The original town of King's Towne, incorporated in 1674, included the present towns of South Kingstown, North Kingstown and Narragansett. It was in this area that the Narragansett Indians hunted, fished, raised corn and held forth against the rival Niantic Indians. The first settlement was in South Kingstown, and it was there in the Great Swamp Fight, in 1675, that colonial soldiers from Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut gave King Philip his greatest defeat.

Farming was the main activity in early times. Flax was among its earliest products. By 1800, the Wakefield Manufacturing Company was in operation, as well as the Peace Dale Mill, which grew to be one of the town's largest industries.

The founding of the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1892, near the Village of Kingston, was an important milestone in the history of the town. Growing into the present University of Rhode Island, this institution plays a major role in both the economic and cultural life of the town.

Recently, diversified small industry has replaced the town's former leading textile manufacturer. The J.P. Stevens Company, for many years operated the Peace Dale Mill, until the textile decline soon after the end of World War II. A drive for additional new industrial growth is currently underway. 

Capitalizing on its exceptional shoreline and beach areas, the town has also experienced significant residential expansion, and development of its summer resort and tourist facilities.

ACTIVITIES OF THE NARRAGANSETT PLANTERS. 238 Robinson Street, Wakefield Post Office. Mural done in 1939 by famed Time Magazine cover artist Ernest Hamlin Baker. OPEN: Mon-Fri, 6 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat., 6:30-3 p.m. 783-2691.

FAYERWEATHER CRAFT CENTER. (1820) Mooresfield Road, (Route 138). Kingston home of the village blacksmith George Fayerweather, a black whose descendants lived here and continued working the blacksmith shop. Now occupied by the Fayerweather Craft Guild. Weekly demonstrations of crafts during summer. Craftwork gifts available. Classes in the summer. OPEN: May 14-Dec 9, Tue & Sat, 10-4 p.m. Workshops: Jul & Aug, every Tue. 789-9072.

GREAT SWAMP. Great Neck Road, off Route 138. An obelisk marks the location of the Great Swamp Fight which took place December 19, 1675, during King Philip's War, and resulted in the near annihilation of the Narragansett Indians. OPEN: Mon-Fri, 8:30-4 p.m. 789-0281.

HANNAH ROBINSON'S ROCK. Adjacent to Observation Tower. Intersection of Rte. 138 & U.S. Rte. 1. Often visited by tragic heroine of the famous South County romance.

HELME HOUSE GALLERY. 2587 Kingstown Road, next to URI entrance. One of many attractive historic houses in the area. Home of South County Art Association, 400-membership of artists and students. Pottery workshop; classes in watercolor, oils, pastels, drawing, and pottery. OPEN: Wed-Sun, 1-5 p.m.(during shows). 789-9072.

KINGSTON VILLAGE. Its main street, Route 138, retains the charm of the 18th century and provides a picturesque entrance to the University of Rhode Island. 783-1328.

MUSEUM OF PRIMITIVE ART AND CULTURE. (1892) 1058 Kingstown Road. Upstairs, next door to Post Office. An archaeological and ethnological collection of American Indian, South Seas, African, and other areas' weapons, tools, implements, and utensils. OPEN: Labor Day-Memorial Day, Tue-Thu, 11-3 p.m. Summers, Wed, 11-2 p.m. Other days by appt. Closed holidays. 783-5711.

PERRYVILLE TROUT HATCHERY. 2426 Post Road. Hatchery raises trout for Rhode Island streams and ponds. OPEN: Mon-Fri, 9-3 p.m. Closed Sat-Sun and holidays. 783-5358.

PETTAQUAMSCUTT HISTORICAL SOCIETY OLD WASHINGTON COUNTY JAIL. (1792; rebuilt Cell Block, 1858) 2636 Kingstown Road, Kingston. Pettaquamscutt Historical Society Headquarters. Building contains old jail cells and period rooms. Changing exhibits depict life in South County during last 300 years. Genealogical and historical library. OPEN: Tue, Thu, Sat, l-4 p.m. Closed Nov-Apr, and holidays. Group tours by appt. 783-1328.

ROCKS, MINERALS, FOSSILS COLLECTION. University of Rhode Island, Kingston Campus. The Department of Geology has a small collection of rocks, minerals, and fossils found in Rhode Island and elsewhere. Display is on the first floor of Green Hall. OPEN: Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 792-2265.

UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND, THE. The state land and sea grant university was established in 1892. The main campus is located on 1200 acres in the village of Kingston. Known nationally for its teaching excellence, research and service to the state, the University is a valued resource for individuals, businesses, organizations and municipalities. The University sponsors a number of educational and cultural events throughout the year on its four campuses located in Kingston, Providence, Narragansett, and West Greenwich. The URI W. Alton Jones Conference Center in West Greenwich also offers a wooded setting for business retreats, team building and conferences. OPEN: Year-round. 792-1000.

WATSON HOUSE. Farm House Road, University of Rhode Island. University of Rhode Island Campus, Kingston. Colonial two-story farmhouse furnished in the period 1790-1840. Display of kitchen utensils, weaving looms, and spinning wheels. OPEN: Tours by appointment.

Population: The population count for the Town of South Kingstown as of April 1, 2000, was 27,921. This represented a 13.4% change (3,290) from the 1990 population of 24,631. 

Population Density: South Kingstown contains 147.895 square kilometers of land area (57.102 Sq. Miles) and 58.736 square kilometers of water area (22.678 Sq. Miles). Total area is 206.631 square kilometers or 79.780 square miles.

The 2000 population density of South Kingstown is 489 persons per square mile of land area.

Age Distribution: In 2000, 21,637 persons residing in South Kingstown were 18 years of age or older.

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

Town Hall
180 High Street
Wakefield, RI 02879
Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
FAX: 789-5280

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

Web Links

The Official South Kingstown Home Page South Kingstown Chamber of Commerce South County Tourism Council