Smithfield, Rhode Island
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Smithfield is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 20,613 at the 2000 census.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 71.9 km² (27.8 mi²). 68.9 km² (26.6 mi²) of it is land and 3.1 km² (1.2 mi²) of it (4.25%) is water. Smithfield is also the home of Bryant University (formerly Bryant College).Within the town are six villages: Esmond, Greenville, Spragueville, Mountaindale, Georgiaville and Stillwater.
[edit] Demographics
Smithfield is named after Smithfield, London in England.
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 20,613 people, 7,194 households, and 4,992 families residing in the town. The population density was 299.3/km² (775.3/mi²). There were 7,396 housing units at an average density of 107.4/km² (278.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.35% White, 0.80% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population.
There were 7,194 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.5% under the age of 18, 15.2% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $55,621, and the median income for a family was $66,320. Males had a median income of $45,946 versus $31,981 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,224. About 2.8% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Economy
With the shopping plaza, the Crossings, Smithfield is thriving as an economic center for Northern Rhode Island. The Crossings was completed in the Early 2000's and includes anchor stores such as Home Depot, Target, and Dick's Sporting Goods. Smithfield is also home to one of a handful of Fidelity Investment's Regional Sites, with over 1500 jobs.
[edit] Education
The Smithfield Public School System includes 1 high school, Smithfield High School; 1 middle school, Vincent J. Gallagher Middle School; as well as four elementary schools, Anna M. McCabe, Raymond C. Laperche, Old County Road School, and William Winsor. Another school is in the budget. The new school is currently set to replace the middle school, with the current middle school serving as a super elementary school covering both Anna M. McCabe and William Winsor.
The catholic parish of St. Phillip's also has its own school, and Bryant University, a four year business school formerly known as Bryant College, is also located in Smithfield. Masters Regional Academy, a non-denominational regional Christian school for students in grades 7-12 is located in Smithfield.
[edit] Politics
Smithfield runs under the Town Council-Manager form of government. The town council consists of five council members who are elected every two years. The town council selects the town manager. The School Committee also consists of five members but they serve for four years.
Current Posts of Office
Town Manager
Stanley J. Usovicz. Jr.
Town Council
Richard A Poirier, President
Michael J. Flyyn, Vice President
Ronald F. Manni, Member
Maxine Cavanagh, Member
Stephen G. Tocco, Member
Superintendent of Schools
Robert O'Brian
School Committee
Virginia Harnois, Chairperson
Ricahrd B. Iannitelli, Member
Joan J. LaFauci, Member
Lauraine A. Ouellette, Member
Peter Sangiovanni, Member
Senator and Representatives in the General Assembly
John J. Tassoni Jr, Senator
Peter John Petraca, Representative
Thomas J. Winfield, Representative
[edit] Noted people
- Cyrus Aldrich - (1808-1871), born in Smithfield, United States Congressman from Minnesota[1]
- Peleg Arnold- A delegate to the Continental Congress.
- Daniel Mowry, Jr.- Another delegate to the Continental Congress.
- Arthur Steere- politician, businessman
[edit] References
-
- ^ (1967) Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Marquis Who's Who.
[edit] External link
 |
State of Rhode Island |
|---|---|
| Topics |
Culture · Geography · Government · History · Images |
| Capital | |
| Regions |
Blackstone Valley · Block Island · East Bay · Newport County · Providence · South County · Warwick/West Bay |
| Counties |
Bristol · Kent · Newport · Providence · Washington |
| Cities |
Central Falls · Cranston · East Providence · Newport · Pawtucket · Providence · Warwick · Woonsocket |
| Towns |
Barrington · Bristol · Burrillville · Charlestown · Coventry · Cumberland · East Greenwich · Exeter · Foster · Glocester · Hopkinton · Jamestown · Johnston · Lincoln · Little Compton · Middletown · Narragansett · New Shoreham (Block Island) · North Kingstown · North Providence · North Smithfield · Portsmouth · Richmond · Scituate · Smithfield · South Kingstown · Tiverton · Warren · West Greenwich · West Warwick · Westerly |
| Reservations |
