Town of Hopkinton
Updated Demographic and Economic Characteristics
* Annual information for 2000-2006 is available by downloading this Excel file
Government
Town Hall
1 Town House Rd.
Hopkinton, RI 02833
Fax: 401-377-7788
Hours: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
- Established: 1639
- Incorporated: 1757
- Form of government: Five-member town council headed by a Council President.
- Council meetings: The first and third Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. Financial town meeting held May 1 to May 15 as set by town council.
- 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.
- Hopkinton municipal departments and officials
- Hopkinton state senator and representative
- Hope Valley school website
- The Chariho Times (Southern Rhode Island Newspapers)
- Area points of interest and attractions: please visit the state tourism website
History
Hopkinton, along with Richmond and Charlestown, was established in 1669 as a part of the town of Westerly. However, after the people petitioned the General Assembly to divide it, the town of Hopkinton was incorporated on March 14, 1757. Hopkinton was named in honor of Stephen Hopkins, who was then governor of Rhode Island, and also a signer of the Declaration of Independence. In the years prior to its independence, the Hopkinton side of the Pawcatuck River was the religious, business and civic center of Westerly. Even earlier the entire Misquamicut Region, located in the southwestern part of what was then Narragansett County, was inhabited by Indian Tribes. Today there is evidence of the former presence of Indians thousands of years ago in Hopkinton — the Indian Rock Shelters, Indian Signal Rocks and numerous other artifacts.
In 1876, and again in 1976, during the Bicentennial Celebration, Hopkinton took great pride in participating in the celebration of America. There was a comprehensive program for Bicentennial activity, and Hopkinton received an American Revolution Bicentennial certificate and flag designating Hopkinton as a bicentennial community. Today, Hopkinton is still a rural town. Recreation is highlighted in Hopkinton with fresh water fishing facilities, parks and numerous campgrounds. Hopkinton is one of the popular vacation areas of southern Rhode Island and convenient to miles of ocean front beaches. Camp Yawgoog, operated by the Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts of America, and located in Rockville, is one of the largest Boy Scout camps in the United States.
Irena Nedeljkovic-Cunningham