Hopkinton, Rhode Island
Encyclopedia
Hopkinton is a town
in Washington County
, Rhode Island
, United States
. The population was 8,188 at the 2010 census
.
The villages of Ashaway
and Hope Valley
are located in Hopkinton.
on the Connecticut
border.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 44.1 square miles (114.2 km²), of which, 43 square miles (111.4 km²) of it is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it (2.58%) is water.
(a signer of the Declaration of Independence
), who was governor of the colony of Rhode Island when the town was partitioned from Westerly and incorporated in 1757. Hopkinton once featured a number of industrial villages, such as Locustville, Moscow, Centerville, and Wood River Iron Works, each being named after the mill they surrounded. Today only Hope Valley, Rockville, Ashaway and Bradford are recognized with a post office. The town hall is located in the village of Hopkinton City, which was once a major stagecoach hub.
of 2000, there were 7,836 people, 2,965 households, and 2,182 families residing in the town. The population density
was 182.3 people per square mile (70.4/km²). There were 3,112 housing units at an average density of 72.4 per square mile (27.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.82% White, 0.61% African American, 0.89% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.27% from other races
, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.06% of the population.
There were 2,965 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples
living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,181, and the median income for a family was $59,143. Males had a median income of $39,804 versus $29,189 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $23,835. About 3.3% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
Both the Aldrich
and the Rockefeller families built small mansions in Hope Valley before the families merged. The Rockefeller house now serves as the rectory for St. Joseph's Parish.
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
in Washington County
Washington County, Rhode Island
Washington County, commonly known colloquially as South County, is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Washington County borders Kent County to the north, New London County in Connecticut to the west, Suffolk County in New York to the southwest, the Atlantic...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 8,188 at the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
.
The villages of Ashaway
Ashaway, Rhode Island
Ashaway is an unincorporated village and census-designated place in the town of Hopkinton in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 1,537 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ashaway is located at ....
and Hope Valley
Hope Valley, Rhode Island
Hope Valley is a village and census-designated place in the town of Hopkinton in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population of the CDP was 1,649 at the 2000 census...
are located in Hopkinton.
Geography
Hopkinton is found at 41.461 N latitude and 71.778 W longitude. It is on the Pawcatuck RiverPawcatuck River
The Pawcatuck River is a river in the U.S. states of Rhode Island and Connecticut flowing approximately . There are eight dams along the river's length. The former USS Pawcatuck was named after the river.-History:...
on the Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
border.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 44.1 square miles (114.2 km²), of which, 43 square miles (111.4 km²) of it is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it (2.58%) is water.
History
Hopkinton is named after Stephen HopkinsStephen Hopkins (politician)
Stephen Hopkins was an American political leader from Rhode Island who signed the Declaration of Independence. He served as the Chief Justice and Governor of the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and was a Delegate to the Colonial Congress in Albany in 1754 and to the...
(a signer of the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
), who was governor of the colony of Rhode Island when the town was partitioned from Westerly and incorporated in 1757. Hopkinton once featured a number of industrial villages, such as Locustville, Moscow, Centerville, and Wood River Iron Works, each being named after the mill they surrounded. Today only Hope Valley, Rockville, Ashaway and Bradford are recognized with a post office. The town hall is located in the village of Hopkinton City, which was once a major stagecoach hub.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 7,836 people, 2,965 households, and 2,182 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 182.3 people per square mile (70.4/km²). There were 3,112 housing units at an average density of 72.4 per square mile (27.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.82% White, 0.61% African American, 0.89% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.27% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.06% of the population.
There were 2,965 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,181, and the median income for a family was $59,143. Males had a median income of $39,804 versus $29,189 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $23,835. About 3.3% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
In the state legislature Hopkinton is located in the 34th Senate District, represented by Republican Francis T. Maher, Jr, and in the 38th District in the Rhode Island House of Representatives by Democrat Brian Patrick Kennedy. At the Federal level, Hopkinton is located in Rhode Island's 2nd Congressional District, which is currently represented by James Langevin (D). In the United States Senate, Hopkinton is represented by U.S. Senator John F. Reed (D) and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D).Notable residents
- John Wilbur, Quaker minister
- Prudence CrandallPrudence CrandallPrudence Crandall , a schoolteacher raised as a Quaker, stirred controversy with her education of African-American girls in Canterbury, Connecticut...
, taught first desegregated classroom in USA - Billy GilmanBilly GilmanWilliam Wendell "Billy" Gilman III is an American country music artist. In 2000, at the age of 12, he debuted with the single "One Voice," a Top 20 hit on the Billboard country music charts and became the youngest singer to a Top 40 hit on the country music charts...
, youngest country western star
Both the Aldrich
Aldrich
-Places:In the United States:*Aldrich, Minnesota*Aldrich Township, Minnesota*Aldrich, Missouri*Aldrich, New York-People:Surname*Bess Streeter Aldrich, American author*Chester Hardy Aldrich, Governor of Nebraska*Chester Holmes Aldrich, American architect...
and the Rockefeller families built small mansions in Hope Valley before the families merged. The Rockefeller house now serves as the rectory for St. Joseph's Parish.
National Historic Places
- Black FarmBlack FarmBlack Farm is a historic farm in Hopkinton, Rhode Island bounded by Rockvill-Alton Road and Wood Road.The farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 and is also known as the Isaac Collins Farm. Black Farm has beautiful tree specimens with breathtaking views of the pond off...
- Bradford Village Historic District, in Hopkinton and Westerly
- Hope Valley Historic District
- Hopkinton City Historic DistrictHopkinton City Historic DistrictHopkinton City Historic District is a historic district in Hopkinton, Rhode Island. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974....
- Tomaquag Rock SheltersTomaquag Rock SheltersThe Tomaquag Rock Shelters are an historic site in Hopkinton, Rhode Island.The shelters were added to the National Historic Register in 1977....
- Upper Rockville MillUpper Rockville MillUpper Rockville Mill is an historic building at 332 Canonchet Road in Hopkinton, Rhode Island.The mill was built in 1844 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006....
- Wyoming Village Historic DistrictWyoming Village Historic DistrictWyoming is a village and census-designated place on the Wood River in southern Rhode Island, primarily in the town of Richmond, but extending north across the river into the town of Hopkinton...