21 km2), of which, 7.9 square miles (20 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) of it (2.22%) is water.
The following villages are located in West Warwick:[11]
The town is bordered by the city of Warwick on the east, the town ofCoventry on the west, the city ofCranston on the North, and town ofEast Greenwich on the south.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 15,461 | — | |
| 1930 | 17,696 | 14.5% | |
| 1940 | 18,188 | 2.8% | |
| 1950 | 19,096 | 5.0% | |
| 1960 | 21,414 | 12.1% | |
| 1970 | 24,323 | 13.6% | |
| 1980 | 27,026 | 11.1% | |
| 1990 | 29,268 | 8.3% | |
| 2000 | 29,581 | 1.1% | |
| 2010 | 29,191 | −1.3% | |
| 2020 | 31,012 | 6.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[16][17] | |||
As of thecensus of 2020, there were 31,012 people and 14,350 households in the town. The population density was 3,959.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,528.8/km2). There were 14,414 housing units in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 82.41%White, 2.97%African American, 0.56%Native American, 2.68%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 1.44% fromother races, and 3.5% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 8.62% of the population.
There were 14,350 households, out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.7% weremarried couples living together, 25% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 23.3% had a male householder with no spouse present. 16.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.68.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 15.8% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years.
The median income for a household in the town was $73,903, and the median income for a family was $89,776. Theper capita income for the town was $42,904. About 9.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 10.3% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
West Warwick has acouncil-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.
In theRhode Island Senate, West Warwick is split in its representation betweenDemocratsAdam J. Satchell (District 9) andHanna M. Gallo (District 27). At the federal level, West Warwick is included inRhode Island's 2nd congressional district and is currently represented by DemocratSeth Magaziner.
In terms of presidential politics, West Warwick has been a reliably Democratic stronghold in most elections; however, in 2016,Donald Trump became the first Republican to carry the town, albeit narrowly and with a plurality, in three decades.
| Year | GOP | DEM | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 49.89%7,086 | 47.86%6,797 | 2.25%320 |
| 2020 | 46.38%6,493 | 51.67%7,234 | 0.02%274 |
| 2016 | 47.56%5,724 | 46.03%5,540 | 6.41%772 |
| 2012 | 37.45%4,332 | 60.14%6,956 | 2.41%279 |
| 2008 | 38.08%4,735 | 60.11%7,475 | 1.81%225 |
| 2004 | 40.42%4,654 | 57.84%6,660 | 1.74%200 |
| 2000 | 31.34%3,365 | 63.34%6,801 | 5.32%571 |
| 1996 | 22.64%2,434 | 62.58%6,727 | 14.78%1,589 |
| 1992 | 28.02%3,792 | 45.32%6,134 | 26.66%3,609 |
| 1988 | 46.20%5,288 | 53.42%6,114 | 0.38%43 |
Municipalities and communities ofKent County, Rhode Island,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| City |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDP | ||
| Villages | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
