Located in the far northwest corner of the state bordering Massachusetts and Connecticut, Burrillville is a rural community that is dotted with granite relics of the water-powered mills of its colonial past. Now fully treed, a walk through the Burrillville woods reveals the now forgotten rock walls that bordered the colonial farms. The rural lifestyle that is Burrillville is only a 35-minute commute down Rte 102 to Rte 44, I-295, to Rte195 into Providence.

The first European settlers arrived in Burrillville in the late 17th Century. The town of Burrillville, established in 1730, was incorporated in 1806. For many decades after, and throughout the 18TH Century, farming was the predominant occupation of the inhabitants, who cleared most of the town's forested lands for their fields and pastures.

Burrillville’s natural features, landscape, and waterways have played an important role in the town's development. During the first half of the 19TH Century, the town's larger waterways - the Chepachet, Clear, Pascoag, and Branch River system were harnessed to power the textile mills, which formed the nuclei for more than a dozen hamlets and villages. The textile industry remained active into the 20TH Century, but gradually the mills ceased operating; many were torn down or destroyed by fire and never rebuilt.

Improved transportation facilities, and a changing economy have resulted in most of the townspeople working outside of the town, which has become a bedroom community. The former mill villages are no longer dependent on the mill fortunes, and most of these settlements survive as lovely and pleasant residential communities.

BRIDGETON CAR BARN. Bridgeton Square. In 1902, a substantial car barn was erected to house electric cars to be used for mass transportation. Car service to the area ceased in 1928, but a portion of the car barn remains as a reminder.

HARRISVILLE CENTER. 105 Harrisville Main Street. Seat of the town government, Harrisville is a combination of riverside crossroads and manufacturing village. Many of the quaint public buildings were built, moved, or renovated by Austin Levy, owner of the Stillwater Worsted Mills. The Colonial brick buildings include the Town Hall, library, The Assembly, post office, and court house. OPEN: Mon.-Fri, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 568-4300.

WESTERN HOTEL. (1774) Route 7, 610 Douglas Pike. Built as a hotel, this building was an important stage coach stop along Burrillville's 14 miles of stagecoach roads. Also used as a boarding house and a tavern. Second floor housed a dance hall and stage. OPEN: 11 a.m.-1 a.m. 568-6253.

WHITE MILL PARK. On Rte. 100 in the Bridgeton area of Pascoag. The original mill was built in 1834 and later burned. A worsted mill was erected on the site in 1895 by Arnold & Perkins using the available waterpower. The mill continued under various owners until closed in the 1960's after years of service to the community. 334-7773.

Population: The population count for the Town of Burrillville as of April 1, 2000, was 15,796. This represented a -2.7% change (-434) from the 1990 population of 16,230. 

Population Density: Burrillville contains 143.911 square kilometers of land area (55.564 Sq. Miles) and 4.108 square kilometers of water area (1.586 Sq. Miles). Total area is 148.019 square kilometers or 57.150 square miles. The 2000 population density of Burrillville is 284.1 persons per square mile of land area.

Age Distribution: In 2000, 11,753 persons residing in Burrillville were 18 years of age or older.

More Census 2000 data on Burrillville and the State of Rhode Island is available at the Statewide Planning Program Website.

Town Building
105 Harrisville Main St
Harrisville, RI 02830
Fax: 568-0490
Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

**Information above provided by the Rhode Island Department of Economic Development Corporation

Web Links

City of Burrillville Burrillville School District Blackstone Valley Tourism Council