Editing Richmond, Rhode Island

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Richmond
| other_name         = Richmond, Rhode Island
| settlement_type    = [[New England town|Town]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = Richmond Historical Society, Bell School, Richmond RI.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Bell School<br>Richmond Historical Society
| image_flag         = Flag of Richmond, Rhode Island.png
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = {{maplink
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  | frame-coord        = {{coord|41.49|N|71.67|W}}
  | zoom               = 10
  | type               = shape
  | marker             = town
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| mapsize            = 
| map_caption        = Interactive map of Richmond
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = <!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{Flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{Flag|Rhode Island}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Rhode Island|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Washington County, Rhode Island|Washington]]

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Town Council
| leader_name        = {{unbulleted list
    |Rich Nassaney
    |Ronald D. Newman
    |Nell Carpenter
    |James Palmisciano
    |Lauren Cacciola 
    }}
| leader_title1      = Town Clerk
| leader_name1       = Tracy A. Nelson
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = <!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 105.6
| area_land_km2      = 105.0
| area_water_km2     = 0.6
| area_total_sq_mi   = 40.8
| area_land_sq_mi    = 40.6
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.2

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[United States Census, 2020|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 8020
| population_density_km2 = 76.4
| population_density_sq_mi = <!-- General information -->
| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = &minus;5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = &minus;4
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 116
| elevation_ft       = 381
| coordinates        = {{coord|41|30|N|71|40|W|region:US-RI|display=it}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 02812 ([[Carolina, Rhode Island|Carolina]]), 02832 ([[Hope Valley, Rhode Island|Hope Valley]]), 02836 ([[Kenyon, Rhode Island|Kenyon]]), 02875 ([[Shannock, Rhode Island|Shannock]]), 02892 ([[West Kingston, Rhode Island|West Kingston]]), 02894 ([[Wood River Junction, Rhode Island|Wood River Junction]]), 02898 ([[Wyoming, Rhode Island|Wyoming]])
| area_code          = [[Area code 401|401]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 44-61160<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        = 1220089<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
| website            = http://www.richmondri.com
| footnotes          = 
| name               = 
}}

'''Richmond''' is a town in [[Washington County, Rhode Island]], United States. The population was 8,020 at the [[United States Census, 2020|2020 census]]. It contains the villages of [[Alton, Rhode Island|Alton]], [[Arcadia, Rhode Island|Arcadia]], [[Barberville, Rhode Island|Barberville]], [[Carolina, Rhode Island|Carolina]], Hillsdale, [[Kenyon, Rhode Island|Kenyon]], [[Shannock, Rhode Island|Shannock]], Tug Hollow, [[Usquepaug, Rhode Island|Usquepaug]], [[Wood River Junction]], [[Woodville, Rhode Island|Woodville]], and [[Wyoming, Rhode Island|Wyoming]].<ref name=Wolke>{{cite web|url=http://www.richmondri.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={3610C803-378C-4143-840C-33D23D1ADB70}|title=A Brief History of Richmond|author=Richard E. Wolke|publisher=Town of Richmond, Rhode Island, website|access-date=July 5, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930084706/http://www.richmondri.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B3610C803-378C-4143-840C-33D23D1ADB70%7D|archive-date=September 30, 2011}}</ref> Students from the Town of Richmond are part of the [[Chariho Regional School District]], a school district shared between [[Charlestown, Rhode Island|Charlestown]] and [[Hopkinton, Rhode Island]].

==History==
The Town of Richmond was originally part of the territory of [[Westerly, Rhode Island]] (1669 to 1747), which remained in dispute for several years among the [[Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations]], [[Connecticut Colony]], and [[Massachusetts Bay Colony]]. In 1665, King [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] dissolved the charters of those three colonies and renamed the disputed area "King’s County". In May 1669, the General Assembly of Rhode Island organized King's County into the town of Westerly, and the town of Westerly organized itself into four separate areas: Westerly, Charlestown, Richmond, and Hopkinton.

On April 19, 1873, there was a bridge washout in the village of Richmond Switch, which today is known as [[Wood River Junction, Rhode Island|Wood River Junction]]. A passenger train approached, unaware of the bridge washout, and ran off the tracks and into the water. Eleven people died; others were swept downstream and were unaccounted for.

The Washington County Fair is the largest fair in the state and has been held in Richmond since 1970.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.washingtoncountyfair-ri.com/history/|title = History of the Fair|date = April 19, 2020}}</ref>

Charles II in 1665 did not dissolve the charters of Rhode Island, Connecticut or Massachusetts Bay Colony (though the last would have its charter revoked in 1684 and both Rhode Island and Connecticut would temporarily become nothing more than counties in the newly created Dominion of New England, 1686–1689). The Royal Commissioners of 1664-1665 renamed what was known as the Narragansett Country the King's province and placed authority over this area with Rhode Island and which then created King's County for this area and that was renamed Washington County during the Revolutionary period.

==Geography==
Richmond is {{convert|35|mi|km}} south of the state's capital, [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]]. It is a mostly [[forest]]ed, [[landlocked]] community

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|40.8|mi2|km2}}, of which {{convert|40.6|mi2|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.2|mi2|km2}} is water.

Richmond borders [[Charlestown, Rhode Island|Charlestown]] to the south, [[Exeter, Rhode Island|Exeter]] to the north and northeast, [[Hopkinton, Rhode Island|Hopkinton]] to the west, and [[South Kingstown]] to the southeast. Richmond is the only town in Washington County that does not border another county or the ocean.

A {{convert|2359|acre|km2|adj=on}} tract in Richmond is owned by the state and managed for wildlife food and [[wildlife habitat|habitat]] as the Carolina Management Area. The Carolina Management Area is primarily forest ({{convert|1,416|acre|km2}}), but also includes [[wetland]]s and agricultural land.<ref>[http://www.visitrhodeisland.com/what-to-do/hunting/1519/carolina-management-area/ Carolina Management Area] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120003339/http://www.visitrhodeisland.com/what-to-do/hunting/1519/carolina-management-area/ |date=November 20, 2008 }}, Rhode Island Tourism Division website, accessed July 9, 2009</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 1760
|1800= 1368
|1810= 1330
|1820= 1423
|1830= 1363
|1840= 1361
|1850= 1784
|1860= 1964
|1870= 2064
|1880= 1949
|1890= 1669
|1900= 1596
|1910= 1633
|1920= 1301
|1930= 1535
|1940= 1629
|1950= 1772
|1960= 1986
|1970= 2625
|1980= 4018
|1990= 5351
|2000= 7222
|2010= 7708
|2020= 8020
|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>
}}
As of the [[census]] of 2020, there were 8,020 people and 2,965 households in the town. The population density was {{convert|198.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,173 housing units in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 91.96% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.55% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.55% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.90% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.87% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 5.14% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.09% of the population.

There were 2,965 households, out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 13.9% had a male householder with no spouse present. 9.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. 

The median income for a household in the town was $118,924, and the median income for a family was $134,571. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $53,420. About 2.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 0% of those under age 18 and 0.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==

The town government is directed by a five-member town council that is headed by a council president at the Richmond Town Hall.<ref>[http://www.riedc.com/data-and-publications/state-and-community-profiles/richmond Town of Richmond profile], Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation</ref> For the purpose of school administration, Richmond is a member town of the [[Chariho Regional School District]]  with the neighboring towns of Charlestown and Hopkinton. Richmond is represented in the [[Rhode Island Senate|Rhode Island State Senate]] by Elaine Morgan and in the [[Rhode Island House of Representatives]] by Megan Cotter.

In May 2007, Richmond voters approved a referendum to create a Home Rule Charter Commission. The Charter Commission subsequently created a Richmond Home Rule Charter, and the Town Council unanimously approved its placement on the November 2008 ballot. Richmond voters approved the Charter by a 70%–30% margin. The [[Rhode Island General Assembly]] gave their approval on May 20, 2009, and the Charter took effect on May 28, 2009, when Governor [[Donald Carcieri]] allowed it to become law without his signature.<ref>[http://dirac.rilin.state.ri.us/BillStatus/WebClass1.ASP?WCI=BillStatus&WCE=ifrmBillStatus&WCU R.I. General Assembly web site] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613131623/http://dirac.rilin.state.ri.us/BillStatus/WebClass1.ASP?WCI=BillStatus&WCE=ifrmBillStatus&WCU |date=June 13, 2011 }}, Legislative Report on R.I. Senate Bill 130. Retrieved December 30, 2009</ref>

The Charter retains many features of the prior government: the five-member town council headed by a council president; an elected town clerk; and a Finance Board and an annual Financial Town Meeting. The major changes included four-year terms for the town councilors instead of two years, effective in November 2010, and the creation of a Town Administrator who reports directly to the town council.<ref>[http://www.richmondri.com/vertical/Sites/{A21E130C-F923-442C-B928-699EF86AFC5A}/uploads/{05493E9C-5A85-41D2-BC35-77CFBFDDFC86}.PDF Richmond Home Rule Charter]{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Town of Richmond, Rhode Island, website. Retrieved December 30, 2009)</ref>

==Politics==
Richmond leans [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] at the local level. It voted for Republicans [[Allan Fung]] for governor in [[2018 Rhode Island gubernatorial election|2018]] and Ashley Kalus in [[2022 Rhode Island gubernatorial election|2022]]. It is represented by Republican [[Elaine J. Morgan]] in the Rhode Island Senate and Democrat Megan Cotter in the Rhode Island House of Representatives. Its town council is controlled by Republicans. However, Richmond leans more [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] in federal elections. It voted for Democratic Senators [[Sheldon Whitehouse]] and [[Jack Reed (Rhode Island politician)|Jack Reed]] in [[2018 United States Senate election in Rhode Island|2018]] and [[2020 United States Senate election in Rhode Island|2020]], respectively. Richmond has voted for Democratic presidential nominees since 1988, with the exception of [[2016 United States presidential election in Rhode Island|2016]], when Donald Trump won the town by 8%. [[Joe Biden]] flipped the town back for the Democratic Party in [[2020 United States presidential election in Rhode Island|2020]] by three votes. In [[2024 United States presidential election in Rhode Island|2024]], the town voted for Donald Trump once again.

==Notable people==
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· The article must mention how they are associated with Richmond, whether born, raised, or residing.
· The fact of their association should have a reliable source cited.
· Alphabetical by last name please.
· All others will be deleted.
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* [[Billy Gilman]] (born 1988), country artist and runner-up of [[The Voice (American season 11)|Season 11]] of ''[[The Voice (U.S. TV series)|The Voice]]''. Gilman is from the village of [[Hope Valley, Rhode Island|Hope Valley]] and is often mistaken as being from [[Hopkinton, Rhode Island|Hopkinton]] because most of the village is located in that town
* [[Thomas A. Tefft]] (1826–1859), architect
* [[Frank J. Williams]] (born 1940), Chief Justice of the [[Supreme Court of Rhode Island]] (2001–2009)

==National Register of Historic Places listings==
*[[Carolina Village Historic District]]
*[[John Hoxsie House]]
*[[Shannock Historic District]]
*[[Wyoming, Rhode Island|Wyoming Village Historic District]]

==Adjacent Towns==
{{Geographic location
| Centre = Richmond
 | North = [[Exeter, Rhode Island|Exeter]]
 | East = [[Exeter, Rhode Island|Exeter]], [[South Kingstown, Rhode Island|South Kingstown]]
 | South = [[Charlestown, Rhode Island|Charlestown]]
 | West = [[Hopkinton, Rhode Island|Hopkinton]]
}}

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{wikivoyage inline|Richmond (Rhode Island)|Richmond, Rhode Island}}
*{{Google maps|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?t=m&ll=41.50029299999993%2C-71.659945&spn=0.006990704039549671%2C0.012445336902160997&output=classic&dg=opt|title=Richmond, Rhode Island}}

{{Washington County, Rhode Island}}
{{Rhode Island}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Richmond, Rhode Island| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Washington County, Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Towns in Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Providence metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1747 establishments in Rhode Island]]