Profile – Charlestown, RI
Profile – Charlestown, RI
The Town of Charlestown is a seaside community located in the southwest portion of Rhode Island. It is named after King Charles II and was incorporated on August 22, 1738. The area was formerly part of the town of Westerly. Charlestown is composed of the villages of Carolina, Kenyon and Shannock. It encompasses thirty-six square miles of land, six miles of inland water and approximately six miles of coastline along Block Island Sound. The Town is a physically diverse community with flourishing beach colonies, unique village centers, and large tracts of open space. The Town is a perennial vacation and tourist location offering exceptional swimming, camping and fishing opportunities. Consequently, between the months of May to September the Town’s population swells to more than twenty thousand, including seasonal inhabitants.
Charlestown’s year round population, according to the year 2000 census, has increased to 7,859 residents. The racial makeup of the town was 96.26% White, 0.38% African American, 1.26% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population.
21.8% of the population was under the age of 18. The median age was 41.
The median income for a family was $56,866 with 5.1% of the population below the poverty line.
There is one elementary school in the Town of Charlestown. However, this school along with elementary schools in the adjoining communities of Hopkinton and Richmond and a middle and high school are part of the Chariho Regional School District.
Charlestown has a number of different recreational activities, such as basketball, soccer, little league baseball, and football. After sixth grade, school-sponsored sports are offered at the Chariho Regional District Middle and High School. Ninigret Park in Charlestown is a popular place for recreational sports games. There is also an observatory and wildlife refuge within the park. This area is also used for a majority of the large events such as the annual Seafood Festival and Big Apple Circus.
Charlestown is also the home of the state’s largest campground – Burlingame State Campground, with 755 sites situated on 2100 acres.