Best Community #16: Brains and Beauty
Thursday, June 23, 2011
North Kingstown
Few communities in Rhode Island combine major university resources with small waterfront villages, military/industrial sites with historic homes. Fold in the birthplace of perhaps the most famous early American portrait artist with the state's most famous doughnut shop, and you're getting at the chemistry that places this South County star in the Top 20 in 2011.
Those waterfront properties and quaint villages like Wickford may make North Kingstown an enviable place to live, but places is down the Affordability rankings at 25th in 2011. On the other hand, its public schools perform well enough to take 12th place, and with a variety of restaurant, historic properties and museums, it grabs another 12th ranking in Arts & Culture measures.
North Kingstown by the numbers
Established: 1641
Population: 26,486
Median household income: $76,657
Median housing price: $292,000
2011 Best Communities rankings
Overall ranking: 16
Affordability ranking: 25
Education ranking: 12
Economic condition ranking: 12
Safety ranking: 19
Arts & Culture ranking: 12
History in a nutshell:
When Kings Town was incorporated in 1674, it included the areas which are now the present towns of North Kingstown and South Kingstown. It was not until 1722-1723 that these two towns were established as separate entities. Because of North Kingstown’s geography as a natural harbor it is known as a sea town, famous for its summer resorts and sailing culture. Its earliest industries included farming, fishing, textiles, and boat building. North Kingstown is a community imbued with the history of colonial New England as there are military forts, old churches, and nostalgic shops and homes. The history of North Kingstown is just as exciting as its future, as there is a budding, major job producing Industrial Park, which will continue North Kingstown’s industrial growth and prosperity.
Famous residents:
Gilbert Stuart, portrait artist
Additional research by Nate Holterman
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