Exeter is a
town
A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than city, cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world.
Origin and use
The word "town" shares ...
in
Washington County,
Rhode Island
Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area and the seventh-least populous, with slightly fewer than 1.1 million residents as of 2020, but i ...
, United States. Exeter extends east from the
Connecticut
Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its cap ...
border to the town of
North Kingstown
North Kingstown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States, and is part of the Providence metropolitan area. The population was 27,732 in the 2020 census. North Kingstown is home to the birthplace of American portraitist Gilber ...
. It is bordered to the north by
West Greenwich and
East Greenwich
East Greenwich is a town and the county seat of Kent County, Rhode Island. The population was 14,312 at the 2020 census. East Greenwich is the wealthiest municipality within the state of Rhode Island. It is part of the Providence metropolitan ...
, and to the south by
Hopkinton,
Richmond
Richmond most often refers to:
* Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States
* Richmond, London, a part of London
* Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England
* Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada
* Richmond, California, a ...
, and
South Kingstown
South Kingstown is a town in, and the county seat of, Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 31,931 at the 2020 census. South Kingstown is the second largest town in Rhode Island by total geographic area, behind New ...
. Exeter's
postal code
A postal code (also known locally in various English-speaking countries throughout the world as a postcode, post code, PIN or ZIP Code) is a series of letters or digits or both, sometimes including spaces or punctuation, included in a postal ...
is 02822, although small parts of the town have the mailing address
West Kingston (02892) or
Saunderstown (02874). The population was 6,460 at the
2020 census.
History
Native Americans lived in the town prior to
King Philip's War
King Philip's War (sometimes called the First Indian War, Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, Pometacomet's Rebellion, or Metacom's Rebellion) was an armed conflict in 1675–1676 between indigenous inhabitants of New England and New England coloni ...
, and
Wawaloam, a female Narragansett/Nipmuc leader lived in the town in the 1660s. The town of Exeter was formed in 1742 from the western part of
North Kingstown
North Kingstown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States, and is part of the Providence metropolitan area. The population was 27,732 in the 2020 census. North Kingstown is home to the birthplace of American portraitist Gilber ...
. The name Exeter derives from the county town and cathedral city of
Exeter
Exeter () is a city in Devon, South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately northeast of Plymouth and southwest of Bristol.
In Roman Britain, Exeter was established as the base of Legio II Augusta under the personal c ...
in
Devon
Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devon is ...
, England. Numerous
other places
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
have also been given the name. Exeter is noted by folklorists as the site of one of the best documented examples of
vampire
A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the Vitalism, vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead, undead creatures that often visited loved ones and caused mi ...
exhumation
Burial, also known as interment or inhumation, is a method of final disposition whereby a dead body is placed into the ground, sometimes with objects. This is usually accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing the deceased and objec ...
: the
Mercy Brown Vampire Incident of 1892.
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
An economy is an area of th ...
, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it (1.15%) is water.
Demographics
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...
of 2000, there were 6,045 people, 2,085 households, and 1,592 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 2,196 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 96.36%
White
White is the lightness, 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 diffuse reflection, reflect and scattering, scatter all the ...
, 0.66%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...
, 0.60%
Native American, 0.74%
Asian, 0.02%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of Ocea ...
, 0.33% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.29% from 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 ...
or
Latino of any race were 1.27% of the population.
There were 2,085 households, out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 16.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $64,452, and the median income for a family was $74,157. Males had a median income of $47,083 versus $36,928 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the town was $25,530. About 4.5% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The town government is directed by a 5-member town council that is headed by a council president.
For the purpose of school administration, Exeter is a member town of the
Exeter-West Greenwich Regional School District
Exeter-West Greenwich Regional School District (EWG) is a public school district in Kent County and Washington County, Rhode Island, United States, serving the rural towns of Exeter and West Greenwich in the south-central part of the state. Th ...
along with the neighboring town of West Greenwich.
Attractions and National Historic Places in Exeter
*
Yawgoo Valley is the only ski resort in Rhode Island.
*
Austin Farm Road Agricultural Area
*
Baptist Church in Exeter
Exeter Chapel*
Fisherville Historic and Archeological District
*
Hallville Historic and Archeological District
Hallville Historic and Archaeological District is a historic district in Exeter, Rhode Island.
The historic district contains the remains of 19th-century textile mills and associated structures. The only standing structure in the district is ...
*
Lawton's Mill
Lawton's Mill (also known as the Albro Mill) is a historic mill located on Ten Rod Road in Exeter, Rhode Island. The mill property includes an 18th-century house, an early 19th-century wood-frame mill building, and a 19th-century barn with early ...
*
Simon Lillibridge Farm
*
Parris Brook Historic and Archeological District
*
Queen's Fort
Queen's Fort is a historic site in Exeter, Rhode Island. Little more than a round, rocky hillock, the site has long been described as the site of a Native American fortification constructed in 1676 by Queen Quaiapen and members of the Narragans ...
*
Sodom Mill Historic and Archeological DistrictTomaquag Museum only solely Native American museum in Rhode Island
Notable people
*
George Wait Babcock, privateer
*
Job Kenyon, politician
References
External links
EDC Profile of ExeterRI.GOV – Town of ExeterTown of Exeter, Rhode Island websiteExeter Town LibraryExeter-West Greenwich Regional School DistrictExeter Town HallWelcome to South County Rhode IslandR.I. Veterans Memorial CemeteryUnited States Constitution Referendum Ratification: Exeterfrom the Rhode Island State Archives
{{authority control
Towns in Rhode Island
Towns in Washington County, Rhode Island
Providence metropolitan area