Misquamicut, Rhode Island

Misquamicut is a census-designated place and fire district in southern Washington County, Rhode Island. It is part of the town of Westerly.[5] The population was listed as 390 in 2010.[6]

Misquamicut, Rhode Island
Census-designated place
Andrea Hotel, c.1930s
Andrea Hotel, c.1930s
Misquamicut, Rhode Island is located in Rhode Island
Misquamicut, Rhode Island
Misquamicut, Rhode Island
Location in the state of Rhode Island
Misquamicut, Rhode Island is located in the United States
Misquamicut, Rhode Island
Misquamicut, Rhode Island
Misquamicut, Rhode Island (the United States)
Coordinates: 41°19′26″N 71°49′19″W
CountryUnited States
StateRhode Island
CountyWashington
Area
[1]
 • Total1.25 sq mi (3.23 km2)
 • Land1.17 sq mi (3.04 km2)
 • Water0.07 sq mi (0.19 km2)
Elevation
3 ft (1 m)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total434
 • Density369.99/sq mi (142.89/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
02891
Area code401
FIPS code44-46000[3]
GNIS feature ID1217591[4]

Name

Misquamicut is a Narragansett word meaning "Red Fish Place" or "Salmon Place".[7]

History

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.[8]

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.[9][10][11] It lies south of Misquamicut State Beach[12] and north of Winnapaug Pond, a source of Rhode Island quahogs and bay scallops.

This section of Misquamicut was originally called "Atlantic Beach Casino".[13] It retains a carousel with antique band organ,[14][15] rides, bumper cars, a game room, and an ice cream stand.[16] More recently, miniature golf, go-carts, a batting cage, water slides, and a gift shop have been added.[17]

Geography

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.[18]

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, there were 434 people, 869 housing units, and 222 families in the CDP. There were 419 White people, 0 African Americans, 3 Native Americans, 2 Asians, 1 person from some other race, and 9 people from two or more races.[19]

The ancestry was 36% Italian, 23.6% Irish, 20.9% English, 10.6% German, 4.7% Polish, 3.4% French, and 2.2% Scottish.[19]

The median age was 63 years old. A total of 46.3% of the population were 65 years or older, with 36.5% between the ages of 65 and 74, 8.4% between the ages of 75 and 84, and 1.5% 85 years or older.[19]

The median household income was $124,688. A total of 4.9% of the population was in poverty, with 4.5% of people under 18, and 9.7% of people between the ages of 18 and 64 being in poverty.[19]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
2010390—
202043411.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[20]

References
  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. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Misquamicut, Rhode Island
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Counts: Rhode Island" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. p. 11. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  7. 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
  8. "Misquamicut State Beach History". State of Rhode Division of Parks & Recreation. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  9. "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.
  10. "Rhode Island's Classic Carousels: A Seaside Tour". www.wsj.com. September 1, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  11. "Amusement Parks In Rhode Island: A Huffington Post Travel Guide". www.huffpost.com. December 6, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  12. Tobyne, Dan (June 15, 2016). Beachcomber's Guide to the Northeast. Down East Books. ISBN 9781608934041 – via Google Books.
  13. Gentile, Donald L.; Gordon, Bernard L. (April 12, 2010). Misquamicut. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781439637579 – via Google Books.
  14. "Atlantic Beach Park". WESTERLY RI. February 26, 2016.
  15. "National Carousel Association - The Atlantic Beach Park Carousel - Atlantic Beach Park Carousel". carousels.org.
  16. "The 7 Best Beaches in Rhode Island". www.afar.com. March 20, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  17. "Things to Do in Misquamicut, Rhode Island". www.traveltips.usatoday.com. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  18. "US Gazetteer files: 2019". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  19. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  20. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
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