Best Community #12: Blackstone Valley Standout

Thursday, June 23, 2011

GoLocalProv Best Communities Team

North Smithfield

Another Blackstone Valley star takes up residence in the Top 15 rankings today... perhaps testimony to the enduring power of mill towns and their legacies in Rhode Island. This northern mid-sized community embraces a number of mill villages, and was a central stop on the Great Road's stagecoach route. Now, with a strong suburban mentality, it houses nearly 12,000 Rhode Islanders.

North Smithfield combines key community indicators that translate into a 12th-place ranking in 2011. Placing 7th in Affordability, 11th in Economic Condition, and 4th in Safety, it makes living easy.

North Smithfield by the numbers

Established: 1730
Population: 11,967
Median household income: $76,903
Median housing price: $235,000

2011 Best Communities rankings

Overall ranking: 12
Affordability ranking: 7
Education ranking: 19
Economic condition ranking: 11
Safety ranking: 4
Arts & Culture ranking: 35

History in a nutshell:

North Smithfield was incorporated as a town in March 1871 and was at first known as Slater, but only 16 days later the official name was changed to North Smithfield. Located in the northwest portion of the original Smithfield territory, North Smithfield was mostly a rural-agrarian society. Most of its inhabitants’ lives were centered on their farms. When industry began to rise in Rhode Island, North Smithfield was also affected and industrial growth in North Smithfield was centered on its water power. Villages developed around bodies of water which would naturally drive the mills. North Smithfield has changed greatly since its agriculturally focused origins. The land formally used for farming and the surrounding forests are being redesigned into residential, industrial, and recreational use forming a pleasant suburban identity.

Famous residents:

Peleg Arnold, delegate to the Continental Congress and Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court
Jeff Jillson, National Hockey League player
David Rawlings, musician, singer/songwriter

Additional research by Nate Holterman

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