Town of Richmond
Updated Demographic and Economic Characteristics
* Annual information for 2000-2006 is available by downloading this Excel file
Government
Town Hall
5 Richmond Townhouse Rd.
Richmond, RI 02898
Fax: 401-539-1089
Hours: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Established: 1669
- Incorporated: 1747
- Form of government: Five-member town council headed by a council president.
- Council meetings: First and third Monday of each month at 7:30 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
- Town of Richmond
- The Chariho Times (Southern Rhode Island Newspapers)
- Area points of interest and attractions: please visit the state tourism website
History
Originally a part of Charlestown, the town of Richmond was incorporated August 18, 1747. It was probably named in honor of Edward Richmond, the Attorney General of the colony from 1671 to 1680, who took an active part in the original settlement of the area. A large portion of the town was included in the Shannock Purchase, a tract of vacant land sold by the Commissioners of the General Assembly to a company of purchasers in 1709.
Like many other communities in Washington County, 17th century Richmond was home for many early settlers. After purchasing land from the Indians, these wealthy Narragansett planters settled in South County and brought an accumulated wealth to the area. Eventually industry overpowered these agricultural moguls, and the greater wealth moved to the cities. Today, Richmond's small population is primarily employed in manufacturing. The end of the plantation era also signaled the beginning of the early water-powered industry. The water power of Richmond's streams furnished the motive power for its sawmills and the textile industry. The first cotton mill was organized at Hope Valley 1810, and a second mill in Wyoming in 1814. From 1826, and for the next 90 years, the life and history of the village of Arcadia was entwined with the activity of the Arcadia Mill.
Richmond is still a rural area. In fact, a large portion of the town (about 60 percent) is undeveloped woodland. Points of interest in Richmond include Arcadia, a quaint village popular for Arcadia State Park, the state-operated Fish Cultural Station in Arcadia where the primary focus has been to introduce such species as Northern Pike and Atlantic Shad to New England waters, and Shannock Falls, the location of a fierce battle between the Narragansett Indians and the Pequot Indians for possession of fishing rights.
Irena Nedeljkovic-Cunningham