The "Vacant Land Tract" lying to the west of the Town of East Greenwich was the favorite hunting grounds of the Narragansett Indians. Game animals were abundant and the Big River and Wood River were fished for salmon and trout. Several wigwams and early shelters were built in the Mishnock area, and the woods surrounding Nooseneck and Rattlesnake Ledge. On June 10, 1709, a group of thirteen men purchased 35,000 acres of the "Vacant Lands" for the sum of 1,000 pounds. A signed petition was submitted in October, 1740, to Governor Richard Wandd, requesting that the area be set off as a separate town. It was not until April 1741, that the General Assembly for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at the request of the freemen of this area incorporated West Greenwich as a separate town.  The settlers of West Greenwich were a hardy and handy lot accustomed to hard work and the use of the gun and axe. After the American Revolution farming and lumbering became the main occupations of the townspeople. During the Civil War manufacturing goods took precedence and contributed considerably to the town's development during this period.  West Greenwich is noted for its fine riding trails and rural countryside.

Government in West Greenwich, Rhode Island

West Greenwich Established in 1639, Incorporated in 1741
West Greenwich Form of Government: Five-member Town Council headed by a Council President.
West Greenwich Council Meetings: The second Wednesday of each onth at 8:00 pm. Financial Town meeting held the third Monday in May.
West Greenwich Fiscal Year Begins: July 1

West Greenwich Town Hall
280 Victory Highway
West Greenwich, Rhode Island 02817
FAX: 397-6890
Hours: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

West Greenwich General Demographic Characteristics

• West Greenwich Population: The population count for The Town of West Greenwich as of April 1, 2005, was 5,085. This represented a 45.62% increase (1,593 persons) from the 1990 population of 3,492.
• West Greenwich Rank: In 2005 West Greenwich ranks 36th in population among Rhode Island's 39 cities and towns.
• West Greenwich Median Age: In 2005 the median age of the population in West Greenwich was 37.4.
• West Greenwich Age Distribution: In 2005, 71.6% or 3,641 persons residing in West Greenwich were 18 years of age or older. 3,479 were 21 and over, 440 were 62 and over, and 359 were 65 and over.
• West Greenwich Population Density: The 2005 population density of West Greenwich is 100 persons per square mile of land area. West Greenwich contains 50.63 square miles of land area (131,125,935 Sq. meters) (32,402.18 acres) and 0.69 square miles of water area (1,780,690 square meters) (441.6 acres).
• West Greenwich Housing Units: The total number of housing units in the The Town of West Greenwich as of April 1, 2005, was 1,809. This represented an increase of 439 units from the 1,370 housing units in 1990. Of the 1,809 housing units 60 were vacant. 22 of the vacant units were for seasonal of recreational use.
• West Greenwich Households: In 2005, there are 1,749 households in West Greenwich with an average size of 2.90 persons. Of these, 1,451 were family households with an average family size of 3.18 persons.
• West Greenwich Race:
  > West Greenwich Total Population of One Race: 5,035
  > West Greenwich White Population: 4,968
  > West Greenwich Black of African American: 14
  > West Greenwich American Indian and Alaska Native: 12
  > West Greenwich Asian Population: 29
  > West Greenwich Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0
  > Some Other Race in West Greenwich: 12
  > West Greenwich Total Population of two or More Races: 50
  > West Greenwich Hispanic or Latino: In 2005, 35 persons of Hispanic origin resided in West Greenwich. This represented 0.7% of the population. An increase of 22 or 169.2% from the 1980 Hispanic population of 13. 
  
                                   West Greenwich, Rhode Island Official Web Site