Kent County, Rhode Island
Kent County is a county located in the state of Rhode Island. It is bordered by Providence County to the east, Washington County to the south, and Bristol County to the west. See Countryaah – Counties in Rhode Island. The county seat is East Greenwich, which is also the state capital. Kent County covers an area of 583 square miles and has a population of approximately 166,500 people.
The geography of Kent County varies from rolling hills to flat lowlands. The Pawcatuck River runs through the county and there are several smaller streams as well as ponds and lakes scattered throughout. The climate in Kent County is generally temperate with warm summers and cold winters.
The economy of Kent County is largely focused on agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing. There are several dairy farms located in the county as well as cranberry bogs, apple orchards, and vegetable fields. Tourism also plays a large role in the economy with many attractions such as beaches, museums, historic sites, parks, shops, restaurants, and more drawing visitors from all over New England each year. Manufacturing is also important to the local economy with many companies producing products ranging from textiles to electronics located in various towns throughout Kent County.
In addition to its surrounding counties of Providence, Washington and Bristol; Kent County also shares borders with two other states: Connecticut to the west and Massachusetts to the north. These neighboring states provide access to additional attractions such as Mystic Seaport in Connecticut or Six Flags New England in Massachusetts for residents of Kent County looking for something new and exciting.
Demographics of Kent County, Rhode Island
Kent County, Rhode Island is home to 166,500 people according to the 2019 census. The population is fairly evenly split between males and females, with 49.5% of the population being male and 50.5% being female. The median age of Kent County residents is 41 years old.
The racial makeup of Kent County is 92% White, 2% Black or African American, 1% Asian, 1% from other races, and 4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino individuals make up 3% of the population.
The largest cities in Kent County are Warwick (81,000), Cranston (81,000), East Greenwich (12,800) and West Warwick (29,200). The largest towns are Coventry (35,000), North Kingstown (22,100) and South Kingstown (30,000).
The economy of Kent County is largely focused on agriculture with dairy farms located throughout the county as well as cranberry bogs and apple orchards. Tourism also plays a large role in the economy with many attractions such as beaches and museums drawing visitors from all over New England each year. Manufacturing is also important to the local economy with many companies producing products ranging from textiles to electronics located in various towns throughout Kent County.
Education in Kent County consists of public schools operated by five school districts: Coventry Public Schools; East Greenwich Public Schools; North Kingstown Public Schools; South Kingstown Public Schools; and West Warwick Public Schools. Additionally, there are private schools such as St Mary’s Academy in East Greenwich and La Salle Academy in Providence that serve students from all over the county.
Places of Interest in Kent County, Rhode Island
Kent County, Rhode Island is home to many interesting places of interest, from family-friendly attractions to historic sites and more.
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Kent County is the Roger Williams Park Zoo. Located in Providence, this zoo features over 160 species of animals, including tigers, giraffes and gorillas. The zoo also has a variety of interactive exhibits such as the Farmyard where visitors can pet and feed animals or the Animal Encounters program which allows visitors to interact with some of the animals.
The beaches in Kent County are another popular attraction for locals and tourists alike. There are several beaches located along Narragansett Bay including Easton’s Beach in Newport and Scarborough State Beach in Narragansett. These beaches provide plenty of activities for people of all ages including swimming, fishing, surfing, kayaking and more.
For those interested in history and culture there are many museums located throughout Kent County that offer insight into Rhode Island’s past. The Aldrich House Museum in Warwick showcases artifacts from colonial times while the Gilbert Stuart Birthplace & Museum is dedicated to showcasing the life and artwork of one of America’s most influential portrait painters. Other museums include the Slater Mill Historic Site which tells the story of America’s Industrial Revolution or The Audrain Automobile Museum which features classic cars from throughout history.
Finally, there are several parks located throughout Kent County that provide outdoor activities for everyone to enjoy such as hiking trails, playgrounds or picnic areas. Popular parks include Lincoln Woods State Park which offers over 6 miles of trails through its wooded landscape or Goddard Memorial State Park which features a beach on Narragansett Bay as well as a golf course and campground.
Notable People of Kent County, Rhode Island
Kent County, Rhode Island has been home to a number of notable people over the years. One of the most famous is Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island and one of the earliest advocates for religious freedom in America. A statue of him stands in Roger Williams Park in Providence and his home is now a museum open to visitors.
Another notable person from Kent County is Gilbert Stuart, one of America’s most influential portrait painters. He was born in Saunderstown and his birthplace is now a museum dedicated to showcasing his life and artwork.
The famous writer H.P Lovecraft was also born in Providence and lived much of his life in Kent County. Many of his works are set in Providence and he even wrote about some of the local landmarks such as Benefit Street or Swan Point Cemetery.
The late Senator Claiborne Pell was also from Kent County, representing Rhode Island for six terms in the US Senate from 1961 to 1997. In 1990 he proposed what would become known as the Pell Grant program, which provides financial assistance for low-income students attending college or university.
Other notable people from Kent County include John Brown Francis who served as Governor of Rhode Island from 1833-1838, John Chafee who served as Senator from 1976-1999, and current US Senator Jack Reed who has represented Rhode Island since 1997. All have made significant contributions to both their local community and state at large.