Smithfield, Rhode Island: Difference between revisions
→History: Revolutionary Solider |
|||
| Line 83: | Line 83: | ||
==History== |
==History== |
||
[[Image:GreenvilleBank.JPG|thumb|175px|left|Greenville Bank at the turn of the twentieth century]] |
[[Image:GreenvilleBank.JPG|thumb|175px|left|Greenville Bank at the turn of the twentieth century]] |
||
The area comprising modern-day Smithfield was first settled in 1636 by several [[United Kingdom|British]] colonists, including [[John Steere]] as a farming community and named after [[Smithfield, London]]. The area was within the boundaries of [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]] until 1731 when Smithfield was incorporated as a separate town. Chief Justice [[Peleg Arnold]] lived in early Smithfield, and his 1690 home stands today. There was an active [[Quaker]] community in early 18th century Smithfield that extended along the Great Road, from what is today Woonsocket, north into south [[Uxbridge, Massachusetts]]. This Quaker community, and its members, became influential in the [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolition movement]], with members such as [[Effingham Capron]] and [[Abby Kelley Foster]], and also gave rise to other Quaker settlements including one at [[Adams, Massachusetts]] where [[Susan B. Anthony]] was born as an early member. [[Elizabeth Buffum Chace]] is a well known person from Smithfield who was influential in both abolition of slavery, and the women's rights movement. In the 19th century several mills were built in the town. In the mid-19th century the towns of [[North Smithfield, Rhode Island]], and [[Lincoln, Rhode Island]], became separate towns. The colonial ghost town of [[Hanton City]] is located within the boundaries of present-day Smithfield, but was a completely separate community in the eighteenth century. |
The area comprising modern-day Smithfield was first settled in 1636 by several [[United Kingdom|British]] colonists, including [[John Steere]] as a farming community and named after [[Smithfield, London]]. The area was within the boundaries of [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]] until 1731 when Smithfield was incorporated as a separate town. Chief Justice [[Peleg Arnold]] lived in early Smithfield, and his 1690 home stands today. There was an active [[Quaker]] community in early 18th century Smithfield that extended along the Great Road, from what is today Woonsocket, north into south [[Uxbridge, Massachusetts]]. This Quaker community, and its members, became influential in the [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolition movement]], with members such as [[Effingham Capron]] and [[Abby Kelley Foster]], and also gave rise to other Quaker settlements including one at [[Adams, Massachusetts]] where [[Susan B. Anthony]] was born as an early member. [[Elizabeth Buffum Chace]] is a well known person from Smithfield who was influential in both abolition of slavery, and the women's rights movement. In the 19th century several mills were built in the town. In the mid-19th century the towns of [[North Smithfield, Rhode Island]], and [[Lincoln, Rhode Island]], became separate towns. The colonial ghost town of [[Hanton City]] is located within the boundaries of present-day Smithfield, but was a completely separate community in the eighteenth century. A Revolutionary soldier, from the Smithfield side of the Massachusetts border, Captain James Buxton, ended up as a Massachusetts militiaman and [[Continental Army]] veteran, who was deeded 300 acres in Worcester County by Governor [[John Hancock]]. For this reason Buxton was lost to the history of [[Rhode Island]] Revolutionary soldiers.(see [[South Uxbridge]] history}. Buxton served at [[Valley Forge]] among other battles. |
||
==Education== |
==Education== |
||
Revision as of 06:30, 1 February 2014
Smithfield, Rhode Island | |
|---|---|
 Location of Smithfield in Providence County, Rhode Island | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Rhode Island |
| County | Providence |
| Area | |
| • Total | 27.8 sq mi (71.9 km2) |
| • Land | 26.6 sq mi (68.9 km2) |
| • Water | 1.2 sq mi (3.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 400 ft (122 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 21,430 |
| • Density | 805.6/sq mi (311.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 02828, 02917 |
| Area code | 401 |
| FIPS code | 44-66200Template:GR |
| GNIS feature ID | 1219817Template:GR |
| Website | http://smithfieldri.com/ |
Smithfield is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. It includes the historic villages of Esmond, Georgiaville, Mountaindale, Hanton City, Stillwater and Greenville. The population was 21,430 at the 2010 census.
History
The area comprising modern-day Smithfield was first settled in 1636 by several British colonists, including John Steere as a farming community and named after Smithfield, London. The area was within the boundaries of Providence until 1731 when Smithfield was incorporated as a separate town. Chief Justice Peleg Arnold lived in early Smithfield, and his 1690 home stands today. There was an active Quaker community in early 18th century Smithfield that extended along the Great Road, from what is today Woonsocket, north into south Uxbridge, Massachusetts. This Quaker community, and its members, became influential in the abolition movement, with members such as Effingham Capron and Abby Kelley Foster, and also gave rise to other Quaker settlements including one at Adams, Massachusetts where Susan B. Anthony was born as an early member. Elizabeth Buffum Chace is a well known person from Smithfield who was influential in both abolition of slavery, and the women's rights movement. In the 19th century several mills were built in the town. In the mid-19th century the towns of North Smithfield, Rhode Island, and Lincoln, Rhode Island, became separate towns. The colonial ghost town of Hanton City is located within the boundaries of present-day Smithfield, but was a completely separate community in the eighteenth century. A Revolutionary soldier, from the Smithfield side of the Massachusetts border, Captain James Buxton, ended up as a Massachusetts militiaman and Continental Army veteran, who was deeded 300 acres in Worcester County by Governor John Hancock. For this reason Buxton was lost to the history of Rhode Island Revolutionary soldiers.(see South Uxbridge history}. Buxton served at Valley Forge among other battles.
Education
Bryant University, a private university with programs in business and the arts and sciences, is located in Smithfield. Smithfield contains several public elementary schools and a public high school, which was ranked 17th out of 52 high schools in Rhode Island in 2006.[1] St. Phillip's School, a private Roman Catholic academy offering education in grades K-8, is situated in Greenville.[2] Mater Ecclesiae College, a Catholic college, is also located in the town in a facility that was formerly the St. Aloysius Orphanage.[3]
Noted People
- Cyrus Aldrich, (1808–1871), born in Smithfield, United States Congressman from Minnesota[4]
- Peleg Arnold, delegate to the Continental Congress
- Sullivan Ballou, Civil War Officer and Author of the Sullivan Ballou Letter
- Elizabeth Buffum Chace, (1806–1899) activist in the Anti-Slavery, Women's Rights, and Prison Reform Movements of the mid to late 19th century
- Ronald K. Machtley, U.S. Representative
- Daniel Mowry, Jr., delegate to the Continental Congress
- James W. Nuttall, United States Army Major General who served as Deputy Director of the Army National Guard and Deputy Commander of First Army
- Arthur Steere, politician, businessman
- Don Orsillo, commentator for the Boston Red Sox on New England Sports Network(NESN)
- David Wilkinson, co-builder of Slater Mill
References
- ^ http://www.psk12.com/rating/USthreeRsphp/STATE_RI_level_High_CountyID_0.html
- ^ http://www.stphilipschool.com/
- ^ http://www.mecollege.org/
- ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Marquis Who's Who. 1967.
External links
Municipalities and communities of Providence County, Rhode Island, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other villages | ||