Best Community #3: The Icon

Friday, June 24, 2011

GoLocalProv Best Communities Team

 

View Larger +

Barrington

If ever a suburb were a town, a town a suburb, a place where everyone moves so children can ride bicycles in cul-de-sacs, and play on soccer teams, and attend top-notch public schools, it's this town. And that never-ending surge of upwardly mobile families helps keep this East Bay star at the top of the state's rankings, and this year, up two spots to a dazzling 3rd-place finish for 2011.

What doesn't Barrington have, except a quaint town green? It dominates the state's Education rankings at #1, holds its own in the Top 5 on Economic Condition, tallies 8th in Safety. With the state's highest median income at $96,250 it's the Gold Coast, all right, but remarkable that it holds on to 9th place in Affordability. And it still has a Newport Creamery.

View Larger +

Barrington by the numbers

Established: 1653
Population: 16,310
Median household income: $96,250
Median housing price: $305,500

2011 Best Communities rankings

Overall ranking: 3
Affordability ranking: 9
Education ranking: 1
Economic condition ranking: 5
Safety ranking: 8
Arts & Culture ranking: 27

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

History in a nutshell:

Originally known as Sowams, Barrington used to be the home of Massasoit, chief of the Wampanoag Indians. The land between the Narragansett Bay and the Taunton River was bought from Massasoit in 1653 by Governer William Bradford and Captain Miles Standish. Four years later this area was incorporated as part of the Plymouth colony under the name of Swansea. In 1717, Barrington was set off as its own town but still a part of the state of Massachusetts. In 1746, Barrington became a part of Rhode Island and a year later, the name of the town changed to “Warren,” in honor of Sir Peter Warren of the Royal British Navy. In 1770, Barrington and Warren split, and Barrington was incorporated as its own town. In its earliest days, Barrington was an agricultural society but it slowly began to develop a manufacturing industry. In the 19th century it became popular as a summer resort area and is still today known for its beautiful homes and large country estates.

Famous residents:

David Angell, American television sitcom producer
Nicholas Bianco, former member of the Colombo Crime Family before moving to Barrington. Underboss then Boss of the Patriarca Crime Family. Died in prison in 1994.
Thomas W. Bicknell, educator and historian
Christopher Denise, illustrator of children's books, including many in the Redwall series
Brad Faxon, professional golfer
Steven Frazier, CNN anchor
Henry Giroux, world-renowned academic and cultural critic
Spalding Gray, actor, screenwriter and playwright
Scott Haltzman, physician and author (wrote Secrets of Happily Married Men)
Michael S. Harper, poet
Phil Madeira, Nashville songwriter, musician, and recording artist, raised there
Shanna Moakler, model, Miss USA 1995, actress, and reality television star
Jon Land, author and screenwriter of Dirty Deeds.
Dan & Jordan Pious, winners of the Amazing Race 16.

Additional research by Nate Holterman

 

Related Articles

 

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

 
 

Sign Up for the Daily Eblast

I want to follow on Twitter

I want to Like on Facebook