Woonsocket, the Indian name for "thundermist", has a long and interesting history. The area known as Woonsocket was first settled in the late 17th Century. The early settlers farmed the land and utilized the power of the Woonsocket Falls. The City's abundant water power was a significant factor in determining the development of Woonsocket, which was mainly industrial. From the time it was first settled until nearly a hundred years later, Woonsocket was a quiet backwoods region inhabited by Quaker farmers and millers. The city was noted as a stop on the highway to Boston, Worcester, Connecticut and Providence. The peaceful serenity of this early New England community soon changed. Between 1810 and 1830, six manufacturing villages sprang up. New settlers arrived from surrounding towns, Europe, and large numbers of French Canadians. In a short time Woonsocket became a bustling, industrial and ethnically diverse community. Today manufacturing still dominates Woonsocket's economy, but to a lesser degree. Woonsocket's many residents work within the city as well as in nearby Massachusetts. Route 146, and the Providence and Worcester Railroad, link Woonsocket to the two major centers in the region, and Interstate 295 intersects Route 146 four miles south of the city. Woonsocket central location and easy accessibility makes the City an ideal location for business development and residence.
Government in Woonsocket, Rhode Island
WoonsocketEstablished in 1867, Incorporated in 1888 Woonsocket Form of Government: Mayor and seven-member City Council. Woonsocket Council Meetings: The first and third Mondays of each month at 7 pm. Woonsocket Fiscal Year Begins: July 1
Woonsocket City Hall 169 Main Street Woonsocket, Rhode Island 02895 FAX: 765-4569 Hours: 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Woonsocket General Demographic Characteristics
Woonsocket Population: The population count for The City of Woonsocket as of April 1, 2005, was 43,224. This represented a -1.49% decrease (653 persons) from the 1990 population of 43,877.
Woonsocket Rank: In 2005 Woonsocket ranks 6th in population among Rhode Island's 39 cities and towns.
Woonsocket Median Age: In 2005 the median age of the population in Woonsocket was 34.8.
Woonsocket Age Distribution: In 2005, 74.2% or 32,069 persons residing in Woonsocket were 18 years of age or older. 30,432 were 21 and over, 7,467 were 62 and over, and 6,589 were 65 and over.
Woonsocket Population Density: The 2005 population density of Woonsocket is 5,609 persons per square mile of land area. Woonsocket contains 7.71 square miles of land area (19,959,602 Sq. meters) (4,932.16 acres) and 0.25 square miles of water area (644,263 square meters) (160 acres).
Woonsocket Housing Units: The total number of housing units in the The City of Woonsocket as of April 1, 2005, was 18,757. This represented an increase of 18 units from the 18,739 housing units in 1990. Of the 18,757 housing units 1,007 were vacant. 31 of the vacant units were for seasonal of recreational use.
Woonsocket Households: In 2005, there are 17,750 households in Woonsocket with an average size of 2.37 persons. Of these, 10,768 were family households with an average family size of 3.02 persons.
Woonsocket Race: > WoonsocketTotal Population of One Race: 41,865 > Woonsocket White Population: 35,935 > Woonsocket Black of African American: 1,920 > Woonsocket American Indian and Alaska Native: 139 > Woonsocket Asian Population: 1,755 > Woonsocket Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 14 > Some Other Race in Woonsocket: 2,102 > Woonsocket Total Population of two or More Races: 1,359 > Woonsocket Hispanic or Latino: In 2005, 4,030 persons of Hispanic origin resided in Woonsocket. This represented 9.3% of the population. An increase of 2,874 or 248.6% from the 1980 Hispanic population of 1,156.
