
Washington County, Rhode Island Demographics
Washington County, Rhode Island is a small county located in the southwestern corner of the state. It is bordered by Providence County to the east, Kent County to the north, and Newport County to the west. The county has an area of 122 square miles and is home to approximately 123,000 people.
The geography of Washington County is largely rural and consists of rolling hills, forests, and wetlands. The highest point in the county is Wight Hill at 317 feet above sea level. The coast of Narragansett Bay runs along its western edge providing spectacular views of both land and sea.
According to ITYPEUSA.COM, the weather in Washington County ranges from mild summers with high temperatures around 80 degrees Fahrenheit to cold winters with temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit. In spring and fall, temperatures tend to be mild with some days reaching into the 60s or 70s. Rainfall averages around 40 inches per year with snowfall averages ranging from 18-25 inches per year depending on location within the county.
Washington County’s population is mainly concentrated in its two largest cities: Westerly and South Kingstown. Westerly has a population of 22,000 while South Kingstown has a population of 30,000 people. Other smaller towns include Charlestown, Hopkinton, Exeter, Richmond, Narragansett, North Kingstown and New Shoreham (Block Island). The majority of residents are white (86 percent) followed by Hispanic or Latino (7 percent), African American (3 percent), Asian (2 percent) and Native American (1 percent).
Economy of Washington County, Rhode Island
Washington County, Rhode Island has a diverse and vibrant economy that is driven by tourism, education, healthcare, and the military. The county’s tourism industry is the largest sector of its economy and includes attractions such as beaches, resorts, historic sites, and museums. Education is also an important component of the local economy with a number of universities and colleges located in or near Washington County. Healthcare is another key sector with several hospitals and medical centers located throughout the county. Lastly, the military has a long history in Washington County with multiple bases located in or near the county including Naval Station Newport and Quonset Point Air National Guard Base.
The unemployment rate in Washington County is 4.3 percent which is slightly lower than that of Rhode Island as a whole (4.4 percent). The median household income in Washington County is $64,834 which is slightly higher than that of Rhode Island ($63,870). In terms of jobs, the largest sectors are trade/transportation/utilities (14 percent), government (13 percent), education/health services (13 percent), leisure/hospitality (12 percent), manufacturing (11 percent), professional/business services (10 percent) and financial activities (7 percent).
The county has an abundance of natural resources which include Narragansett Bay and its many tributaries as well as numerous forests and wetlands. These resources provide opportunities for recreation such as fishing, hunting, boating, bird watching etc., but also provide potential economic development opportunities for renewable energy sources such as wind power or solar power. Furthermore, Washington County’s location along Interstate 95 makes it an ideal spot for distribution centers or warehouses due to its proximity to major cities like New York City and Boston.
Washington County’s economy continues to be strong despite some economic challenges faced by other parts of Rhode Island due to its diverse industries, natural resources, educational institutions and access to major markets via I-95.
Libraries in Washington County, Rhode Island
According to babyinger, Washington County, Rhode Island is home to a variety of public libraries that serve the county’s diverse population. These libraries offer a plethora of services and resources to meet the needs of the community and promote literacy.
In Westerly, the Westerly Public Library serves as the main library for Washington County. This library offers an extensive collection of books, magazines, newspapers, audio-visual materials, and digital resources such as e-books and online databases. The library also provides access to computers with internet connection for patrons who need to do research or access online services. In addition to traditional materials and services, the Westerly Public Library also offers programs such as book clubs, computer classes, storytimes for children, and educational workshops for adults.
The South Kingstown Public Library is located in Peace Dale and serves residents in South Kingstown as well as parts of Narragansett and North Kingstown. This library has an extensive collection of books as well as magazines, newspapers, audio-visual materials, digital resources such as e-books and online databases. In addition to traditional materials and services offered by this library include story times for children; adult education classes; lectures; book clubs; computer classes; special events such as art shows; movies; music performances; book sales; author visits; chess tournaments; gaming nights; genealogy workshops; summer reading programs for children/teens/adults; passport application assistance and more.
The Wakefield Public Library is located in Wakefield and serves residents in South Kingstown and Narragansett. This library has an extensive collection of books including fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels/mangas/comics etc., magazines/newspapers/audio-visual materials etc., digital resources such as e-books/online databases etc., computers with internet access for patrons who need to do research or access online services etc., special events such as author visits etc., summer reading programs for children/teens/adults etc., genealogy workshops etc.. In addition to these traditional materials and services offered by this library they also have a large selection of board games available for checkout by patrons which can be used at home or at the library’s game nights held throughout the year.
Lastly, there are two other smaller libraries located in Washington County which are open seasonally from June through August: The Hope Valley Library which is located in Hope Valley serving Exeter residents only (this is a one room facility with limited hours); The Ashaway Free Library which is located in Ashaway serving Hopkinton residents only (this is also a small facility with limited hours).
Washington County boasts a number of public libraries that serve its diverse population by providing access to traditional materials like books but also offering programming opportunities like lectures or gaming nights that help foster learning within the community while promoting literacy among all ages.
Landmarks in Washington County, Rhode Island
Washington County, Rhode Island is home to a number of unique and interesting landmarks. Located in the southwestern corner of the state, this county has something to offer for everyone. From beautiful beaches to historic sites, Washington County has it all.
The beaches of Washington County are some of the most popular attractions in the area. The Misquamicut State Beach is a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying some time outdoors. There are also plenty of other spots along the coast where visitors can go fishing or take part in water sports activities.
For those looking for a bit more history, there are plenty of spots to explore in Washington County. The Wilcox Park is home to several historic sites including the Wilcox Mansion and Fort Adams. The mansion was built in 1793 and served as a summer retreat for President James Monroe during his presidency. It is now open for tours during certain times throughout the year and offers visitors an opportunity to learn about life during that era. Fort Adams was built in 1794.