Profile - South Kingstown
Profile
South Kingstown, RI is a rural /suburban seaside bedroom community. Our community is located in Washington County, approximately 35 miles south from our capital city Providence, RI. Often we are referred to as being part of South County (not an official name) because of our southern location in the state. We are located in the very southern section of New England. We are compromised of both coastal beaches and rural farmlands. The bordering communities to our town are Narragansett, Charlestown, Exeter, Richmond and North Kingstown. We are the largest town in our small state based on square miles. Our town population is approx. 32,000, however our population fluctuates. As our town is often a tourist destination during the summer months and we are also home to the University of Rhode Island.
The main campus of the University of Rhode Island is just a few miles up the road in the village of Kingston. The spectacular 7,700 seat Thomas M. Ryan Center hosts events from basketball and the circus to classical music performances and fine music. URI's program offerings, you will discover that we have over 100 majors in seven degree-granting colleges. There are over 12,000 students on the Kingston campus, another 3000 in Providence, and a complement of about 700 faculty. URI researchers are engaged in projects that have local, national and international implications in programs as diverse as oceanography, family violence and behavior change, environmental cleanup, education reform, the "greening" of industry, botanical pharmaceuticals, international business and much, much more.
As one travels the country roads of South Kingstown they will come to appreciate our rich historic heritage dating back to 1723. Many of the residents refer to the main part of town as "Wakefield". The Town of South Kingstown includes the following villages: Wakefield, Curtis Corner, Green Hill, Indian Lake Shore, Kingston, Matunuck, Middlebridge, Peace Dale, Perryville, Rocky Brook, Snug Harbor, Tuckertown, Usquepaugh, and West Kingston.
South Kingstown's school district is made up of seven public schools, out of which four schools are elementary schools these include Wakefield, Peace Dale, Matunuck and West Kingston. There are two middle schools Broad Middle, and Curtis Corner, and there is one high school South Kingstown High School. There are also two private Catholic schools in town, Monsignor Matthew F. Clarke Elementary School and the Prout School (a combination junior-senior high school), and also Hazard school for the disabled and mentally challenged.
The Narragansett Indians have a significant historical influence in our area. The first documented contact with the Narragansett’s dates back to 1524. During this time the Narragansett’s were considered warriors of the region offering protection to the smaller tribes. In 1983 the Narragansett Indian Tribe received federal recognition and acknowledgment from the government. Today while the population of Narragansett Indians is not as large as it once was they provide a strong presence in our community.