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Middletown, Rhode Island facts for kids

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Middletown, Rhode Island
St. George's School, Middletown, Rhode Island
St. George's School, Middletown, Rhode Island
Location of Middletown in Newport County, Rhode Island
Location of Middletown in Newport County, Rhode Island
Country United States
State Rhode Island
County Newport
Incorporated 1743
Area
 • Total 14.9 sq mi (38.7 km2)
 • Land 13.0 sq mi (33.6 km2)
 • Water 2.0 sq mi (5.1 km2)
Elevation
154 ft (47 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 17,075
 • Density 1,146/sq mi (441.2/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
02842
Area code(s) 401
FIPS code 44-45460
GNIS feature ID 1220063

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

History

Various 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.

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.

Geography

First Beach, Middletown RI
View of First Beach in Middletown, Rhode Island
Second Beach, Middletown RI
View of Second Beach in Middletown, Rhode Island

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 14.9 square miles (38.7 km²), of which 13.0 square miles (33.6 km²) is land and 2.0 square miles (5.1 km²; 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.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1790 840
1800 913 8.7%
1810 976 6.9%
1820 949 −2.8%
1830 915 −3.6%
1840 891 −2.6%
1850 830 −6.8%
1860 1,012 21.9%
1870 971 −4.1%
1880 1,139 17.3%
1890 1,154 1.3%
1900 1,457 26.3%
1910 1,708 17.2%
1920 2,004 17.3%
1930 2,499 24.7%
1940 3,379 35.2%
1950 7,382 118.5%
1960 12,675 71.7%
1970 29,290 131.1%
1980 17,216 −41.2%
1990 19,460 13.0%
2000 17,334 −10.9%
2010 16,150 −6.8%
2020 17,075 5.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

At the 2000 census, there were 17,334 people, 6,993 households and 4,643 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,335.4 per square mile (515.6/km2). There were 7,603 housing units at an average density of 585.7 per square mile (226.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 89.12% White, 2.72% African American, 2.36% Native American, 1.18% Asian, 1.11% Pacific Islander, 1.07% from other races, and 2.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.93% of the population.

There were 6,993 households, of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. Of all households 28.7% were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.01.

Of the population, 25.0% were under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.

The median household income was $51,075 and the median family income was $57,322. Males had a median income of $41,778 and females $27,229. The per capita income for the town was $25,857. About 3.7% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Newport State Airport, a public-use general aviation airport and the only airport on Aquidneck Island, is located in Middletown.

West Main Road (RI-114) and East Main Road (RI-138) are the main roads running north–south through Middletown.

Historic sites in Middletown

Prescott Farm Middletown
ca. 1811 windmill on Prescott Farm

In popular culture

  • Portions of the 2012 romantic drama Celeste and Jesse Forever were filmed in several locations throughout the state, notably on Middletown's Sachuest Bay shoreline off Tuckerman Avenue.



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

Notable people

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Middletown (Rhode Island) para niños

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