Newport County, Rhode Island

County in Rhode Island, United States

County in Rhode Island, United States

Newport County

County

Old Colony House

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Coordinates: 41°31′N 71°16′W﻿ / ﻿41.51°N 71.26°W﻿ / 41.51; -71.26
Country|  United States
State|  Rhode Island
Region| New England
Metro area| Providence
Formed| June 22, 1703; 322 years ago (1703-06-22)
Named after| Newport, Essex
County town| Newport
Largest city| Newport
Incorporated municipalities|

6 (total)

* 1 city, 5 towns

Area

• Total

| 314 sq mi (810 km2)
• Land| 102 sq mi (260 km2)
• Water| 211 sq mi (550 km2)  67%
Highest elevation

[1]

| 326 ft (99 m)
Lowest elevation

[2]

| 0 ft (0 m)
Population

(April 1, 2020)

• Total

| 85,643
• Density| 840/sq mi (320/km2)
GDP

[3]

• Total| $7.843 billion (2022)
Time zone| UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code format|

028xx

Area code| 401
FIPS code| 44-005
GNIS feature ID| 1219779
Congressional district| 1st

Newport County is one of five counties located in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. As of the 2020 census, the population was 85,643.[4] It is also one of the seven regions of Rhode Island. The county was created in 1703.[5] Like all of the counties in Rhode Island, Newport County no longer has any governmental functions (other than as court administrative and sheriff corrections boundaries). All of those functions in Rhode Island are now carried out by the state government, or by the cities and towns of Rhode Island. Newport County is included in the Providence metropolitan area, which in turn constitutes a portion of Greater Boston.

## History

[edit]

Newport County was constituted on June 22, 1703, as one of the two original counties of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. As originally established, Newport County consisted of four towns: Portsmouth, Newport, Jamestown, and New Shoreham. In 1746–1747, two towns, Little Compton and Tiverton, were acquired from Massachusetts. In 1856, the town of Fall River was split off from Tiverton but was ceded to Massachusetts six years later in 1862 as part of the settlement of the boundary dispute between Rhode Island and Massachusetts. In 1963, the town of New Shoreham was transferred to Washington County. County government was abolished in Rhode Island in 1842 and today remains only for the purpose of delineating judicial administrative boundaries.

## Geography

[edit]

Summit of Pocasset Hill, highest point in the county

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 314 square miles (810 km2), of which 102 square miles (260 km2) is land and 211 square miles (550 km2) (67%) is water.[6]

The county consists of Aquidneck Island, Conanicut Island, Prudence Island, and the easternmost portion of the state on the mainland. The highest point in the county is Pocasset Hill, 320 feet (98 m) above sea level, located in Tiverton. The lowest elevation is at sea level.

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Bristol County \- north
* Bristol County, Massachusetts \- east
* Kent County \- northwest
* Washington County \- west

### National protected areas

[edit]

* Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge
* Touro Synagogue National Historic Site

### Major highways

[edit]

* Route 24
* Route 77
* Route 81
* Route 114
* Route 138
* Route 138A
* Route 179
* Route 214
* Route 238

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1790| 14,351| | —
1800| 14,845| | 3.4%
1810| 16,294| | 9.8%
1820| 15,771| | −3.2%
1830| 16,535| | 4.8%
1840| 16,874| | 2.1%
1850| 20,007| | 18.6%
1860| 21,896| | 9.4%
1870| 20,050| | −8.4%
1880| 24,180| | 20.6%
1890| 28,552| | 18.1%
1900| 32,599| | 14.2%
1910| 39,335| | 20.7%
1920| 42,893| | 9.0%
1930| 41,668| | −2.9%
1940| 46,696| | 12.1%
1950| 61,539| | 31.8%
1960| 81,891| | 33.1%
1970| 94,559| | 15.5%
1980| 81,383| | −13.9%
1990| 87,194| | 7.1%
2000| 85,433| | −2.0%
2010| 82,888| | −3.0%
2020| 85,643| | 3.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2019[11]

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 85,433 people, 35,228 households, and 22,228 families living in the county. The population density was 821 inhabitants per square mile (317/km2). There were 39,561 housing units at an average density of 380 per square mile (150/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.46% White, 3.73% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.09% from other races, and 1.99% from two or more races. 2.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 19.6% were of Irish, 13.2% Portuguese, 11.8% English, 9.2% Italian, 6.3% German and 5.2% French ancestry. 92.0% spoke English, 2.3% Spanish, 2.1% Portuguese and 1.3% French as their first language.

There were 35,228 households, out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.90% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.90% were non-families. 29.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.50% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $50,448, and the median income for a family was $60,610. Males had a median income of $41,630 versus $29,241 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,779. About 5.40% of families and 7.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.00% of those under age 18 and 6.70% of those age 65 or over.

### 2010 census

[edit]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 82,888 people, 34,911 households, and 21,076 families living in the county.[13] The population density was 809.6 inhabitants per square mile (312.6/km2). There were 41,796 housing units at an average density of 408.2 per square mile (157.6/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 90.2% white, 3.5% black or African American, 1.6% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.4% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.2% of the population.[13] The largest ancestry groups were:

* 25.5% Irish
* 17.4% English
* 16.5% Portuguese
* 10.9% Italian
* 10.5% German
* 9.4% French
* 5.0% Polish
* 3.9% French Canadian
* 3.3% Scottish
* 3.0% American
* 2.1% Scotch-Irish
* 1.8% Swedish
* 1.6% Puerto Rican
* 1.4% Russian
* 1.1% Dutch
* 1.0% Greek
* 1.0% Sub-Saharan African

[15]

Of the 34,911 households, 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.6% were non-families, and 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age was 43.2 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $67,239 and the median income for a family was $82,477. Males had a median income of $58,191 versus $43,623 for females. The per capita income for the county was $36,994. About 4.5% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.4% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.[16]

### 2020 census

[edit]

Newport County, Rhode Island – Racial composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. Race (NH = Non-Hispanic) | % 2020[17] | % 2010[18] | % 2000[19] | Pop 2020  | Pop 2010  | Pop 2000

|
|
|
|
|
|

White alone (NH)  | 82.8%  | 87.9%  | 90.1%  | 70,914  | 72,836  | 76,940
Black alone (NH)  | 3.1%  | 3.2%  | 3.5%  | 2,645  | 2,645  | 2,988
American Indian alone (NH)  | 0.3%  | 0.3%  | 0.4%  | 265  | 260  | 310
Asian alone (NH)  | 1.8%  | 1.5%  | 1.2%  | 1,543  | 1,263  | 1,033
Pacific Islander alone (NH)  | 0.1%  | 0.1%  | 0.1%  | 49  | 45  | 47
Other race alone (NH)  | 0.7%  | 0.3%  | 0.3%  | 599  | 274  | 243
Multiracial (NH)  | 4.7%  | 2.5%  | 1.7%  | 4,036  | 2,053  | 1,463
Hispanic/Latino (any race)  | 6.5%  | 4.2%  | 2.8%  | 5,592  | 3,512  | 2,409

The most reported ancestries in 2020 were Irish (26%), English (20.3%), Portuguese (12.4%), Italian (10.8%), German (10.8%), French (8.2%), Scottish (4.5%), Polish (3.8%), African American (2.4%), and Puerto Rican (2%).[20]

## Communities

[edit]

Map of Newport County, Rhode Island showing cities, towns, and CDPs

### City

[edit]

* Newport

### Towns

[edit]

* Jamestown
* Little Compton
* Middletown
* Portsmouth
* Tiverton

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Melville
* Newport East
* Tiverton

### Villages

[edit]

Villages have no separate corporate existence from the towns they are in.

* Adamsville
* Bridgeport
* Briggs Point
* Bristol Ferry
* Castle Hill
* Cedar Island
* Cedar Point
* Coasters Harbor
* Coddington Point
* Common Fence Point
* Corey Lane
* Despair Island
* Dutch Island
* Dyer Island
* Eagleville
* Easton Point
* Fogland Point
* Fort Adams
* Forty Steps
* Freebody Hill
* Goat Island
* Gould Island
* Grayville
* Green's End
* Hog Island
* Homestead
* Hope Island
* Hummocks
* Island Park
* Nannaquaket
* North Tiverton
* Ochre Point
* Patience Island
* Prudence Island
* Quaker Hill
* Rose Island
* Sachuest
* Sakonnet
* Tiverton Four Corners
* Tonomy Hill
* Tunipus

## Politics

[edit]

United States presidential election results for Newport County, Rhode Island[21] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 16,027  | 35.92%  | 27,332  | 61.26% | 1,259  | 2.82%
2020 | 15,722  | 34.07%  | 29,486  | 63.89% | 940  | 2.04%
2016 | 15,077  | 36.73%  | 22,851  | 55.67% | 3,117  | 7.59%
2012 | 15,202  | 38.53%  | 23,463  | 59.47% | 787  | 1.99%
2008 | 15,717  | 37.42%  | 25,479  | 60.67% | 801  | 1.91%
2004 | 16,622  | 41.12%  | 22,992  | 56.87% | 812  | 2.01%
2000 | 14,258  | 37.68%  | 20,790  | 54.94% | 2,790  | 7.37%
1996 | 11,500  | 32.77%  | 18,951  | 54.00% | 4,645  | 13.24%
1992 | 12,386  | 31.24%  | 17,584  | 44.35% | 9,674  | 24.40%
1988 | 16,923  | 48.82%  | 17,597  | 50.76% | 144  | 0.42%
1984 | 19,629  | 57.38% | 14,466  | 42.29%  | 114  | 0.33%
1980 | 14,555  | 42.37% | 13,904  | 40.47%  | 5,897  | 17.16%
1976 | 15,155  | 45.78%  | 17,768  | 53.67% | 184  | 0.56%
1972 | 19,142  | 59.75% | 12,844  | 40.09%  | 49  | 0.15%
1968 | 10,504  | 37.74%  | 16,251  | 58.39% | 1,075  | 3.86%
1964 | 7,078  | 26.35%  | 19,782  | 73.65% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 11,942  | 43.24%  | 15,677  | 56.76% | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 16,063  | 63.00% | 9,433  | 37.00%  | 2  | 0.01%
1952 | 15,136  | 57.63% | 11,116  | 42.33%  | 10  | 0.04%
1948 | 10,756  | 53.39% | 9,254  | 45.93%  | 136  | 0.68%
1944 | 9,435  | 45.29%  | 11,375  | 54.61% | 21  | 0.10%
1940 | 9,882  | 48.11%  | 10,645  | 51.82% | 14  | 0.07%
1936 | 9,358  | 48.33%  | 9,499  | 49.06% | 504  | 2.60%
1932 | 8,633  | 51.89% | 7,838  | 47.11%  | 165  | 0.99%
1928 | 8,578  | 55.85% | 6,748  | 43.94%  | 33  | 0.21%
1924 | 9,608  | 67.24% | 3,975  | 27.82%  | 706  | 4.94%
1920 | 9,319  | 76.72% | 2,228  | 18.34%  | 599  | 4.93%
1916 | 4,003  | 56.84% | 2,932  | 41.63%  | 108  | 1.53%
1912 | 2,583  | 39.92% | 2,487  | 38.44%  | 1,400  | 21.64%
1908 | 3,639  | 62.32% | 1,949  | 33.38%  | 251  | 4.30%
1904 | 3,683  | 61.05% | 2,263  | 37.51%  | 87  | 1.44%
1900 | 3,283  | 63.38% | 1,776  | 34.29%  | 121  | 2.34%
1896 | 3,415  | 71.55% | 1,092  | 22.88%  | 266  | 5.57%
1892 | 2,746  | 53.52% | 2,258  | 44.01%  | 127  | 2.48%
1888 | 2,447  | 58.82% | 1,634  | 39.28%  | 79  | 1.90%
1884 | 2,040  | 59.72% | 1,205  | 35.28%  | 171  | 5.01%
1880 | 2,064  | 67.69% | 979  | 32.11%  | 6  | 0.20%
1860 | 1,610  | 64.68% | 879  | 35.32%  | 0  | 0.00%

## Education

[edit]

School districts include:[22]

K-12:

* Middletown Public Schools
* Newport Public Schools
* Portsmouth School District
* Tiverton School District

Elementary school

* Jamestown School District
* Little Compton School District

## See also

[edit]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Newport County, Rhode Island

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Pocasset Hill, Rhode Island". peakbagger.com.
2. ^ Sea level at the Atlantic Ocean.
3. ^ "Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Newport County, RI". fred.stlouisfed.org.
4. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Newport County, Rhode Island". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
5. ^ "Rhode Island: Individual County Chronologies". Rhode Island Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2009. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
9. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
11. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
13. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
14. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
15. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
16. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
17. ^ "HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE (2020)". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau.
18. ^ "HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE (2010)". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau.
19. ^ Rhode Island: 2000 (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. pp. 8–9.
20. ^ "Detailed Races and Ethnicities in the United States and Puerto Rico: 2020 Census". census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau.
21. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
22. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Newport County, RI" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022. \- Text list

## External links

[edit]

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Newport County.

Wikisource has the text of an 1879 American Cyclopædia article about Newport County, Rhode Island.

* Newport County Chamber of Commerce

Places adjacent to Newport County, Rhode Island

|  | Bristol County |

|
|

|  |
Washington County |

Newport County, Rhode Island

| Bristol County, Massachusetts
|  |
| Atlantic Ocean |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Newport County, Rhode Island, United States

County seat: Newport

City|

* Newport

Map of Rhode Island highlighting Newport County

Towns|

* Jamestown
* Little Compton
* Middletown
* Portsmouth
* Tiverton

CDPs|

* Melville
* Newport East
* Tiverton

Other
villages|

* Adamsville
* Green's End

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