Editing Middletown, Rhode Island

{{Distinguish|Middleton, Massachusetts}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Middletown, Rhode Island
|settlement_type          = [[New England town|Town]]
|nickname                 =
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Dunlap-Wheeler_Park,_Middletown_Rhode_Island.jpg
|imagesize                =
|image_caption            = Dunlap-Wheeler Park
|image_flag               =
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Middletown RI lg.PNG
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Middletown in Newport County, Rhode Island
|image_map1               =
|mapsize1                 =
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Rhode Island]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Rhode Island|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Newport County, Rhode Island|Newport]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     =
|government_type          =
|leader_title             = Town Council
|leader_name              = President Paul M. Rodrigues <br/>Vice President Thomas Welch <br/>Peter Connerton <br/>Christopher Logan <br/>Emily Tessier <br/>Dennis Turano <br/>Barbara A. VonVillas
|leader_title1            =
|leader_name1             =
|established_title        =
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref  =  Imperial
|area_footnotes           =
|area_magnitude           =
|area_total_km2           = 38.7
|area_land_km2            = 33.6
|area_water_km2           = 5.1
|area_total_sq_mi         = 14.9
|area_land_sq_mi          = 13.0
|area_water_sq_mi         = 2.0

<!-- History -->
|established_title1       = Incorporated
|established_date1        = 1743

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[United States Census, 2020|2020]]
|population_footnotes     =
|population_total         = 17075
|population_density_km2   = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = auto

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = −5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = −4
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_m              = 
|elevation_ft             = 148
|coordinates              = {{coord|41|30|42|N|71|17|12|W|region:US-RI_type:city(16000)|display=inline}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 02842
|area_code                = [[Area code 401|401]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 44-45460<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1220063<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1220063}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://middletownri.com/}}
|footnotes                =
}}

'''Middletown''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Newport County, Rhode Island|Newport County]], [[Rhode Island]], United States. The population was 17,075 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]]. It lies to the south of [[Portsmouth, Rhode Island|Portsmouth]] and to the north of [[Newport, Rhode Island|Newport]] on [[Aquidneck Island]], hence the name "Middletown."

==History==
Issues including unjust taxation and a growing population caused the freeholders living in the northern section of Newport to petition the General Assembly for independence. As a result of the petition, the land that Middletown occupies was set apart in 1731. The town was incorporated in 1743.<ref>{{cite web| title=Historic and Architectural Resources of Middletown, Rhode Island: A Preliminary Report| url=http://www.preservation.ri.gov/pdfs_zips_downloads/survey_pdfs/middletown.pdf| website=preservation.ri.gov| publisher=Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission| access-date=January 5, 2016}}</ref>

During the 1980s, large sections of East Main Road and West Main Road running through Middletown began to be commercialized, and by the late 1990s, the area had become Aquidneck Island's central business district.

Today, the community boasts a strong business district that relies heavily on [[Naval Station Newport]] and defense 
industries.

Middletown also maintains its "small-town charm" with scenic vistas of the Atlantic Ocean, world-class beaches, hiking trails and open spaces.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of 14.9&nbsp;square miles (38.7&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), of which 13.0&nbsp;square miles (33.6&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) is land and 2.0&nbsp;square miles (5.1&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>; 13.18%) is water. Middletown was known as the "farming community" of Aquidneck Island. Today most of the developed land is located towards the western part of the town, while what is left of its rural heritage is primarily towards the east. Middletown also has several beaches.

The [[census-designated place]] of [[Newport East, Rhode Island|Newport East]] and part of the [[Melville, Rhode Island|Melville]] CDP lie within the town boundaries.

{{Multiple image
| header = Parks and beaches
| align = left
| direction = 
| total_width = 220
| perrow = 2/1
| image1= Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge in Middletown, Rhode Island 2.jpg
| caption1= Sachuest Point
| image3= Second Beach, Middletown RI.jpg
| caption3 = Second Beach
| image2= Paradise Valley Park, Middletown Rhode Island.jpg
| caption2 = Paradise Valley Park
}}
===Parks and beaches===
Middletown is home to [[Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge]], as well as public two beaches and a myriad of open space and recreational opportunities:<ref name="beaches">{{cite web |title=Beaches |url=https://www.middletownri.com/349/Beaches |website=Middletown, RI |publisher=Town of Middletown |access-date=April 23, 2022}}</ref> 

* '''Second Beach''' (also known as Sachuest Beach), a south-facing beach with concessions, showers, and bathrooms. The west part is known as Surfer's End.<ref name="beaches" />
* [https://www.middletownri.com/Facilities/Facility/Details/Third-Beach-12 '''Third Beach'''], is an east-facing beach with fewer waves, grills, and picnic tables.<ref name="beaches" />

Parks in Middletown include:<ref>{{cite web |title=Middletown, RI Public Parks |url=https://www.parksinmytown.com/middletown-ri-publicparks |website=Parks in My Town |access-date=April 23, 2022}}</ref>
* Albro Woods
* Demery Memorial Park
* Dunlap-Wheeler Park
* Gaudet Athletic Complex
* Green End Fort
* Howland Park
* Linden Park
* Middletown Town Beach
* Middletown Valley Park
* Norman Bird Sanctuary
* Paradise Valley Park
* Prescott Farm
* Purgatory Chasm
* Sakonnet Greenway Trail
* Starlight Drive-In Multiuse Fields
*Witherbee School
* Wyatt Road Soccer Complex

==Government==
[[File:Seal of Middletown RI at Paradise Valley Park.jpg|thumb|right|The town seal depicts historic [[Boyd's Windmill]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Howard |first1=Samuel Gifford |title=Friday Flagging: Middletown |url=https://riliberator.com/2020/07/03/friday-flagging-middletown/ |website=Rhode Island Liberator |access-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415050112/https://riliberator.com/2020/07/03/friday-flagging-middletown/ |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |date=July 3, 2020 |quote=the town uses the eight-vaned windmill of Boyd’s Mill as its primary symbol}}</ref>]]
The town is governed by a seven-member [[Town Council]], elected [[at-large]] in non-partisan elections. Executive authority is vested in an appointed [[town administrator]] (on the [[Council–manager government|council–manager]] model). The town also elects a non-partisan [[School Committee]].

Middletown forms part of {{ushr|RI|1}}, represented by [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Gabe Amo]]. At the state level, Middletown is part of one state senate and three state house districts. The 12th [[Rhode Island Senate]] district, which also includes parts of Newport, [[Little Compton, Rhode Island|Little Compton]] and [[Tiverton, Rhode Island|Tiverton]], is held by Democrat [[Louis P. DiPalma]]. In the [[Rhode Island House of Representatives]], Middletown forms part of the 72nd, 73rd, and 74th districts. The 72nd, which also includes a portion of Portsmouth, is represented by Democrat [[Terri-Denise Cortvriend|Terri Cortvriend]]. The 73rd, which is predominantly Newport, is held by Democrat Marvin Abney. The 74th, shared between Middletown and [[Jamestown, Rhode Island|Jamestown]], is represented by Democrat [[Alex Finkelman]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 840
|1800= 913
|1810= 976
|1820= 949
|1830= 915
|1840= 891
|1850= 830
|1860= 1012
|1870= 971
|1880= 1139
|1890= 1154
|1900= 1457
|1910= 1708
|1920= 2004
|1930= 2499
|1940= 3379
|1950= 7382
|1960= 12675
|1970= 29290
|1980= 17216
|1990= 19460
|2000= 17334
|2010= 16150
|2020= 17075
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Cen1865">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NxsxC5mK7NAC | title=Report upon the Census of Rhode Island 1865 | publisher=Providence Press Company | author=Snow, Edwin M. | year=1867 | location=Providence, RI}}</ref>
}}
At the 2020 census, there were 17,075 people and 7,237 households in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,344.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 8,029 housing units in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 78.48% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 4.98% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.41% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 3.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.13% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.36% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 9.24% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 7.92% of the population.

There were 7,237 households, of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 27% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 20.5% had a male householder with no spouse present. Of all households, 13.9% were made up of individuals, and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.86.

Of the population, 18.9% were under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.2 years. 

The [[median household income]] was $97,650 and the median family income was $124,713. The per capita income for the town was $56,184. About 10.0% of the population was below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

== Transportation ==
[[Newport State Airport (Rhode Island)|Newport State Airport]], a public-use [[general aviation]] airport and the only airport on Aquidneck Island, is located in Middletown.

West Main Road ([[Rhode Island Route 114|RI-114]]) and East Main Road ([[Rhode Island Route 138|RI-138]]) are the [[numbered routes in Rhode Island|main roads]] running north–south through Middletown.

==Sports==

Middletown is home to [[St Columba's Cricket Club]], which hosts an annual [[cricket]] tournament for teams throughout the [[New England]] area. The Newport National Golf Club is located in Middletown. The town is also home to the Middletown Islanders hockey, football, baseball, volleyball, and lacrosse teams. They also are involved with [[Pop Warner football]] and cheerleading. More known as a middle school football league, Pop Warner hosts from very young ages and separates them by age.

* Kids ages 6–8: Mighty Mights
* Kids ages 9 & 10: Junior Pee Wee
* Kids ages 11 & 12: Pee Wee
* Kids ages 13 & 14: Midget

==Schools==
{{Multiple image
| header = Schools
| align = right
| direction = 
| total_width = 220
| perrow = 1/1
| image1= Middletown High School, Middletown RI (cropped).jpg
| caption1= Middletown High School
| image2= St. Georges, Middletown, RI (353167338) (cropped).jpg
| caption2 = St. George's School
}}
The [[Middletown Public Schools (Rhode Island)|Middletown Public School District]] consists of four schools serving pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. They are Aquidneck Elementary School (grades Pre-K to 3), Forest Avenue Elementary School (grades K–3), Joseph H. Gaudet Middle School (grades 4–8) and [[Middletown High School (Rhode Island)|Middletown High School]] (grades 9–12).

Middletown is also home to private schools, including All Saints Academy (grades K–8), a Catholic school,<ref>"[http://allsaintsacademy.org/contact-us/ Contact Us]." All Saints Academy. Retrieved on June 4, 2018. "All Saints Academy 915 West Main Rd. Middletown, RI 02842"</ref> and [[St. George's School (Rhode Island)|St. George's School]] (grades 9–12).
{{clear}}

==Historic sites in Middletown==
{{Multiple image
| header = Historic sites
| align = right
| direction = 
| total_width = 220
| perrow = 2/1
| image1= Boyd's Wind Grist Mill.jpg
| caption1 = [[Boyd's Windmill]]
| image2= Prescott Farm Middletown.JPG
| caption2 = {{circa|1811}} [[windmill]] on [[Prescott Farm]]
| image3 = Whitehall Museum House with sign, Middletown Rhode island (cropped).jpg
| caption3 = Whitehall Museum House
}}
* [[Boyd's Windmill]], built 1810
* [[Bailey Farm]], built 1838
* [[Clambake Club of Newport]], built in 1895
* [[Gardiner Pond Shell Midden]]
* [[Hamilton Hoppin House]], built in 1856
* [[Lyman C. Joseph House]], built 1882
* [[Norman Bird Sanctuary]], central house built {{circa|1755}}
* [[Paradise School]], built 1875
* [[Prescott Farm]], {{circa|1715}}
* [[Whitehall (Rhode Island)]], built 1729
* [[Witherbee School]], built 1900
{{clear}}
==Notable people==
[[File:Edwin Booth's "Boothden", Middletown Rhode Island.jpg|thumb|right|Edwin Booth's summer cottage "Boothden" in Middletown]]
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· All others will be deleted.
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* [[Israel T. Almy]], [[Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River]] architect, born in Middletown
* [[George Berkeley]] (a.k.a. Bishop Berkeley), 18th century [[Anglo-Irish people|Anglo-Irish]] philosopher, known for his doctrine of [[Subjective idealism|immaterialism]]. He lived in Middletown between 1729 and 1731.<ref>{{cite web |title=Berkeley at Whitehall |url=https://www.whitehallmuseumhouse.org/berkeley-at-whitehall/ |website=George Berkeley's Whitehall |publisher=The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of Rhode Island |access-date=April 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002212227/https://www.whitehallmuseumhouse.org/berkeley-at-whitehall/ |archive-date=October 2, 2019 |quote=Whitehall, home of ... philosopher George Berkeley from 1729-1731}}</ref>
* [[Edwin Booth]], actor. He built summer cottage "[[Edwin_Booth#Boothden|Boothden]]" in Middletown in 1884.<ref name="Tschirch">{{cite web |last1=Tschirch |first1=John R. |title=The Stunning Boothden Restoration |url=https://www.period-homes.com/projects/boothden-restoration |website=Period Homes Digital |publisher=Period Homes |access-date=November 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517002844/https://www.period-homes.com/projects/boothden-restoration |archive-date=May 17, 2021 |date=November 9, 2016}}</ref><ref name="NHS">{{cite web |title=History Bytes: Edwin Booth of Middletown |url=https://newporthistory.org/history-bytes-edwin-booth-of-middletown/ |website=Newport Historical Society |access-date=November 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117225350/https://newporthistory.org/history-bytes-edwin-booth-of-middletown/ |archive-date=January 17, 2021 |date=June 25, 2013}}</ref> 
* [[Nicolas Cage]], actor. He once lived in Middletown.
* [[Bill Cowsill]], singer-songwriter, musician and record producer, born in Middletown (1948)
* [[Charlie Day]], actor (''[[It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia]]''), grew up in Middletown
* [[Charles A. Flynn]], retired [[United States Army]] General, born in Middleton (1963)
* [[Michael T. Flynn]], retired United States Army [[Lieutenant General]], former [[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]] to President [[Donald Trump]] and former [[Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency]] under President [[Barack Obama]], born in Middletown (1958)
* [[Richard Hatch (Survivor contestant)|Richard Hatch]], [[Survivor (franchise)|Survivor]] contestant, grew up in Middletown
* [[Obadiah Holmes]], colonial Baptist minister; ancestor of President [[Abraham Lincoln]]. He lived and is buried in a part of Newport annexed to Middletown.
* [[John Huston]], film director, screenwriter and actor (''[[Moulin Rouge (1952 film)|Moulin Rouge (1952)]], [[Key Largo (film)|Key Largo]]''). [[Academy Award|Oscar]] winner (''[[The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (film)|The Treasure of the Sierra Madre]]''). Died in Middletown (1987).

== See also ==
* {{Portal inline|Rhode Island}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Middletown (Rhode Island)|Middletown, Rhode Island}}
* [http://www.middletownri.com/ Town of Middletown official website]
* [http://www.middletownhistory.org/ Middletown Historical Society]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071224122625/http://www.ri.net/middletown/schools.html Middletown Public School District]

{{Middletown, Rhode Island}}
{{Newport County, Rhode Island}}
{{Rhode Island}}
{{Narragansett Bay}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|41|32|44|N|71|17|29|W|type:city_region:US-RI|display=title}}

[[Category:Middletown, Rhode Island| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Newport County, Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Narragansett Bay]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Providence metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Towns in Rhode Island]]