The McPherson Group

 

On August 22, 1738 a large parcel of the Town of Westerly was separated and incorporated as the Town of Charlestown; named after Charles II.

In the early 19th century, the Pawcatuck River was used to power textile mills, and several industrial villages sprang up. Cross Mills developed as a local center oriented to the important Post Road and serving area farmers with stores, a post office, gristmills and a busy blacksmith shop. Grist mills, saw mills and single mills were also built on the Pawcatuck River, and later became cotton and woolen mills. The mills gave birth to new villages as mill houses which enlarged the town’s population.

In 1958, the state opened the current Charlestown Breachway, improving ocean and pond access. Route 1 was constructed in the early 1960's and in 1974, the World War II Naval Air Base in Charlestown, about 600 acres, was closed and divided into a U.S. Fish and Wildlife refuge. Ninigret Park is a town owned portion of this refuge. Here nature abounds and there is an abundance of game birds and often visible herds of wild deer.

In July and August they sponsor two of the largest events in the area; The Big Apple Circus, winner of the prestigious Obie Award, and the Seafood Festival - one of the top ten festivals on the East Coast.

Come see why Charlestown has always been known as “Rhode Island’s best kept secret.”

 

Total Population: 7,859
Square Miles (land): 36.8

Age Distribution
<15 years: 18%     16-24 years: 10%     25-44 years: 29%     45-64 years: 28%     >65: 15%

Education
Some college/ Associate’s Degree: 29%
Bachelor’s Degree: 20%
Master’s, Professional or Doctorate Degrees: 12%

Housing
Percent of owner-occupied units: 56%
Average Number of household members: 2.5
Average number of rooms: 6
Median year homes were built: 1981
Median home value(2006): $ 639,900

Income
Median household income: $51,491