Potowomut is an isolated neighborhood and a peninsula in Warwick, Rhode Island. It borders the Town of East Greenwich to the southwest, North Kingstown to the southeast, and Greenwich Bay on all other sides.
Potowomut's name translates to "land of fires", the Narragansett Indian name for the neck of land.
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It was originally a village in the Warwick Township of Kent County. It can be called an exclave, since there is no overland connection to the rest of the city of Warwick. It is often mistakenly referred to as being part of the Town of East Greenwich. Nathanael Greene, a general in the American Revolutionary War was born here on Forge Farm in 1742.
In the 1680s, the first white settlers arrived with James Greene at what came to be known as Greene's River. Here, his son, Jabez, built a dam and a mill, later; his descendants established an anchor forge, now located at the foot of Old Forge Road. The Greene family mainly used the land to raise cattle and harvest hay, which was then shipped across Greenwich Bay to the wharf in Apponaug, Rhode Island. Upon James' death, the property passed to his son Richard. A fondness for lavish hospitality and fancy living plunged Richard Greene into deep debt.
To visit Potowomut by land, one must leave the City of Warwick to get to it. The most common route follows US Route 1 (Post Rd.), and entering East Greenwich, takes Forge Road.
Potowomut's Fire Fighting services are provided by the town of East Greenwich for a yearly fee. Police Services are provided by the Warwick Police Department.[1]
Today, Potowomut is a reminder of Warwick's past. The peninsula's eastern tip gives a view of Greenwich Bay. The narrow streets have a mix of older and newer houses.
Unique to Potowomut is Goddard Memorial State Park. Goddard Park attracts thousands of visitors each year as Rhode Island’s most popular metropolitan park. Its facilities include a 9 hole golf course designed by Donald Ross, a horse barn where the public can rent and ride horses, a beach with bathhouse, sprawling open fields, and a carousel building for functions. Located next to the park is Potowomut Country Club, a private club.
Potowomut is a peninsula on Narragansett Bay which can only be accessed via East Greenwich and/or the town of North Kingston, both of which have municipal sewer lines. Potowomut cannot be accessed regarding a municipal sewer line due to geography. The city has attempted numerous times to reach a viable agreement with both towns which would enable it to access either of both municipal sewer lines, upon a viable agreement. Potowomut, located on the Narragansett Bay, consists of multiple residential neighborhoods resulting in a catalyst of sewage over-spill into Narragansett Bay. There is no solution at this time.