Town of Bristol
Updated Demographic and Economic Characteristics
* Annual information for 2000-2006 is available by downloading this Excel file
Government
Town Hall
10 Court St.
Bristol, RI 02809
Fax: 401-253-1570
Hours: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
- Established: 1680
- Incorporated: 1746
- Form of government: The town of Bristol is governed by an elected town administrator and a five-member town council, an elected town clerk and an elected school committee
council meetings: Every third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. - Fiscal year begins: July 1
A summary profile of Census 2000 characteristics is available from the RI Office of Statewide Planning at: http://www.planning.ri.gov/census/citytown.htm
Community Links
Hyperlinks provided by the Office of Municipal Affairs, Rhode Island Department of Administration.
- Bristol municipal departments and officials
- Find Bristol's state senator and representative
- The town of Bristol
- East Bay Chamber of Commerce
- Bristol Online (The Bristol Phoenix)
- Rogers Free Library
- Area points of interest and attractions please visit the state tourism website
History
The early history of Bristol is associated with the King Philip War. It was within its borders that King Philip maintained his headquarters and plotted his campaign against the white settlers. Perhaps the most noted spot in the town is the place where King Philip was killed in the swamp at the foot of Mount Hope. Bristol was incorporated as part of Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts in 1680. In 1746 it was transferred to Rhode Island with the rowns of Barrington, Tiverton, Little Compton and Cumberland. Sailing and shipbuilding have played an important role in the life of Bristol since the 17th century. The historic downtown area contains many fine examples of colonial and Federal architecture from Bristol's seafaring era. The annual Fourth of July parade is the oldest, largest and most colorful in the nation.
The main campus of Roger Williams College is located on Mount Hope Bay in Bristol, and is one of the few seaside campuses in the northeast. The town has a variety of shops and restaurants as well as the Bristol Art Museum, the Haffenreffer Indian Museum and an interesting waterfront. Bounded by 15 miles of coastline on Narragansett Bay, the town provides facilities for boating, swimming and fishing. Residents of Bristol enjoy swimming at Beach Terrace, Bristol Highlands, Bristol Narrows, and at the town beach. Colt State Park provides a pleasant recess on the west side of the town overlooking Narragansett Bay. Bristol's geography, as a peninsula between Narragansett Bay and Mount Hope Bay, makes its climate more moderate than most New England communities, warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. The town is only a 30 minute drive from both Providence and Newport and 90 minutes from Boston via Route 24.
Irena Nedeljkovic-Cunningham