Town of Charlestown

Updated Demographic and Economic Characteristics

* Annual information for 2000-2006 is available by downloading this Excel file  

Government

Town Hall
4540 South County Trail
Charlestown, RI 02813
Fax: 401-364-1238
Hours: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Census 2000 Data

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.

History

Charlestown, named for King Charles II, was taken from the town of Westerly, and incorporated in 1738. In 1747, it was divided, and the north portion of the Pawcatuck River became the town of Richmond. The town of Charlestown is located along the southern shore of Rhode Island approximately equidistant from Groton/New London, Connecticut and Providence, Rhode Island, each a drive of approximately 40 minutes. Charlestown is bounded to the west by the towns of Westerly and Hopkinton.  Charlestown's neighbor to the east is the town of South Kingstown. To the north is the town of Richmond, with which Charlestown shares the villages of Carolina and Shannock. The town landscape is divided by a ridge of steeply rolling hills (glacial moraine) that run north of U.S. Route 1 parallel to the shore. The flat sandy coastal area extends roughly from Route 1 south to Block Island Sound. North of the moraine, the terrain is more gentle with large wetlands such as the Cedar Swamp and open water bodies such as Watchaug, Schoolhouse, and Pasquiset Ponds.

The lands of the Narragansett Tribe of Indians, approximately 1,900 acres, are almost entirely surrounded by Charlestown and adjoin Richmond to the north. These lands comprise a community separate from Charlestown. The tribal lands, designated in a recent settlement, reflect the historic presence of the Narragansett Indian Tribe. 

The town contains several natural resources features that define its character. The unusually large amount of conservation and recreation land in Charlestown reflects the amount of important natural resources in the town. Burlingame State Park, Ninigret Wildlife Refuge, Ninigret Park and East Beach comprise approximately 20 percent of the total land area of the town and protected wetlands, fresh and salt ponds and a barrier beach system. Coastal ponds, fronted by barrier beaches, provide a recreational resource for the state as well as the town, attracting visitors and serving as a focal point for development.

 


Contact Information