Warwick, Rhode Island

Warwick (/ˈwɔːrwɪk/ WOR-wik or /ˈwɒrɪk/ WORR-ik) is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States, and is the third largest city in the state with a population of 82,823 at the 2020 census. Warwick is located approximately 12 miles (19 km) south of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, 63 miles (101 km) southwest of Boston, Massachusetts, and 171 miles (275 km) northeast of New York City.

City of Warwick
City
Warwick City Hall, Brush Neck Cove, the Caleb Greene House, and T. F. Green Airport
Official seal of City of Warwick
Seal
Location in Kent County, Rhode Island
Location in Kent County, Rhode Island
Coordinates: 41°43′N 71°25′W
CountryUnited States
StateRhode Island
CountyKent
Founded1642
Incorporated (town)August 8, 1647
Incorporated (city)April 21, 1931
Named forRobert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick
Government
 • TypeMayor-council
 • MayorFrank Picozzi (I)
 • City CouncilWilliam Foley (D)
Jeremy M. Rix (D)
Timothy Howe (D)
Jim McElroy (D)
Edgar N. Ladouceur (D)
Donna M. Travis (D)
Steven McAllister (D)
Anthony Sinapi (D)
Vincent Gebhart (D)
Area
[1]
 • Total49.75 sq mi (128.85 km2)
 • Land35.00 sq mi (90.65 km2)
 • Water14.75 sq mi (38.20 km2)
Elevation
[2]
20 ft (6 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total82,823
 • Density2,366.30/sq mi (913.64/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Codes
02886, 02888–02889
Area code401
FIPS code44-74300[4]
GNIS feature ID1220018[2]
Websitewww.warwickri.gov

Warwick was founded by Samuel Gorton in 1642 and has witnessed major events in American history. It was decimated during King Philip's War (1675–1676) and was the site of the Gaspee Affair, the first act of armed resistance against the British, preceding even the Boston Tea Party, and a significant prelude to the American Revolution. Warwick was also the home of Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene, George Washington's second-in-command, and Civil War General George S. Greene, a hero of the Battle of Gettysburg. Today, it is home to Rhode Island's main airport, T. F. Green Airport, which serves the Providence area and also functions as a reliever for Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts. Warwick is also home to Rocky Point, which closed in 1995.

Early history
See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Kent County, Rhode Island

Warwick was settled by Samuel Gorton in 1642. Narragansett Sachem Miantonomi sold him the Shawhomett Purchase for 144 fathoms of wampum. This included the towns of Coventry and West Warwick, Rhode Island. However, Sachems Sacononoco and Pumham claimed that Miantonomi had sold the land without asking for their approval. They took their case to Boston, where they placed their lands under Massachusetts rule. In 1643, Massachusetts Bay Colony sent a militia force to Shawomett to arrest Gorton and his followers. After a tense standoff, all but three of the Gortonists surrendered to the Massachusetts forces. Gorton then sailed back to England and sought a charter from the King. He was greatly assisted in gaining it by Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick, so Gorton and his fellow settlers changed the name of their colony from Shawumet to Warwick.[5]

The ongoing harassment from Massachusetts Bay Colony, however, caused the other three colonies on Narragansett Bay (Providence Plantations, Portsmouth, and Newport) to unite with Warwick and get a British royal charter allowing them to form the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.[6]: 302 

In 1772, Warwick was the scene of the first violent act against the British Crown in the Gaspee Affair. Local patriots boarded the Gaspee,[7] a revenue cutter that enforced the Stamp Act 1765 and Townshend Acts in Narragansett Bay. It was here that the first blood was spilled in the American Revolution when Gaspee's commanding officer Lt. Dudingston was shot and seriously wounded during the struggle for the ship. The Gaspee was stripped of all cannons and arms, then burned.[8]

During the Revolution, Warwick militiamen participated in the battles of Montreal, Quebec, Saratoga, Monmouth, and Trenton, and they were present for the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781.

Transportation

Major traversing highways include:

Interstate 95 is the major thoroughfare of Rhode Island, with the first southbound exit in Warwick at Jefferson Boulevard, and ending with the Route 117 interchange, near the Apponaug rotaries. Interstate 295 connects to the main highway at exit 27, providing direct travel to Woonsocket and Massachusetts. Smaller routes include Route 37 (Lincoln Avenue Freeway) connecting 295 to U.S. Route 1, and the Airport Connector Road.

The Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport is the main airport serving Rhode Island, and is located in Warwick. The name was changed for T.F. Green Airport in 2021.[9] T. F. Green Airport is a station on the Providence/Stoughton Commuter Rail Line, providing weekday service to Providence Station and Boston's South Station.[10]

Climate
Climate data for Providence, Rhode Island (T. F. Green Airport), 1991–2020 normals,[lower-alpha 1] extremes 1904–present[lower-alpha 2]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 70
(21)		 72
(22)		 90
(32)		 98
(37)		 96
(36)		 98
(37)		 102
(39)		 104
(40)		 100
(38)		 88
(31)		 81
(27)		 77
(25)		 104
(40)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 58.7
(14.8)		 57.9
(14.4)		 67.1
(19.5)		 79.3
(26.3)		 87.2
(30.7)		 91.5
(33.1)		 94.8
(34.9)		 92.7
(33.7)		 87.6
(30.9)		 78.9
(26.1)		 70.1
(21.2)		 61.5
(16.4)		 96.6
(35.9)
Average high °F (°C) 38.3
(3.5)		 40.5
(4.7)		 47.7
(8.7)		 58.9
(14.9)		 68.9
(20.5)		 77.7
(25.4)		 83.6
(28.7)		 82.2
(27.9)		 74.8
(23.8)		 63.8
(17.7)		 53.2
(11.8)		 43.4
(6.3)		 61.1
(16.2)
Daily mean °F (°C) 30.2
(−1.0)		 32.0
(0.0)		 38.9
(3.8)		 49.3
(9.6)		 59.1
(15.1)		 68.2
(20.1)		 74.4
(23.6)		 73.0
(22.8)		 65.6
(18.7)		 54.4
(12.4)		 44.5
(6.9)		 35.5
(1.9)		 52.1
(11.2)
Average low °F (°C) 22.1
(−5.5)		 23.5
(−4.7)		 30.2
(−1.0)		 39.6
(4.2)		 49.2
(9.6)		 58.8
(14.9)		 65.2
(18.4)		 63.9
(17.7)		 56.5
(13.6)		 45.1
(7.3)		 35.8
(2.1)		 27.6
(−2.4)		 43.1
(6.2)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 4.1
(−15.5)		 7.4
(−13.7)		 15.1
(−9.4)		 28.5
(−1.9)		 38.1
(3.4)		 47.2
(8.4)		 56.2
(13.4)		 54.3
(12.4)		 43.1
(6.2)		 31.7
(−0.2)		 21.8
(−5.7)		 12.3
(−10.9)		 2.0
(−16.7)
Record low °F (°C) −13
(−25)		 −17
(−27)		 1
(−17)		 11
(−12)		 29
(−2)		 39
(4)		 48
(9)		 40
(4)		 32
(0)		 20
(−7)		 6
(−14)		 −12
(−24)		 −17
(−27)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.96
(101)		 3.44
(87)		 4.90
(124)		 4.29
(109)		 3.37
(86)		 3.81
(97)		 2.91
(74)		 3.59
(91)		 4.17
(106)		 4.18
(106)		 4.27
(108)		 4.65
(118)		 47.54
(1,208)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 10.3
(26)		 10.5
(27)		 6.4
(16)		 0.6
(1.5)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.2
(0.51)		 1.0
(2.5)		 7.6
(19)		 36.6
(93)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 11.2 10.3 11.6 11.7 12.2 10.8 9.3 9.1 9.1 10.2 9.6 11.9 127.0
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 5.7 5.4 3.7 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.6 3.4 19.3
Average relative humidity (%) 63.9 63.0 62.9 61.4 66.6 70.1 71.0 72.5 73.0 70.2 68.9 67.0 67.5
Average dew point °F (°C) 16.3
(−8.7)		 17.4
(−8.1)		 25.0
(−3.9)		 33.1
(0.6)		 45.0
(7.2)		 55.6
(13.1)		 61.5
(16.4)		 61.0
(16.1)		 53.8
(12.1)		 42.6
(5.9)		 33.3
(0.7)		 22.1
(−5.5)		 38.9
(3.8)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 171.7 172.6 215.6 225.1 254.9 274.1 290.6 262.8 233.0 208.7 148.0 148.6 2,605.7
Percent possible sunshine 58 58 58 56 57 60 63 61 62 61 50 52 58
Average ultraviolet index 1 2 4 6 7 8 8 8 6 4 2 1 5
Source 1: NOAA (relative humidity, dew point, and sun 1961–1990)[12][13][14]
Source 2: Weather Atlas [15]
Climate data for Providence
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average sea temperature °F (°C) 41.4
(5.2)		 38.1
(3.4)		 38.7
(3.8)		 44.1
(6.7)		 50.9
(10.5)		 59.6
(15.3)		 67.0
(19.4)		 69.3
(20.7)		 66.7
(19.3)		 61.6
(16.4)		 54.2
(12.3)		 47.7
(8.8)		 53.3
(11.8)
Source: Weather Atlas [15]

Geography

Warwick is located at 41°43′N 71°25′W (41.7181, −71.4152).[16]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 49.6 square miles (128 km2), of which 35.5 square miles (92 km2) is land and 14.1 square miles (37 km2) (28.46%) is water.

The following villages are located in Warwick:

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18305,529—
18406,72621.6%
18507,74015.1%
18608,91615.2%
187010,45317.2%
188012,16416.4%
189017,76146.0%
190021,31620.0%
191026,62924.9%
192013,481−49.4%
193023,19672.1%
194028,75724.0%
195043,02849.6%
196068,50459.2%
197083,69422.2%
198087,1234.1%
199085,427−1.9%
200085,8080.4%
201082,672−3.7%
202082,8230.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[3]

Warwick is officially a part of the Providence metropolitan area, which has a population of 1,600,852 in 2010 census. As of the 2020 census,[4] Warwick contained 82,976 people and 35,469 households. The population density was 2,366.3 inhabitants per square mile (913.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.1% White, 2.1% African American, 0.4% Native American, 3.3% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.9% of the population.

As of 2021 data from the Census, there were 36,595 households, out of which 57.2% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder, 4.9% with a male householder, and 22.8% were non-families. The average household size was 2.3 people per household.[18]

In the city, the population was made up of 17.9% who were under the age of 18, 61.6% from 18 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years, 53% female and 47% male.[18]

The median per capita income in the city was $39,014 and the median household income was $72,025. Males had a median income of $39,455 versus $28,946 for females. About 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.[18]

Government
Warwick town vote
by party in presidential elections[19]
Year GOP DEM Others
2020 42.20% 19,578 55.70% 25,845 2.19% 1,018
2016 44.25% 18,338 48.35% 20,038 7.39% 3,064
2012 37.21% 15,027 60.54% 24,448 2.24% 905
2008 38.37% 16,541 59.85% 25,802 1.79% 770
2004 41.02% 16,640 57.10% 23,164 1.87% 760
2000 32.37% 12,741 60.85% 23,948 6.78% 2,669
1996 26.83% 10,414 59.64% 23,152 13.53% 5,254
1992 29.88% 13,348 45.90% 20,504 24.22% 10,822
1988 45.29% 18,052 54.34% 21,662 0.37% 149

Warwick is split into three districts in the Rhode Island Senate which are currently held by Democrats Michael McCaffrey (District 29), Jeanine Calkin (District 30), and Kendra Anderson (District 31). The town is a part of Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district, which is currently represented by Democrat James Langevin. It is traditionally Democratic in presidential elections; no Republican has carried it in over three decades.

Economy

It is considered part of the Pawtuxet River Valley . Before its dissolution, Eckerd Corporation had its headquarters in Warwick.[20]

The ten largest employers in Warwick are Kent Memorial Hospital, Citizens Bank- Warwick Call Center, UPS, MetLife, City of Warwick, Leviton Manufacturing, Wal-Mart, Community College of Rhode Island, J.C. Penney, Kenney Manufacturing, and Inskip Automall.

Notable people

Education
The Knight Campus building of the Community College of Rhode Island

Local public schools are operated by Warwick Public Schools.[23] Toll Gate High School and Pilgrim High School are the two comprehensive public high schools located in Warwick. The two public middle schools are Winman Junior High School and Warwick Veterans Junior High School. Aldrich Junior High School and Gorton Junior High School closed in 2016 as part of the school consolidation project.[24] The school department is headed by superintendent Lynn Dambruch.[25]

Bishop Hendricken High School is an all-male college preparatory Catholic high school located in Warwick.[26] Rocky Hill School is a Pre-K–12 co-ed secular country day school located on Warwick's isolated Potowomut peninsula. The school lists an East Greenwich address, despite being geographically included as part of the city of Warwick.[27]

The Community College of Rhode Island Knight Campus is also located in Warwick on the former Knight Estate.[28]

Sister cities

References
  1. Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
  2. Official records for Providence kept at downtown from November 1904 to May 1932 and at T. F. Green Airport since June 1932.[11]
  1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Warwick, Rhode Island
  3. "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. "The Seal of Warwick".
  6. Austin, John Osborne (1887). Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island. Albany, New York: J. Munsell's Sons. ISBN 978-0-8063-0006-1.
  7. This version of the story is told by Ephraim Bowen and John Mawney in Staples, William R., The Documentary History of the Destruction of the Gaspee, (Providence, R.I.: Knowles, Vose, and Anthony, 1845), p. 14–16. These men had taken part in burning Gaspee and made these statements in 1826.
  8. "Joseph Bucklin V Biography". Joseph Bucklin Society. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  9. Gagosz, Alexa (May 12, 2021). "R.I. House votes to rename T.F. Green Airport". The Boston Globe. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  10. Authority, Massachusetts Bay Transportation. "Providence/Stoughton Line < Commuter Rail < Schedules & Maps < MBTA - Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority". mbta.com. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  11. ThreadEx
  12. "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  13. "Station: Providence T F Green AP, RI". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on June 24, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  14. "WMO Climate Normals for PROVIDENCE/GREEN STATE, RI 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on June 24, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  15. "Providence, Rhode Island, USA - Monthly weather forecast and Climate data". Weather Atlas. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  16. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  17. RI.gov: Cities & Towns
  18. "Census profile: Warwick, RI". Census Reporter. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  19. "Previous Election Results". www.elections.state.ri.us. Archived from the original on October 27, 2012.
  20. "Contacting Us." Eckerd Corporation. Retrieved on June 19, 2010. "Mail: 50 Service Ave., Warwick, RI 02886."
  21. "1965 Pilgrim High School Yearbook". www.classmates.com. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  22. Botelho, Jessica A. "James Woods recently retires from acting, now selling RI home". WJAR. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  23. Warwick Public Schools website
  24. "Warwick Public Schools Consolidation". sites.google.com. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  25. "Office of the Superintendent". Warwick Public Schools. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  26. "Bishop Hendricken Catholic High School - Rhode Island". Bishop Hendricken High School. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  27. "RI Private School- Pre-School, Prep School, Rhode Island". Rocky Hill School. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  28. "Home Page – Community College of Rhode Island". www.ccri.edu. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
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