Middletown, Rhode Island | |
|---|---|
 Dunlap-Wheeler Park | |
 Location of Middletown in Newport County, Rhode Island | |
| Coordinates:41°30′42″N71°17′12″W / 41.51167°N 71.28667°W /41.51167; -71.28667 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Rhode Island |
| County | Newport |
| Incorporated | 1743 |
| Government | |
| • Town Council | President Paul M. Rodrigues Vice President Thomas Welch Peter Connerton Christopher Logan Emily Tessier Dennis Turano Barbara A. VonVillas |
| Area | |
• Total | 14.9 sq mi (38.7 km2) |
| • Land | 13.0 sq mi (33.6 km2) |
| • Water | 2.0 sq mi (5.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 148 ft (45 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 17,075 |
| • Density | 1,320/sq mi (508/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code | 02842 |
| Area code | 401 |
| FIPS code | 44-45460[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1220063[1] |
| Website | middletownri |
Middletown is atown inNewport County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 17,075 at the2020 census. It lies to the south ofPortsmouth and to the north ofNewport onAquidneck Island, hence the name "Middletown."
Issues including unjust taxation and a growing population caused the freeholders living in the northern section of Newport to petition the General Assembly for independence. As a result of the petition, the land that Middletown occupies was set apart in 1731. The town was incorporated in 1743.[3]
During the 1980s, large sections of East Main Road and West Main Road running through Middletown began to be commercialized, and by the late 1990s, the area had become Aquidneck Island's central business district.
Today, the community boasts a strong business district that relies heavily onNaval Station Newport and defense industries.
Middletown also maintains its "small-town charm" with scenic vistas of the Atlantic Ocean, world-class beaches, hiking trails and open spaces.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 14.9 square miles (38.7 km2), of which 13.0 square miles (33.6 km2) is land and 2.0 square miles (5.1 km2; 13.18%) is water. Middletown was known as the "farming community" of Aquidneck Island. Today most of the developed land is located towards the western part of the town, while what is left of its rural heritage is primarily towards the east. Middletown also has several beaches.
Thecensus-designated place ofNewport East and part of theMelville CDP lie within the town boundaries.
Middletown is home toSachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge, as well as public two beaches and a myriad of open space and recreational opportunities:[4]
Parks in Middletown include:[5]
The town is governed by a seven-memberTown Council, electedat-large in non-partisan elections. Executive authority is vested in an appointedtown administrator (on thecouncil–manager model). The town also elects a non-partisanSchool Committee.
Middletown forms part ofRhode Island's 1st congressional district, represented byDemocratGabe Amo. At the state level, Middletown is part of one state senate and three state house districts. The 12thRhode Island Senate district, which also includes parts of Newport,Little Compton andTiverton, is held by DemocratLouis P. DiPalma. In theRhode Island House of Representatives, Middletown forms part of the 72nd, 73rd, and 74th districts. The 72nd, which also includes a portion of Portsmouth, is represented by DemocratTerri Cortvriend. The 73rd, which is predominantly Newport, is held by Democrat Marvin Abney. The 74th, shared between Middletown andJamestown, is represented by DemocratAlex Finkelman.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 840 | — | |
| 1800 | 913 | 8.7% | |
| 1810 | 976 | 6.9% | |
| 1820 | 949 | −2.8% | |
| 1830 | 915 | −3.6% | |
| 1840 | 891 | −2.6% | |
| 1850 | 830 | −6.8% | |
| 1860 | 1,012 | 21.9% | |
| 1870 | 971 | −4.1% | |
| 1880 | 1,139 | 17.3% | |
| 1890 | 1,154 | 1.3% | |
| 1900 | 1,457 | 26.3% | |
| 1910 | 1,708 | 17.2% | |
| 1920 | 2,004 | 17.3% | |
| 1930 | 2,499 | 24.7% | |
| 1940 | 3,379 | 35.2% | |
| 1950 | 7,382 | 118.5% | |
| 1960 | 12,675 | 71.7% | |
| 1970 | 29,290 | 131.1% | |
| 1980 | 17,216 | −41.2% | |
| 1990 | 19,460 | 13.0% | |
| 2000 | 17,334 | −10.9% | |
| 2010 | 16,150 | −6.8% | |
| 2020 | 17,075 | 5.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7][8] | |||
At the 2020 census, there were 17,075 people and 7,237 households in the town. The population density was 1,344.5 inhabitants per square mile (519.1/km2). There were 8,029 housing units in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 78.48%White, 4.98%African American, 0.41%Native American, 3.4%Asian, 0.13%Pacific Islander, 3.36% fromother races, and 9.24% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 7.92% of the population.
There were 7,237 households, of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 27% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 20.5% had a male householder with no spouse present. Of all households, 13.9% were made up of individuals, and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.86.
Of the population, 18.9% were under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.2 years.
Themedian household income was $97,650 and the median family income was $124,713. The per capita income for the town was $56,184. About 10.0% of the population was below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
Newport State Airport, a public-usegeneral aviation airport and the only airport on Aquidneck Island, is located in Middletown.
West Main Road (RI-114) and East Main Road (RI-138) are themain roads running north–south through Middletown.
Middletown is home toSt Columba's Cricket Club, which hosts an annualcricket tournament for teams throughout theNew England area. The Newport National Golf Club is located in Middletown. The town is also home to the Middletown Islanders hockey, football, baseball, volleyball, and lacrosse teams. They also are involved withPop Warner football and cheerleading. More known as a middle school football league, Pop Warner hosts from very young ages and separates them by age.
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TheMiddletown Public School District consists of four schools serving pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. They are Aquidneck Elementary School (grades Pre-K to 3), Forest Avenue Elementary School (grades K–3), Joseph H. Gaudet Middle School (grades 4–8) andMiddletown High School (grades 9–12).
Middletown is also home to private schools, including All Saints Academy (grades K–8), a Catholic school,[9] andSt. George's School (grades 9–12).
the town uses the eight-vaned windmill of Boyd's Mill as its primary symbol
Whitehall, home of ... philosopher George Berkeley from 1729-1731
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41°32′44″N71°17′29″W / 41.54556°N 71.29139°W /41.54556; -71.29139
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