Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Encyclopedia
Woonsocket is a city
in Providence County
, Rhode Island
, United States. The population was 41,186 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth largest city in the state. Woonsocket lies directly south of the Massachusetts
border.
The city is the corporate headquarters of CVS Caremark
, a pharmacy services provider. It is home to Landmark Medical Center
, St John the Baptist Union
, the Museum of Work and Culture
and the American-French Genealogical Society
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 8 square miles (20.7 km²), of which 7.7 square miles (19.9 km²) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) (3.14%) is water. Woonsocket is drained by the Blackstone River
. Adjacent communities include Blackstone
and Bellingham
, Massachusetts
, along with Cumberland
and North Smithfield
, Rhode Island
.
of 2000, there were 43,224 people, 17,750 households, and 10,774 families residing in the city. The population density
was 5,608.8 people per square mile (2,164.6/km²). There were 18,757 housing units at an average density of 2,433.9 per square mile (939.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.14% White, 4.44% African American, 0.32% Native American, 4.06% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.86% from other races
, and 3.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.32% of the population.
Woonsocket is a part of the Providence metropolitan area
, which has an estimated population of 1,622,520.
There were 17,750 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples
living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,819, and the median income for a family was $38,353. Males had a median income of $31,465 versus $24,638 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,223. About 16.7% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.3% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.
According to the 2000 census, 46.1% of Woonsocket’s population is identified as being of French or French-Canadian ethnic heritage. The city has referred to itself as La ville la plus française aux États-Unis – the most French city in the United States.
during the 17th century, today's Woonsocket region was inhabited by three Native American
tribes — the Nipmucs (Cowesett), Wampanoags, and Narragansetts
. In 1661, the English theologian Roger Williams
purchased the area from the "Coweset and Nipmucks," and in a letter referred to modern day Woonsocket as "Niswosakit."
Other possible derivations to the name include several Nipmuc geographic names from nearby Massachusetts
. These include Woonksechocksett, from Worcester County
meaning "fox country," and Wannashowatuckqut, also from Worcester County, meaning "at the fork of the river". Another theory states Woonsocket derives from "thunder mist," in reference to the largest waterfall on the Blackstone River
, which lies at the center of the city. However, another theory proposes the city was named after Woonsocket Hill in neighboring North Smithfield
. The term "thunder mist" is used by several local businesses, including Thundermist Health Center. There is also a series of novellettes titled "Thundermist" (Thundermist 04167 and A Week Without Sunshine) by local author David Lafleche.
Woonsocket Falls Village was founded in the 1820s. Its fortunes expanded as the Industrial Revolution
took root in nearby Pawtucket
. With the Blackstone River providing ample water power, the region became a prime location for textile
mills
. The actual town of Woonsocket was not established until 1867 when three villages in the town of Cumberland, namely Woonsocket Falls, Social and Jenckesville, officially became the town of Woonsocket. In 1871, three additional industrial villages
in Smithfield, Hamlet, Bernon and Globe, were added to the town establishing its present boundaries. Woonsocket was incorporated as city in 1888.
After the Great Depression
, the local textile industry closed. The city's fortunes were revived in World War II
, when it became a center of fabric manufacturing for the war effort. In the postwar years, the Woonsocket economy adjusted to a mix of manufacturing, retail, technology and financial services operations.
Beginning in 1979, Woonsocket became home to Autumnfest, an annual cultural festival that takes place on Columbus Day
Weekend at World War II Veteran's Memorial State Park. It has become one of the city's most popular events.
On October 25, 2010, the 44th President of the United States
, Barack Obama
, visited Woonsocket, to showcase his administration's Small Business Administration stimulus projects spending time with workers at a small business in a factory in Woonsocket.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Providence County
Providence County, Rhode Island
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 621,602 people, 239,936 households, and 152,839 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,504 people per square mile . There were 253,214 housing units at an average density of 613 per square mile...
, 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. The population was 41,186 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth largest city in the state. Woonsocket lies directly south of the Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
border.
The city is the corporate headquarters of CVS Caremark
CVS Caremark
CVS Caremark Corporation is an integrated pharmacy services provider, combining a United States pharmaceutical services company with a U.S. pharmacy chain...
, a pharmacy services provider. It is home to Landmark Medical Center
Landmark Medical Center
The Landmark Medical Center is a private, not-for-profit hospital at 115 Cass Avenue in Woonsocket, Rhode Island and with another unit, Fogarty Hospital, on 146A in North Smithfield, Rhode Island....
, St John the Baptist Union
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society is an institution in Quebec dedicated to the protection of Quebec francophone interests and to the promotion of Quebec Sovereignism. Its current President is Mario Beaulieu....
, the Museum of Work and Culture
Museum of Work and Culture
The Museum of Work and Culture is a museum in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, that features exhibits focusing on the city's textile manufacturing heritage...
and the American-French Genealogical Society
American-French Genealogical Society
The American-French Genealogical Society also known as AFGS was established in 1978 as a genealogical and historical organization for French-Canadian research. Originally founded by members of the Le Foyer Club in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA, its headquarters are currently in nearby Woonsocket,...
.
Geography
Woonsocket is located at 42°0′6"N 71°30′26"W (42.001731, −71.507223). The city is located approximately 15 miles (24.1 km) north of Providence.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 city has a total area of 8 square miles (20.7 km²), of which 7.7 square miles (19.9 km²) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) (3.14%) is water. Woonsocket is drained by the Blackstone River
Blackstone River
The Blackstone River is a river in the U.S. states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It flows approximately 48 mi and drains a watershed of approximately 540 sq. mi...
. Adjacent communities include Blackstone
Blackstone, Massachusetts
Blackstone is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 9,026 at the 2010 census. It is formally a part of the Providence metropolitan area. Blackstone is the only municipality in Massachusetts to employ automatic cameras in traffic enforcement.- History :This...
and Bellingham
Bellingham, Massachusetts
Bellingham is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 16,332 at the 2010 census. The town sits on the southwestern fringe of Metropolitan Boston, along the rapidly growing "outer belt" that is Route 495...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, along with Cumberland
Cumberland, Rhode Island
Cumberland is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States, incorporated in 1746. The population was 33,506 at the 2010 census.-History:...
and North Smithfield
North Smithfield, Rhode Island
North Smithfield is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States, settled as a farming community in 1666 and incorporated into its present form in 1871. North Smithfield includes the historic villages of Forestdale, Primrose, Waterford, Branch Village, Union Village, Park Square, and...
, 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...
.
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 43,224 people, 17,750 households, and 10,774 families residing in the city. 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 5,608.8 people per square mile (2,164.6/km²). There were 18,757 housing units at an average density of 2,433.9 per square mile (939.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.14% White, 4.44% African American, 0.32% Native American, 4.06% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.86% 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 3.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.32% of the population.
Woonsocket is a part of the Providence metropolitan area
Providence metropolitan area
The Providence metropolitan area is a region covering six counties in two states, and is the 37th largest metropolitan area in the United States. Anchored by the city of Providence, Rhode Island, it has an estimated population of 1,622,520, exceeding that of Rhode Island by slightly over 60%. The...
, which has an estimated population of 1,622,520.
There were 17,750 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% 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, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,819, and the median income for a family was $38,353. Males had a median income of $31,465 versus $24,638 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 city was $16,223. About 16.7% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.3% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.
According to the 2000 census, 46.1% of Woonsocket’s population is identified as being of French or French-Canadian ethnic heritage. The city has referred to itself as La ville la plus française aux États-Unis – the most French city in the United States.
History
Before the arrival of European settlers in northern Rhode IslandRhode 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...
during the 17th century, today's Woonsocket region was inhabited by three Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribes — the Nipmucs (Cowesett), Wampanoags, and Narragansetts
Narragansett (tribe)
The Narragansett tribe are an Algonquian Native American tribe from Rhode Island. In 1983 they regained federal recognition as the Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island. In 2009, the United States Supreme Court ruled against their request that the Department of Interior take land into trust...
. In 1661, the English theologian Roger Williams
Roger Williams (theologian)
Roger Williams was an English Protestant theologian who was an early proponent of religious freedom and the separation of church and state. In 1636, he began the colony of Providence Plantation, which provided a refuge for religious minorities. Williams started the first Baptist church in America,...
purchased the area from the "Coweset and Nipmucks," and in a letter referred to modern day Woonsocket as "Niswosakit."
Other possible derivations to the name include several Nipmuc geographic names from nearby Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. These include Woonksechocksett, from Worcester County
Worcester County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:In 1990 Worcester County had a population of 709,705.As of the census of 2000, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 496 people per square mile . There were 298,159 housing units at an average density...
meaning "fox country," and Wannashowatuckqut, also from Worcester County, meaning "at the fork of the river". Another theory states Woonsocket derives from "thunder mist," in reference to the largest waterfall on the Blackstone River
Blackstone Valley
The Blackstone Valley or Blackstone River Valley is a region of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It was a major contributor to the American Industrial Revolution...
, which lies at the center of the city. However, another theory proposes the city was named after Woonsocket Hill in neighboring North Smithfield
North Smithfield, Rhode Island
North Smithfield is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States, settled as a farming community in 1666 and incorporated into its present form in 1871. North Smithfield includes the historic villages of Forestdale, Primrose, Waterford, Branch Village, Union Village, Park Square, and...
. The term "thunder mist" is used by several local businesses, including Thundermist Health Center. There is also a series of novellettes titled "Thundermist" (Thundermist 04167 and A Week Without Sunshine) by local author David Lafleche.
Woonsocket Falls Village was founded in the 1820s. Its fortunes expanded as the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
took root in nearby Pawtucket
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 71,148 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth largest city in the state.-History:...
. With the Blackstone River providing ample water power, the region became a prime location for textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
mills
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
. The actual town of Woonsocket was not established until 1867 when three villages in the town of Cumberland, namely Woonsocket Falls, Social and Jenckesville, officially became the town of Woonsocket. In 1871, three additional industrial villages
Historic mill villages of Woonsocket
The city of Woonsocket in the U.S. state of Rhode Island was established as a union of six mill villages along the Blackstone River. These villages are described in more detail below....
in Smithfield, Hamlet, Bernon and Globe, were added to the town establishing its present boundaries. Woonsocket was incorporated as city in 1888.
After the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, the local textile industry closed. The city's fortunes were revived in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when it became a center of fabric manufacturing for the war effort. In the postwar years, the Woonsocket economy adjusted to a mix of manufacturing, retail, technology and financial services operations.
Beginning in 1979, Woonsocket became home to Autumnfest, an annual cultural festival that takes place on Columbus Day
Columbus Day
Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, which occurred on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday...
Weekend at World War II Veteran's Memorial State Park. It has become one of the city's most popular events.
On October 25, 2010, the 44th President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, visited Woonsocket, to showcase his administration's Small Business Administration stimulus projects spending time with workers at a small business in a factory in Woonsocket.
Historic places
Properties and districts in Woonsocket listed on National Register of Historic Places:- 1761 Milestone1761 MilestoneThe 1761 Milestone is a milestone on 640 South Main Street in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. It is listed on the National Register of Historical Places.The stone originally marked the miles from Providence on the original Boston Post Road...
- Allen Street Historic DistrictAllen Street Historic DistrictAllen Street Historic District is an historic district in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.Allen Street contains numerous Victorian and 19th century revival houses constructed mainly after 1860. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.-See also:*National Register of...
- Alphonse Gaulin Jr. HouseAlphonse Gaulin Jr. HouseThe Alphonse Gaulin, Jr. House is an historic home on 311 Elm Street in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.The Queen Anne style house was constructed in 1885 and added to the National Historic Register in 1982....
(1885) - Bernon Worsted MillBernon Worsted MillThe Bernon Worsted Mill is an historic building at 828 Park Avenue in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.The textile mill was built in 1919 and was added to the National Historic Register in 2005. The mill was renovated into condominiums in 2005....
(1919) - Cato Hill Historic DistrictCato Hill Historic DistrictCato Hill Historic District is a historic district in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.The district houses were largely constructed in the nineteenth century and feature Greek Revival, Queen Anne, and Federal Style architecture. The area was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in...
- Frank Wilbur HouseFrank Wilbur HouseThe Frank Wilbur House is an historic house at 1273 Park Avenue in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, USA.The house was built in 1923 in a bungalow-Craftsman style and was added to the National Historic Register in 1982....
(1923) - Glenark MillsGlenark MillsThe Glenark Mills or Glenark Landing is a historic mill site on 64 East Street in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.The original stone section of this mill was constructed 1865 by William Norton and was enlarged with a brick addition in 1885....
(1865) - Grove Street Elementary SchoolGrove Street Elementary SchoolThe Grove Street Elementary School is an historic school at 312 Grove Street in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.The Stick/Eastlake style school was built by E.L. Angell and William Weicker in 1876 and added to the National Historic Register in 1982....
(1876) - Hanora MillsHanora MillsThe Hanora Mills are an historic site in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.The mills were first built in 1827 in a Greek Revival style and added to the National Historic Register in 1982....
(1827) - Harris WarehouseHarris WarehouseThe Harris Warehouse is an historic site on 61 Railroad Street in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.The warehouse was built in 1855 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976....
(1855) - Henry Darling HouseHenry Darling HouseThe Henry Darling House is an historic house located at 786 Harris Avenue in Woonsocket, Rhode IslandThe house was constructed in 1865 and added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 26, 1982....
(1865) - Honan's Block and 112-114 Main StreetHonan's Block and 112-114 Main StreetHonan's Block and 112—114 Main Street is an historic site at 110-114 Main Street in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.The Stick/Eastlake style block was built in 1879 and added to the National Historic Register in 1989.-References:...
(1879) - Hope Street SchoolHope Street SchoolHope Street School is an historic school at 40 Hope Streetin Woonsocket, Rhode Island.The school was built in 1899 by Willard Kent and Norton & Kennedy. It was added to the National Historic Register in 2000....
(1899) - Island Place Historic DistrictIsland Place Historic DistrictThe Island Place Historic District is a historic district at Island Place and South Main Street at Market Square in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.The Woonsocket Rubber Company Mill in the district was built in 1857. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990....
- Jenckes MansionJenckes MansionThe Jenckes Mansion is an historic house at 837 Social Street in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.The house was built in 1828 in a Federal style and added to the National Register in 1982....
(1828) - John Arnold House (1712)
- L'Eglise du Precieux SangL'Eglise du Precieux SangThe L'Eglise du Precieux Sang The L'Eglise du Precieux Sang The L'Eglise du Precieux Sang (also known as The Church of the Precious Blood (in French) is an historic church at 94 Carrington Avenue and 61 Park Avenue in Woonsocket, Rhode Island....
(1873) - Linton BlockLinton BlockThe Linton Block is a historic site at 3 Monument Square in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.The building was built in 1888 in a Queen Anne style and was added to the National Historic Register in 1982....
(1888)
- Logee HouseLogee HouseLogee House is an historic American colonial house on 225 Logee Street in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.The house was built in 1729 and added to the National Historic Register in 1982....
(1729) - Main Street Historic DistrictMain Street Historic District (Woonsocket, Rhode Island)Main Street Historic District is a historic district in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, USA. The bulk of the block was constructed in 1853 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991....
- North End Historic District
- Philmont Worsted Company MillPhilmont Worsted Company MillPhilmont Worsted Company Mill is an historic site at 685 Social Street in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.The mill was built in 1919 and added to the National Historic Register in 2006....
(1919) - Pothier HousePothier HousePothier House is a historic house at 172 Pond Street in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.The late-Victorian house was built in 1881 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982....
(1881) - Smith-Ballou HouseSmith-Ballou HouseThe Smith-Ballou House is an historic house in northwestern Woonsocket, Rhode Island. The 1906 house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.-History:...
(1906) - Smithfield Friends Meeting House, Parsonage and Cemetery (1719/1881)
- South Main Street Historic District
- St. Andrews Episcopal ChapelSt. Andrews Episcopal ChapelSt. Andrew's Episcopal Chapel is an historic Episcopal church located at 576 Fairmont Street in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.The late-Victorian church was built by George W. Spaulding in 1894 and added to the National Historic Register in 1982.-References:...
(1894) - St. Ann's Church Complex (1913)
- St. Charles Borromeo Church ComplexSt. Charles Borromeo Church ComplexThe St. Charles Borromeo Church Complex is an historic Roman Catholic Church in Woonsocket, Rhode Island on North Main Street.The Gothic style church was built by Patrick Keely in 1867 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983....
(1867) - Stadium BuildingStadium BuildingThe Stadium Theatre, part of the "Stadium Building and Theatre," is an historic theater at 329 Main Street in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.Arthur I. Darman built the vaudeville theater in 1926. The venue was closed from the 1970s to 1991, but reopened in 2001...
(1925) - Union Village Historic District
- Woonsocket City HallWoonsocket City HallThe Woonsocket City Hall, was built in 1856 in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.Edward Harris constructed the earliest part of the building in 1856, and it was known as the Harris Block and it served as the first public library in Rhode Island. In 1860 Abraham Lincoln spoke in Harris Hall inside the...
(1856) - Woonsocket Civil War MonumentWoonsocket Civil War MonumentThe Woonsocket Civil War Monument is an historic site at Monument Square in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.Built in 1868 by J.G. Batterson, this Civil War memorial was the first Civil War monument constructed in Rhode Island. The monument contains the names of the battles in which Woonsocket soldiers...
(1868) - Woonsocket Company Mill ComplexWoonsocket Company Mill ComplexThe Woonsocket Company Mill Complex is a historic district on 100 Front Street in Woonsocket, Rhode Island....
- Woonsocket District CourthouseWoonsocket District CourthouseThe Woonsocket District Courthouse is an historic court building on 24 Front Street in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.The Courthouse was built in 1894 in a Romanesque style by William Walker & R.W. Howard with work also done by William Norton & Allaie....
(1894) - Woonsocket Rubber Company MillWoonsocket Rubber Company MillWoonsocket Rubber Company Mill is an historic mill at 60 Main Street in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.The mill was built in 1857 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989....
(1857)
Notable residents
- Greg AbateGreg AbateGreg Abate is a Jazz saxophonist, flautist, composer, and arranger. He grew up in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. In the fifth grade he began to play clarinet....
, musician - Rocco BaldelliRocco BaldelliRocco Dan Baldelli is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter. Because of his excellent size and speed, and in reference to his hometown, he was nicknamed, "The Woonsocket Rocket," early in his professional career...
, baseball player - Latimer Whipple BallouLatimer Whipple BallouLatimer Whipple Ballou was a U.S. Representative from Rhode Island.Born in Cumberland, Rhode Island, Ballou attended the public schools and the local academies in his native town....
, congressman - Bryan BerardBryan BerardBryan Wallace Berard is a former American professional ice hockey player. He was the first overall pick in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators. He is most noted for a debilitating eye injury he received early in his career...
, hockey player - Brian BoucherBrian BoucherBrian "Boosh" Boucher is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, hockey player - Marcel DesaulniersMarcel DesaulniersMarcel Desaulniers is the American chef and part-owner of the Trellis Restaurant in Williamsburg, Virginia, cookbook author, Director Emeritus of the Culinary Institute of America and self-described "Guru of Ganache."-Personal life:...
, chef - Eddie DowlingEddie DowlingEddie Dowling was an American actor, screenwriter, playwright, director, producer, songwriter and composer....
, actor, screenwriter and songwriter - Allen DoyleAllen DoyleAllen Michael Doyle is an American golfer who currently plays on the Champions Tour.Doyle was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island and raised in the Boston suburb of Norwood, Massachusetts. He attended Catholic Memorial High School in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, and Norwich University in Vermont...
, golfer - Draco and the MalfoysDraco and the MalfoysDraco and the Malfoys are a wizard rock band founded in Woonsocket, Rhode Island in 2004. The group is composed of half-brothers Brian Ross and Bradley Mehlenbacher, who both perform under the persona of Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter book series....
, wizard rock band - Denise DuhamelDenise Duhamel-Background:Duhamel received her B.F.A. from Emerson College and her M.F.A. from Sarah Lawrence College. She is a New York Foundation for the Arts recipient and has been resident poet at Bucknell University...
, poet - Eileen FarrellEileen FarrellEileen Farrell was an American soprano who had a nearly 60 year long career performing both classical and popular music in concerts, theatres, on radio and television, and on disc. While she was active as an opera singer, her concert engagements far outnumbered her theatrical appearances...
, opera soprano - Ernest FortinErnest FortinErnest L. Fortin, A.A. was a professor of theology at Boston College. While engaged in graduate studies in France, he met Allan Bloom, who introduced him to the work of Leo Strauss...
, theology professor - Stuart GitlowStuart GitlowStuart Gitlow , board-certified in general, forensic, and addiction psychiatry, is the Executive Director of the Annenberg Physician Training Program in addictive diseases.-Credentials:Gitlow has earned MD, MPH, and MBA degrees...
, physician - Brian HarnoisBrian HarnoisBrian Harnois is one of the main paranormal investigators on the new television series Haunted RI on Rhode Island PBS. He is a former investigator on Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters International...
, paranormal investigator - Gabby HartnettGabby HartnettCharles Leo "Gabby" Hartnett was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played almost his entire career in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Chicago Cubs. Until the career of Johnny Bench, Hartnett was considered the greatest catcher in the history of the National League...
, baseball player and manager
- Ambrose KennedyAmbrose KennedyAmbrose Kennedy was a U.S. Representative from Rhode Island.Born in Blackstone, Massachusetts, Kennedy attended the Blackstone public schools and St. Hyacinthe's College, Province of Quebec, Canada. He graduated from College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1897...
, congressman - Clem LabineClem LabineClement Walter Labine was an American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball best known for his years with the Brooklyn & Los Angeles Dodgers from 1950 to 1960...
, baseball player - Nap LajoieNap LajoieNapoléon "Nap" Lajoie , also known as Larry Lajoie, was an American Major League Baseball second baseman. He was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island...
, baseball player - Catherine J. Lanctot, law professor and legal scholar
- Neil LanctotNeil Lanctot-Biography:Lanctot was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1987 with a B.A. in English. He subsequently earned an M.A. in American History from Temple University in 1992 and a Ph.D...
, historian and author - Francis Leo Lawrence, college president
- William C. LoveringWilliam C. LoveringWilliam Croad Lovering was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.-Biography:Born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Lovering moved with his parents to Taunton, Massachusetts, in 1837....
, congressman - Monique Mailloux, ceramic artist and potter
- James McAndrewsJames McAndrewsJames McAndrews was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, McAndrews attended the common schools. He moved to Chicago, Illinois, and engaged in business, serving as building commissioner of Chicago.McAndrews was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-seventh and...
, congressman - J. Howard McGrathJ. Howard McGrathJames Howard McGrath was an American politician and attorney from the U.S. state of Rhode Island.McGrath, a Democrat, served as U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island before becoming Governor, U.S. Solicitor General, U.S...
, politician - Dave McKennaDave McKennaDave McKenna was a jazz pianist. He was known for his "three-handed swing" and was a leading proponent of solo piano style.-Biography:...
, jazz pianist - Edwin O'ConnorEdwin O'ConnorEdwin O'Connor was an American radio personality, journalist, and novelist who won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1962 for The Edge of Sadness...
, radio personality and novelist - Aram J. PothierAram J. PothierAram Jules Pothier was an American politician of French Canadian origin, the 51st and 55th Governor of Rhode Island from 1909 to 1915 and from 1925 until his death in 1928.-Early life:...
, governor - Duke RobillardDuke RobillardMichael John "Duke" Robillard is an American blues musician.After playing in various bands and working for the Guild Guitar Company, he co-founded the band Roomful of Blues with pianist Al Copley in 1967. He has also been a member of The Fabulous Thunderbirds which included Kim Wilson, replacing...
, blues guitarist - Christopher RobinsonChristopher Robinson (Rhode Island)Christopher Robinson was a United States Representative from Rhode Island.He was born in Providence on May 15, 1806 and graduated from Brown University in 1825....
, congressman - Mathieu SchneiderMathieu SchneiderMathieu Schneider is a American former professional ice hockey player. Considered an offensive defenseman, Schneider played 1289 games in the National Hockey League with ten different teams, scoring 233 goals and totalling 743 points...
, hockey player - Bill Summers, umpire
- Russell J Normandin, Reality TV Star and Professional Golfer
External links
- City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island
- Woonsocket Harris Public Library
- Rhode Island Historical Society
- Woonsocket – my hometown on the web, by Erik Eckilson
- The Woonsocket Call, local newspaper
- The Valley Breeze, free regional newspaper
- The Museum of Work & Culture, which presents the history of the city and its industries
- The Stadium Theatre, a restored historic theatre used as a performing arts center
- American-French Genealogical Society
- City of Woonsocket Rhode Island Commuter Rail Feasibility Study, including coverage of historical rail services