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The Town of Smithfield was set off from Providence and chartered as a town in 1730. It was extensively settled by the Quakers. In 1871, a portion of Smithfield was annexed to Woonsocket and the remainder of the community was divided into three towns, Smithfield, North Smithfield and Lincoln.
Smithfield's earliest industry, textiles, was developed along the numerous streams in the town which provided abundant water power. Agriculture was also a very important part of Smithfield's early economy.
Today Smithfield is a growing community located in the center of the industrial triangle formed by the cities of Providence, Woonsocket and Worcester, Massachusetts. Agriculture still plays an important role in the town due to the numerous apple orchards located there. Smithfield is known throughout Rhode island as "Apple Country"
Smithfield has a solid industrial base, as several companies have built ultra modern plants in the town in recent years.
Bryant College, a nationally recognized college of business, is located in Smithfield on the beautiful Tupper Campus. The College's Koffler Rotunda is an architectural marvel. The magnificently modern and functional "unistructure" building houses most administrative and academic functions under one roof. The rotunda is two-story and domed with plexiglass.
BRYANT COLLEGE. 1150 Douglas Pike. Founded in 1863, Bryant College is dedicated to educating for careers in business, industry, and government. Bryant is located on a 387 acre campus which is also home to the New England Patriot's summer training camp. Bryant enrolls more than 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students annually. In addition, over 10,000 people representing 1,800 firms annually take advantage of Bryant's continuing education programs and corporate outreach efforts through its Center for International Business and Economic Development (CIBED), which includes the Center for Management Development, RI Small Business Development Center, the Institute for Family Enterprise, the RI Export Assistance Center, and World Trade Center Rhode Island. Bryant's undergraduate business programs are accredited by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). OPEN: For guided tours from 8:30-4:30 p.m. weekdays. Sat, by appt. 232-6000, 232-6120.
POWDER MILL LEDGES WILDLIFE REFUGE. 12 Sanderson Road. 77-acre refuge of the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. Over 2 miles of trails through pine forest and open fields. Society headquarters, library, and gift shop open to the public Mon-Fri, 9-5 p.m.; Sat, 10-4 p.m.; Sun, 12 noon-4 p.m. OPEN: Dawn to dusk for trails. 949-5454.
SMITH-APPLEBY HOUSE. (1696) 220 Stillwater Road. A restored, 17th century farm house. OPEN: May 1-Dec 30. Tours by appt. or at most events. 949-4441, 231-7363 (answering machine).
Population: The population count for the Town of Smithfield as of April 1, 2000, was 20,613. This represented a 7.6% change (1,450) from the 1990 population of 19,163.
Population Density: Smithfield contains 68.866 square kilometers of land area (26.589 Sq. Miles) and 3.060 square kilometers of water area (1.181 Sq. Miles). Total area is 71.926 square kilometers or 27.771 square miles.
The 2000 population density of Smithfield is 774.9 persons per square mile of land area.
Age Distribution: In 2000, 16,594 persons residing in Smithfield were 18 years of age or older.
| Population: | 1990 | 2000 | Change |
| Total | 19,163 | 20,613 | 1,450 |
More Census 2000 data on Smithfield and the State of Rhode Island is available at the Statewide Planning Program Website.
Town Hall
64 Farnum Pike
Esmond, RI 02917
Hours: 9:00 am -
4:00 pm
FAX: 397-6890
| Location: | Providence County |
| Form of Government: | Five-member Town Council and Town Manager. |
| Council Meetings: | The first, third and fourth Tuesdays monthly at 7:30 pm. |
| Fiscal year begins: | July 1 |
**Information above provided by the Rhode Island Department of Economic Development Corporation
