Misquamicut, Rhode Island

Census-designated place and Village in Rhode Island, United States

Misquamicut

Census-designated place and Village

Panorama of Misquamicut State Beach (2008)

Beach house located in Misquamicut (2009)

Pleasant View Inn (2010)

Misquamicut

Location in the state of Rhode Island

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Misquamicut

Misquamicut (the United States)

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Coordinates: 41°19′26″N 71°49′19″W﻿ / ﻿41.32389°N 71.82194°W﻿ / 41.32389; -71.82194
Country|  United States
State|  Rhode Island
County| Washington
Town|  Westerly
Area

[1]

• Total

| 1.25 sq mi (3.23 km2)
• Land| 1.17 sq mi (3.04 km2)
• Water| 0.07 sq mi (0.19 km2)
Elevation

| 3 ft (1 m)
Population

(2020)[2]

• Total

| 434
• Density| 369.99/sq mi (142.89/km2)
Time zone| UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)| UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code|

02891

Area code| 401
FIPS code| 44-46000[3]
GNIS feature ID| 1217591[4]

Misquamicut (MISS-kwahm-eh-kut[5]) is a census-designated place and fire district in southern Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. It is part of the town of Westerly.[6] The population was listed as 434 in the 2020 census.[7]

## Name

[edit]

Misquamicut is a Narragansett word meaning "Red Fish Place" or "Salmon Place".[8]

## History

[edit]

The district was once known as Pleasant View. The land was purchased from Chief Sosoa of the Montauks in 1661. The name was changed from Pleasant View to Misquamicut in 1928. The area suffered a series of devastating hurricanes that wiped out beach homes, hotels, and other structures in 1938, 1944, and 1954. A portion of the oceanfront became Misquamicut State Beach in 1959.[9]

1940s postcard

Atlantic Beach Park is a privately operated amusement center with 12 acres (49,000 m2) of land and buildings within the Misquamicut section of beachfront.[10][11][12] It lies south of Misquamicut State Beach[13] and north of Winnapaug Pond, a source of Rhode Island quahogs and bay scallops.

This section of Misquamicut was originally called "Atlantic Beach Casino".[14] It retains a carousel with antique band organ,[15][16] rides, bumper cars, a game room, and an ice cream stand.[17] More recently, miniature golf, go-carts, a batting cage, water slides, and a gift shop have been added.[18]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Misquamicut has a total area of 1.25 mi2 (3.23 km2), of which 1.17 mi2 (3.04 km2) is land and 0.075 mi2 (0.19 km2), or 6.0%, is water.[19]

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

2010| 390| | —
2020| 434| | 11.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[20]

### 2020 census

[edit]

The 2020 United States census counted 434 people, 254 households, and 120 families in Misquamicut. The population density was 370.0 per square mile (142.9/km2). There were 869 housing units at an average density of 740.8 per square mile (286.0/km2). [21][22] The racial makeup was 96.54% (419) white or European American (96.31% non-Hispanic white), 0.0% (0) black or African-American, 0.69% (3) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.46% (2) Asian, 0.0% (0) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.23% (1) from other races, and 2.07% (9) from two or more races.[23] Hispanic or Latino of any race was 1.15% (5) of the population.[24]

Of the 254 households, 10.6% had children under the age of 18; 40.6% were married couples living together; 28.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 47.2% of households consisted of individuals and 24.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[21] The average household size was 1.8 and the average family size was 2.2.[25] The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 44.2% of the population.[26]

6.0% of the population was under the age of 18, 2.5% from 18 to 24, 11.3% from 25 to 44, 35.3% from 45 to 64, and 44.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 63.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 109.7 males.[21] For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 107.1 males.[21]

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $74,375 (with a margin of error of +/- $47,378) and the median family income was $118,214 (+/- $26,394). Females had a median income of $45,536 (+/- $27,563).[27] The median income for those above 16 years old was $47,500 (+/- $32,404).[28] Approximately, 10.0% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 53.8% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those ages 65 or over.[29][30]

The ancestry was 36% Italian, 23.6% Irish, 20.9% English, 10.6% German, 4.7% Polish, 3.4% French, and 2.2% Scottish.[21]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
2. ^ "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
3. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
5. ^ Farzan, Antonia Noori. "Rhode Island pronunciation guide: 35 names that visitors and even some locals get wrong". The Providence Journal. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
6. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Misquamicut, Rhode Island
7. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Counts: Rhode Island" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. p. 11. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
8. ^ Francis Joseph O'Brien, Jr. (Moondancer) and Julianne Jennings (Strong Woman), An Introduction to the Narragansett Language: A Study of Roger Williams'  A Key into the Language of America. Newport, Rhode Island: Aquidneck Indian Council, 2001, PP. 131, 136; https://www.scribd.com/doc/299109237/Introduction-to-the-Narragansett-Language , accessed September 29th, 2017
9. ^ "Misquamicut State Beach History". State of Rhode Division of Parks & Recreation. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
10. ^ "Your Kids Will Have A Blast At This Miniature Amusement Park In Rhode Island Made Just For Them". www.onlyinyourstate.com. March 26, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
11. ^ "Rhode Island's Classic Carousels: A Seaside Tour". www.wsj.com. September 1, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
12. ^ "Amusement Parks In Rhode Island: A Huffington Post Travel Guide". www.huffpost.com. December 6, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
13. ^ Tobyne, Dan (June 15, 2016). Beachcomber's Guide to the Northeast. Down East Books. ISBN 9781608934041 - via Google Books.
14. ^ Gentile, Donald L.; Gordon, Bernard L. (April 12, 2010). Misquamicut. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781439637579 - via Google Books.
15. ^ "Atlantic Beach Park". WESTERLY RI. February 26, 2016.
16. ^ "National Carousel Association - The Atlantic Beach Park Carousel - Atlantic Beach Park Carousel". carousels.org.
17. ^ "The 7 Best Beaches in Rhode Island". www.afar.com. March 20, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
18. ^ "Things to Do in Misquamicut, Rhode Island". www.traveltips.usatoday.com. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
19. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2019". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
20. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
21. ^ a b c d e "US Census Bureau, Table DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
22. ^ "Gazetteer Files". Census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
23. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
24. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
25. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
26. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
27. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1903: MEDIAN INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
28. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S2001: EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
29. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
30. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1702: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF FAMILIES". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Misquamicut Fire District

* v
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Municipalities and communities of Washington County, Rhode Island, United States

County seat: South Kingstown

Towns|

* Charlestown
* Exeter
* Hopkinton
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Map of Rhode Island highlighting Washington County

CDPs|

* Ashaway
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* Carolina
* Charlestown
* Hope Valley
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Indian reservation|

* Narragansett reservation

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