The Town of West Warwick, unlike many other communities in the State of Rhode Island, does not have an official founding date going back to the 17th Century. Through the urging and votes of many people in Western Warwick, Governor Adam J. Potheir signed a bill for the division of the Town of Warwick on March 14, 1913. The new town was called West Warwick, the youngest community in the State of Rhode Island.
West Warwick has an outstanding tradition and heritage despite its late founding. Rapid industrial development in the Pawtuxet Valley area, continuous educational growth, rapid expansion of commerce, and with the arrival of large groups of immigrants in the 19th Century, West Warwick progressed quickly as a well established town.  West Warwick had been known in its early days for its cotton industry, boasting the first stone cotton mill in the State. The cotton industry gradually decreased. After World War II, increasing trends became apparent in West Warwick; a variety of large businesses providing large outputs and synthetic fiber manufacturers taking a lead over the cotton industry. West Warwick has offered prime industrial sites along Interstate Route 95, and in recent years numerous firms have constructed new plants in this area.  European traditions have been preserved in West Warwick with the celebration of St. Patrick's Day, and the Portuguese Holy Ghost Festival. Its first St. Patrick's Day Parade was held in March 1960, since then this event has grown to Statewide recognition and has attracted thousands of spectators, many dignitaries and generous media coverage. The Portuguese Holy Ghost Festival, held annually for the past 65 years, commemorates the kindness of the generous Portuguese Queen Isabella, who provided food for the poor of Portugal.

Government in West Warwick, Rhode Island

West Warwick Established in 1648, Incorporated in 1913
West Warwick Form of Government: Town Manager and five member Town Council
West Warwick Council Meetings: The first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm, Financial Town Meeting held the 3rd Tuesday in May.
West Warwick Fiscal Year Begins: July 1

West Warwick Town Hall
1170 Main Street
West Warwick, Rhode Island 02893
FAX: 822-9212
Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, June 1 to Labor Day, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

West Warwick General Demographic Characteristics

• West Warwick Population: The population count for The Town of West Warwick as of April 1, 2005, was 29,581. This represented a 1.07% increase (313 persons) from the 1990 population of 29,268.
• West Warwick Rank: In 2005 West Warwick ranks 10th in population among Rhode Island's 39 cities and towns.
• West Warwick Median Age: In 2005 the median age of the population in West Warwick was 36.4.
• West Warwick Age Distribution: In 2005, 77.6% or 22,949 persons residing in West Warwick were 18 years of age or older. 21,835 were 21 and over, 4,776 were 62 and over, and 4,165 were 65 and over.
• West Warwick Population Density: The 2005 population density of West Warwick is 3,729 persons per square mile of land area. West Warwick contains 7.93 square miles of land area (20,547,226 Sq. meters) (5,077.37 acres) and 0.18 square miles of water area (465,550 square meters) (115.2 acres).
• West Warwick Housing Units: The total number of housing units in the The Town of West Warwick as of April 1, 2005, was 13,186. This represented an increase of 698 units from the 12,488 housing units in 1990. Of the 13,186 housing units 688 were vacant. 71 of the vacant units were for seasonal of recreational use.
• West Warwick Households: In 2005, there are 12,498 households in West Warwick with an average size of 2.35 persons. Of these, 7,700 were family households with an average family size of 2.97 persons.
• West Warwick Race:
  > West Warwick Total Population of One Race: 29,025
  >West Warwick White Population: 27,740
  > West Warwick Black of African American: 328
  > West Warwick American Indian and Alaska Native: 105
  > West Warwick Asian Population: 420
  > West Warwick Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 7
  > Some Other Race in West Warwick: 425
  >West Warwick Total Population of two or More Races: 556
  >West Warwick Hispanic or Latino: In 2005, 918 persons of Hispanic origin resided in West Warwick. This represented 3.1% of the population. An increase of 376 or 69.4% from the 1980 Hispanic population of 542.
  
                                        West Warwick, Rhode Island Official Web Site