Smithfield is a town that is located in
Providence County, Rhode Island
Providence County is the List of counties in Rhode Island, most populous county in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the county's population was 660,741, or 60.2% of the state's population. Provide ...
, United States. It includes the historic villages of
Esmond,
Georgiaville,
Mountaindale,
Hanton City
Hanton City (known locally as Lost City) is a colonial-era ghost town in Smithfield, Rhode Island near Hanton City Trail. The remains of Hanton City consist of several stone foundations, a burial site, a defunct dam apparently used for irrigati ...
, Stillwater and
Greenville. The population was 22,118 at the
2020 census. Smithfield is the home of
Bryant University
Bryant University is a private university in Smithfield, Rhode Island. It has two colleges, the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Business, and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
History
Butler ...
, a private four year college.
History
The area comprising modern-day Smithfield was first settled in 1663 as a farming community by several
British colonists, including
John Steere
John Steere (ca. 1634 – 1724) was one of the earliest settlers of the state of Rhode Island, a town official, and a founder of the town of Smithfield, Rhode Island.
John Steere was purportedly born in Ockley, Dorking, Surrey in England aro ...
. The area was originally within the boundaries of
Providence
Providence often refers to:
* Providentia, the divine personification of foresight in ancient Roman religion
* Divine providence, divinely ordained events and outcomes in Christianity
* Providence, Rhode Island, the capital of Rhode Island in the ...
until 1731 when Smithfield was incorporated as a separate town. The town was named after
John Smith, a first settler of Providence, according to th
town's official website
Chief Justice
Peleg Arnold
Peleg Arnold (1751–1820) was a lawyer, tavern-keeper, jurist, and statesman from Smithfield, Rhode Island (now North Smithfield). He represented Rhode Island as a delegate to the Continental Congress in the 1787–1788 session. He later ser ...
lived in early Smithfield, and his 1690 home still stands today. There was an active
Quaker
Quakers are people who belong to a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Members of these movements ("theFriends") are generally united by a belief in each human's abili ...
community in early 18th century Smithfield that extended along the Great Road, from what is today Woonsocket, north into south
Uxbridge, Massachusetts
Uxbridge is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts first colonized in 1662 and incorporated in 1727. It was originally part of the town of Mendon, MA, Mendon, and named for the Marquess of Anglesey, Earl of Uxbridge. The town is located south ...
. This Quaker community, and its members, became influential in the
abolition movement, with members such as
Effingham Capron
Effingham Lawrence Capron (17911859), a Quaker, was a mill owner, and nationally recognized leader of the anti-slavery movement prior to the Civil War. He was known especially in the Northeast United States for his anti-slavery work. He was born i ...
and
Abby Kelley Foster
Abby Kelley Foster (January 15, 1811 – January 14, 1887) was an American abolitionist and radical social reformer active from the 1830s to 1870s. She became a fundraiser, lecturer and committee organizer for the influential American Anti-Sla ...
, and also gave rise to other Quaker settlements including one at
Adams, Massachusetts
Adams is a New England town, town in northern Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was ...
, where
Susan B. Anthony was born as an early member.
Elizabeth Buffum Chace
Elizabeth Buffum Chace (December 9, 1806 – December 12, 1899) was an American activist in the anti-slavery, women's rights, and prison reform movements of the mid-to-late 19th century.
She was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of ...
is a well-known person from Smithfield who was influential in both the abolition of slavery, and the women's rights movement.
Captain James Buxton, a Revolutionary War figure, served with a
Massachusetts
Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...
regiment at
Valley Forge
Valley Forge functioned as the third of eight winter encampments for the Continental Army's main body, commanded by General George Washington, during the American Revolutionary War. In September 1777, Congress fled Philadelphia to escape the ...
, was promoted to the rank of Captain, and later granted Massachusetts land for his war service by Governor
John Hancock
John Hancock ( – October 8, 1793) was an American Founding Father, merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor o ...
.
[ ]
During the Industrial Revolution, Smithfield transformed from an agrarian community to a manufacturing center, with several textiles mills being founded along the
Woonasquatucket River by the mid-1800s.
In 1871, the towns of
North Smithfield,
Lincoln, and
Central Falls
Central Falls is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 22,583 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. With an area of only , it is the smallest and most densely popula ...
became separate municipalities. The colonial ghost town of
Hanton City
Hanton City (known locally as Lost City) is a colonial-era ghost town in Smithfield, Rhode Island near Hanton City Trail. The remains of Hanton City consist of several stone foundations, a burial site, a defunct dam apparently used for irrigati ...
is located within the boundaries of present-day Smithfield, but was a completely separate community in the eighteenth century.
In 1943, a
U.S. Army Air Corps Lockheed RB-34 crashed on Wolf Hill, killing all three servicemen aboard.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of th ...
, the town has a total area of 71.9 km
2 (27.8 mi
2), of which 68.9 km
2 (26.6 mi
2) of is land and 3.1 km
2 (1.2 mi
2) of is water. The total area is 4.25% water.
Demographics
As of the
2020 United States Census
The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to off ...
, Smithfield has 22,118 residents with a median age of 43.7 years and 15.4% of the population under the age of 18. The racial makeup as of 2020 was 84.7%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...
, 1.2%
African Americans
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.2%
Native American, 7.5%
Asian, 1.8% from other races and 4.3% of two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...
and
Latino of any race made up 3.7% of the population. The median household income is $85,337 and 3.4% of the population live below the poverty line.
Education
Smithfield contains three public elementary schools (Pleasant View, Raymond LaPerche, and Old County Road School), a middle school (Vincent J. Gallagher Middle School) and a public high school,
Smithfield High School which was ranked 17th out of 52 high schools in Rhode Island in 2006. St. Phillip's School, a private Roman Catholic academy offering education in grades K–8, is situated in Greenville. Mater Ecclesiae College, a Catholic college, was also located in the town in a facility that was formerly the St. Aloysius Orphanage until the college closed in 2015. Partnered with Saint Raphael Academy in Pawtucket, the private Catholic boarding school Overbrook Academy currently resides those same facilities for middle school, high school, and summer camp programs.
Bryant University
Bryant University
Bryant University is a private university in Smithfield, Rhode Island. It has two colleges, the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Business, and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
History
Butler ...
, a private university with programs in business and the arts and sciences, is located in Smithfield.
In 1971, the University moved to its current campus in Smithfield when the founder of
Tupperware
Tupperware is an American home products line that includes preparation, storage, and serving products for the kitchen and home. In 1942, Earl Tupper developed his first bell-shaped container; the brand products were introduced to the public in 1 ...
,
Earl Silas Tupper, a Bryant alumnus, donated the current of land to be the new campus. The famous Bryant Archway was also relocated. The old Emin Homestead and Captain Joseph Mowry homestead occupied much of the land that makes up the present day Smithfield campus. The land was purchased and farmed for three generations between the late 19th century and the mid-20th century. Today, many descendants of the original Emin settlers still live near the Bryant campus. The school also claims a handful of family members as alumni and offers a scholarship for accounting students as a tribute to the Emin family. Historical pictures of the Emin Homestead can still be found in the Alumni house.
Economy
Principal employers
According to Smithfield's 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the principal employers in the city are:
Notable people
*
Cyrus Aldrich
Cyrus Aldrich (June 18, 1808 – October 5, 1871) was a U.S. Representative from Minnesota.
Aldrich was born in Smithfield, Rhode Island, June 18, 1808. He followed the occupations of sailor, boatman, farmer, contractor on public works, an ...
(1808–1871), born in Smithfield,
United States Congressman
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
from
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over t ...
*
Peleg Arnold
Peleg Arnold (1751–1820) was a lawyer, tavern-keeper, jurist, and statesman from Smithfield, Rhode Island (now North Smithfield). He represented Rhode Island as a delegate to the Continental Congress in the 1787–1788 session. He later ser ...
(1751–1820), delegate to the
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a series of legislative bodies, with some executive function, for thirteen of Britain's colonies in North America, and the newly declared United States just before, during, and after the American Revolutionary War. ...
*
Sullivan Ballou
Sullivan Ballou (March 28, 1829July 29, 1861) was an American lawyer and politician from Rhode Island, and an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He is remembered for an eloquent letter he wrote to his wife Sarah a week b ...
(1829–1861), Civil War Officer and author of the Sullivan Ballou Letter
*
Emeline S. Burlingame (1836–1923), editor and evangelist
*
Adin B. Capron (1841–1911),
United States Congressman
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
*
Elizabeth Buffum Chace
Elizabeth Buffum Chace (December 9, 1806 – December 12, 1899) was an American activist in the anti-slavery, women's rights, and prison reform movements of the mid-to-late 19th century.
She was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of ...
(1806–1899), activist in the Anti-Slavery, Women's Rights, and Prison Reform Movements of the mid to late 19th century
*
Edward Harris, (1801–1872), manufacturer, philanthropist, and abolitionist
*
Ronald K. Machtley
Ronald Keith "Ron" Machtley (born July 13, 1948) is an American politician and former president of Bryant University. Machtley served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Rhode Island from 1989 to 1995. Fr ...
(born 1948),
United States Congressman
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
, President of
Bryant University
Bryant University is a private university in Smithfield, Rhode Island. It has two colleges, the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Business, and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
History
Butler ...
(1996–2020)
*
Daniel Mowry Jr. (1729–1806), delegate to the Continental Congress
*
James W. Nuttall
James W. Nuttall (born 1953) is a retired United States Army major general who served as deputy director of the Army National Guard and deputy commander of the United States First Army.
Early life
Nuttall was born in Smithfield, Rhode Island in ...
(born 1953),
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, ...
Major General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...
, Deputy Director of the
Army National Guard
The Army National Guard (ARNG), in conjunction with the Air National Guard, is an organized militia force and a federal military reserve force of the United States Army. They are simultaneously part of two different organizations: the Army N ...
and Deputy Commander of the
First Army
*
Don Orsillo (born 1968), play-by-play
announcer
An announcer is a voice artist who relays information to the audience of a broadcast media programme or live event.
Television and other media
Some announcers work in television production, radio or filmmaking, usually providing narration ...
for
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
games on the
New England Sports Network
New England Sports Network, popularly known as NESN , is an American regional sports cable and satellite television network owned by a joint venture of Fenway Sports Group (which owns a controlling 80% interest, and is the owner of Boston Red ...
(NESN)
*
Gina Raimondo
Gina Marie Raimondo (; born May 17, 1971) is an American politician, lawyer, and venture capitalist who has served as the 40th United States Secretary of Commerce since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served as the 75th g ...
(born 1971),
United States Secretary of Commerce
The United States secretary of commerce (SecCom) is the head of the United States Department of Commerce. The secretary serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all matters relating to commerce. The secretary rep ...
(2021–), 75th
Governor of Rhode Island
The governor of Rhode Island is the head of government of the U.S. state of Rhode Island and serves as commander-in-chief of the state's Army National Guard and Air National Guard. The current governor is Democrat Dan McKee. In their capac ...
(2015–2021)
*
Danny Smith (writer) (born 1959), producer, writer, and voice actor
*
William Stillman Stanley, Jr., politician
*
Arthur Steere (1865–1943), politician, businessman
*
Alexander Warner (1827–1914), businessman and politician
*
David Wilkinson (1771–1852), co-builder of
Slater Mill
*
William Winsor, education philanthropist, namesake of the
William Winsor School
See also
*
References
External links
Smithfield official website
{{authority control
Towns in Providence County, Rhode Island
Providence metropolitan area
Towns in Rhode Island