East Greenwich, Rhode Island

"East Greenwich" redirects here. For the town in Greater London formerly known as East Greenwich, see Greenwich Peninsula.

East Greenwich, Rhode Island
—  Town  —
Location of East Greenwich in Kent County, Rhode Island
Coordinates: 41°38′44″N 71°28′39″W
Country	United States
State	Rhode Island
County	Kent
Incorporated	1677
Government
• Type	Town Council and Manager
• Manager	William Sequino, Jr.
Area
• Total	16.71 sq mi (43.3 km2)
• Land	16.58 sq mi (42.9 km2)
• Water	0.14 sq mi (0.4 km2)
Elevation	200 ft (61 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	13,146
• Density	792.9/sq mi (306.1/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	02818
Area code(s)	401
FIPS code	44-22240
GNIS feature ID	1220085
Website	www.eastgreenwichri.com

East Greenwich is a town in and the county seat of Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 13,146 at the 2010 census. East Greenwich is the wealthiest municipality within the state of Rhode Island.

Formed in 1677 it was named for Greenwich, England. It was renamed Dedford in 1686 but reverted to its original name in 1689. In 1741 the more rural western three-quarters of the town was set off as West Greenwich, the remaining quarter of it thenceforth being called East Greenwich.

Until 1854, it was one of the five state capitals for Rhode Island. The General Assembly, when meeting in East Greenwich, used the local courthouse, which is today the town hall.

Birthplace of the Navy

On 12 June 1775, the Rhode Island General Assembly, meeting at East Greenwich, passed a resolution, which created the first formal, governmentally authorized navy in the Western Hemisphere: “It is voted and resolved, that the committee of safety be, and they are hereby, directed to charter two suitable vessels, for the use of the colony, and fit out the same in the best manner, to protect the trade of this colony... “That the largest of the said vessels be manned with eighty men, exclusive of officers; and be equipped with ten guns, four-pounders; fourteen swivel guns, a sufficient number of small arms, and all necessary warlike stores. “That the small vessel be manned with a number not exceeding thirty men. “That the whole be included in the number of fifteen hundred men, ordered to be raised in this colony... “That they receive the same bounty and pay as the land forces...”

Wasting no time, on 12 June 1775, the same day as the above resolution, Governor Nicholas Cooke signed orders addressed to “Captain Abraham Whipple, commander of the Sloop Katy, and commodore of the armed vessels employed by the government…”

A number of other towns also claim to be the birthplace of the American Navy, but none are as early, and none involve specific government authorization.

From 1802 to 1943 the East Greenwich Academy (Kent Academy), a prominent boarding school, operated in the town.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 16.71 square miles (43.3 km²), of which, 16.58 square miles (42.9 km²) is land and 0.14 square miles (0.36 km²) is water. Division Street forms the border of the town of Warwick to the north and west until Route 2. Greenwich Cove, an arm of the Greenwich Bay and mouth of the Maskerchug River, is the eastern most part of the town. Four hills roll progressively up to the border of West Greenwich, and Frenchtown Road is a rough reference to the southern boundary of North Kingstown.

Schools

Current Superintendent (2009–10): Dr.

There are six East Greenwich public schools. The schools are:

• Meadowbrook Farms Elementary (K-3)
• Frenchtown Elementary (K-3)
• George R. Hanaford School (4-5)
• James H. Eldredge School (4-5)
• Archie R. Cole Middle School (6-8)
• East Greenwich High School (9-12)

East Greenwich School Committee (2009–2010)

• Deidre S. Gifford, Chair
• Anne Palumbo, Vice Chair
• Robert J. Durant
• Jean Ann W. Guliano
• Paul Martin
• Susan M. Records
• Mary Ellen Winters

Waterfront

Many restaurants, bars, and clubs sit on the waterfront. East Greenwich Cove also has ample boat parking. There is also a public dock good for fishing and eating, and a dock with a small beach. A new park has recently been completed at the southern end of Greenwich Cove, built atop the old landfill. Across from the coast is Goddard Memorial State Park, which has many beaches including Sandy Point and has easy access from East Greenwich Cove.

The new park is called scallop town park, despite the fact it is not part of historical scallop town, another name for the waterfront in early days. The true scallop town resides from the town dock, down past the clubs to Fin's Marina. Originally being old small shanties of the local scallop fishermen. It used to be the section of East Greenwich Island which due to erosion has joined with the rest of the town. The water went up to Duke Street the waterfront today, was all marsh.

There is an account from one of the town's many historians, that during the Revolutionary war, a ship anchored in East Greenwich Cove, and rowed up to what is now Duke street and set off running to make a meeting with Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum at the Varnum armory, and then sent off to run the message to him at his home, known today as the Varnum house.

Demographics

As of the United States Census of 2000, there were 12,948 people, 4,960 households, and 3,541 families residing in the town. The population density was 781.0 people per square mile (301.5/km²). There were 5,226 housing units at an average density of 315.2 per square mile (121.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.64% White, 0.69% African American, 0.06% Native American, 2.50% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.90% of the population.

There were 4,960 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $70,063, and the median income for a family was $90,221. Males had a median income of $71,578 versus $40,934 for females. The per capita income for the town was $38,593. About 2.5% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 66 or over.

East Greenwich and the adjacent Warwick neighborhoods of Cowesett and Potowamut are served by several media outlets: East Greenwich Patch (daily), The East Greenwich Pendulum (weekly), The North East Independent (weekly) and East Greenwich magazine (monthly) also serve the area.

National Historic Places in East Greenwich

Clement Weaver House, a historic stone-ender, built 1679, is one of the oldest homes in Rhode Island

• Gen. James Mitchell Varnum House
• Armory of the Kentish Guards
• Richard Briggs Farm
• East Greenwich Historic District
• Fry's Hamlet Historic District
• Kent County Courthouse
• Massie Wireless Station
• Tillinghast Mill Site
• Tillinghast Road Historic District
• Clement Weaver-Daniel Howland House
• Col. Micah Whitmarsh House
• Windmill Cottage
• Thunder Road

References

The Drumm House - Home to the famous Drumm family

External links

• Varnum Continentals - Historic Museum & Armory
• The New England Wireless and Steam Museum
• East Greenwich Historical Preservation Society