Town of Johnston
Updated Demographic and Economic Characteristics
* Annual information for 2000-2008 is available by downloading this Excel file
Government
Town Hall
1385 Hartford Ave.
Johnston, RI 02919
Hours: 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
- Established: 1636
- Incorporated: 1759
- Form of government: Mayor and a five-member town council
- Council meetings: The second Monday of each 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.
- Johnston municipal departments and officials
- Johnston state senator and representative
- Town of Johnston
- Area points of interest and attractions: please visit the state tourism website
History
Originally a part of Providence, Johnston became a separate town and was incorporated in 1759. It was named in honor of Augustus Lucas Johnston, of Newport, Attorney General of Rhode Island from 1758 to 1766. He owned much of the land in this area. The first settler was Thomas Clemence who built a house circa 1680, which still stands at 38 George Waterman Road, and is known as the Clemence-Irons House. A soapstone quarry, used earlier by the Indians, and a granite quarry were worked by the early settlers. A cotton mill was built in 1835, and a dyestuffs factory was established about 1870. A major industrial development was the founding of a hosiery company in 1884 which employed more than 100 people. However, throughout its early history, until the middle of the 19th century, Johnston was primarily a farming community. Now the importance of farming has been replaced by the manufacture of jewelry and silverware, fabricated metals, and retail trade establishments. Today, while a few colonial farm houses dot the landscape, Johnston has mainly given way to suburban development.
Irena Nedeljkovic-Cunningham