Centrally located in the southern part of the state, Exeter is slowly adding a suburban edge to its rural character as the extension of Route 4 has brought it closer to mainstream Rhode Island. The rural nature of Exeter is characterized in the wood-covered house lots along its main highways, while the typical suburban growth is hidden in the interior trails and roads that lead off Route 2 and 102. From these two routes, Route 4 leads into Interstate 95 and a 25-minute commute to Providence.

In the early 1600's the colonial settlements of North Kingstown and East Greenwich referred to the area west of the Connecticut boundary as the "Vacant Lands." This large area of land consisted of the communities of West Greenwich, northern parts of South Kingstown, Charlestown, Richmond, Hopkinton and Exeter. There were no colonial settlements in this area, hence the name "Vacant Lands." However, this tract of land was by no means vacant, it was a stronghold of the Narragansett Indians.

The decline of the Narragansetts probably began with the famous Pettaquamscutt Land Purchase in 1657. Sixty-four thousand acres of land was purchased from the Narragansetts by land speculators for the small sum of goods worth approximately $175.00, although hostility still remained in the area.

After many intense battles between the colonists and the Indians, the Great Swamp fight broke the stronghold of the Indian Empire in the "Vacant Lands." Indian survivors of the Great Swamp Fight were later massacred in the Town of Natick, on the Pawtucket River. This massacre brought an end to Indian supremacy in this area.

From 1680 to 1725, the first permanent settlers of Exeter began to carve homesteads and farms out of the wilderness. The town expanded, rapidly, and by 1740, there was a grand total of approximately one thousand people living in Exeter. By 1820, the population had tripled, and villages grew in the lowlands where streams were located, providing a source of power for the mills and small factories. Grist mills, saw mills, stores, blacksmith shops, warp factories, flannel mills and cotton mills sprang up throughout the villages.

With the advent of the 1900's, many of the villages began to decline. The factories were closing, the population decreased and many stores and shops were abandoned or converted for other uses. By 1930, this way of life was practically nonexistent.

Today, Exeter is primarily a rural community. A distinctly elegant and charming countryside, the wooded hills, clear streams and lakes, plus a multitude of wild life make this a most desirable spot for a country home site. Several old homes and farms are still in existence in Exeter giving the town a quaintness all its own.

FISHERVILLE BROOK WILDLIFE REFUGE. Pardon Joslin Road. Newest Audubon Society refuge offers 70 acres open to the public with trails through pine forest to dammed pond and waterfall. Free parking. Daily, dawn to dusk. 949-5454.

TOMAQUAG INDIAN MEMORIAL MUSEUM. 386 Summit Road, Arcadia. Collection of Indian artifacts, including local tribes. Exit 5S, off I-95, Rte. 102 to Rte. 3, southwest to Rte. 165, to Arcadia State Park Rd. Indian Museum. OPEN: Year round. 539-2786, 539-7213.

Population: The population count for the Town of Exeter as of April 1, 2000, was 6,045. This represented a 10.7% change (584) from the 1990 population of 5,461. 

Population Density: Exeter contains 149.486 square kilometers of land area (57.717 Sq. Miles) and 1.726 square kilometers of water area (0.666 Sq. Miles). Total area is 151.212 square kilometers or 58.383 square miles.

The 2000 population density of Exeter is 104.7 persons per square mile of land area.

Age Distribution: In 2000, 4,456 persons residing in Exeter were 18 years of age or older.

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

Town Hall
675 Ten Rod Road
Exeter, RI 02822
FAX: 401-295-1248
Hours: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

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

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Town of Exeter