The City of Warwick was founded January 12, 1642, when Samuel Gorton, and a dozen friends purchased more than 100 square miles of land from the Mahament Indians, a local branch of the great Nanhiganset Nation. These new settlers made their home in what today is referred to as Shawomet , or Old Warwick, at the head of the Old Warwick Cove. Warwick was reduced in land size by the loss of Coventry in 1741, and West Warwick in 1913. This left Warwick half of its original size, or 50 square miles. The settlement took its name "Warwick" in honor of the Earl of Warwick, who was instrumental in gaining an official charter in 1647. Today, Warwick is the second largest city in Rhode Island. The city is situated at the center of the state's super-highway system. Theodore Francis Green State Airport is located there and is the state's largest commercial air terminal. The state's two largest shopping malls are also located in Warwick. Warwick offers many educational, recreational, and cultural opportunities. The Knight Campus of Community College of Rhode Island, a state supported facility, is located in the western section of Warwick. Goddard Memorial State Park, one of the largest parks in Rhode Island is located in the Potowomut section of Warwick. The park offers picnic areas, accented with activities such as golfing and salt water bathing. Warwick central location in Rhode Island as well as the easy access for air travel, has made the city a prime area for further industrial, commercial and population growth.
Government in Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick Established in 1642 Warwick Incorporated in 1931 Warwick Form of Government: Mayor and nine member City Council Warwick Council Meetings: The second and third Mondays of each month at 7 pm. Warwick Fiscal Year Begins: July 1
WarwickCity Hall 3275 Post Road Warwick, Rhode Island 02886 FAX: 738-6639 Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Warwick General Demographic Characteristics
Warwick Population: The population count for The City of Warwick as of April 1, 2005, was 85,808. This represented a 0.45% increase (381 persons) from the 1990 population of 85,427.
Warwick Rank: In 2005 Warwick ranks 2nd in population among Rhode Island's 39 cities and towns.
Warwick Median Age: In 2005 the median age of the population in Warwick was 40.
Warwick Age Distribution: In 2005, 78.1% or 67,028 persons residing in Warwick were 18 years of age or older. 64,478 were 21 and over, 16,664 were 62 and over, and 14,558 were 65 and over.
Warwick Population Density: The 2005 population density of Warwick is 2,417 persons per square mile of land area. Warwick contains 35.50 square miles of land area (91,940,953 Sq. meters) (22,719.28 acres) and 14.12 square miles of water area (36,574,361 square meters) (9,036.76 acres).
Warwick Housing Units: The total number of housing units in the The City of Warwick as of April 1, 2005, was 37,085. This represented an increase of 1,944 units from the 35,141 housing units in 1990. Of the 37,085 housing units 1,568 were vacant. 493 of the vacant units were for seasonal of recreational use.
Warwick Households: In 2005, there are 35,517 households in Warwick with an average size of 2.39 persons. Of these, 22,971 were family households with an average family size of 2.99 persons.
Warwick Race: >Warwick Total Population of One Race: 84,706 > Warwick White Population: 81,695 > Warwick Black of African American: 996 > Warwick American Indian and Alaska Native: 213 > Warwick Asian Population: 1,281 > Warwick Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 15 > Some Other Race in Warwick : 506 > Warwick Total Population of two or More Races: 1,102 > Warwick Hispanic or Latino: In 2005, 1,372 persons of Hispanic origin resided in Warwick. This represented 1.6% of the population. An increase of 527 or 62.4% from the 1980 Hispanic population of 845.
