West Greenwich, Rhode Island

West Greenwich, Rhode Island
West Greenwich, Rhode Island
Town
	Louttit Library
	Location in Kent County and the state of Rhode Island.
	Coordinates: 41°37′46″N 71°39′37″W / 41.62944°N 71.66028°W
Country	United States
State	Rhode Island
County	Kent
Government
• Type	Five-member Town council
• Town Council	Mark Tourgee (R); Mark Boyer (R); Sheryl Green (R); Lee Kissinger (R); Thomas E. Mulcahey (R)
Area
• Total	51.3 sq mi (132.9 km2)
• Land	50.6 sq mi (131.1 km2)
• Water	0.7 sq mi (1.8 km2)
Elevation	472 ft (144 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	6,528
• Density	129/sq mi (49.8/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	02817
Area code	401
FIPS code	44-77720
GNIS feature ID	1220059
Website	www.wgtownri.org

West Greenwich is a town in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 6,528 at the 2020 census.^[3] West Greenwich was named for the historic town of Greenwich, Kent, England. It was separated from East Greenwich in 1741. Students go to Exeter-West Greenwich Regional School in West Greenwich.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 51.3 square miles (133 km²), of which, 50.6 square miles (131 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (1.34%) is water. Escoheag Hill is located within the town and is the site of a former ski area. Wickaboxet State Forest is also located in West Greenwich.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	2,054	—
1800	1,757	−14.5%
1810	1,619	−7.9%
1820	1,927	19.0%
1830	1,817	−5.7%
1840	1,415	−22.1%
1850	1,350	−4.6%
1860	1,258	−6.8%
1870	1,133	−9.9%
1880	1,018	−10.2%
1890	798	−21.6%
1900	606	−24.1%
1910	481	−20.6%
1920	367	−23.7%
1930	402	9.5%
1940	526	30.8%
1950	847	61.0%
1960	1,169	38.0%
1970	1,841	57.5%
1980	2,738	48.7%
1990	3,492	27.5%
2000	5,085	45.6%
2010	6,135	20.6%
2020	6,528	6.4%
U.S. Decennial Census^[4]^[5]

At the 2000 census there were 5,085 people, 1,749 households, and 1,451 families in the town. The population density was 100.4 inhabitants per square mile (38.8/km²). There were 1,809 housing units at an average density of 35.7 per square mile (13.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.70% White, 0.28% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69%.^[2]

Of the 1,749 households 42.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.3% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.0% were non-families. 13.0% of households were one person and 3.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.18.

The age distribution was 28.4% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.5 males.

The median household income was $65,725 and the median family income was $71,332. Males had a median income of $44,306 versus $32,933 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,750. 4.2% of the population and 2.5% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 2.7% of those under the age of 18 and 15.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Government

West Greenwich town vote
by party in presidential elections^[6]
Year	GOP	DEM	Others
2016	57.88% 1,953	34.35% 1,159	7.77% 262
2012	50.28% 1,590	47.53% 1,503	2.18% 69
2008	48.65% 1,567	49.39% 1,591	1.96% 63
2004	51.66% 1,466	45.81% 1,300	2.54% 72
2000	43.80% 1,035	48.24% 1,140	7.96% 188
1996	35.67% 808	45.96% 1,041	18.37% 416
1992	32.96% 773	34.54% 810	32.49% 762
1988	58.45% 989	41.19% 697	0.35% 6

In the Rhode Island Senate, West Greenwich is split into three senatorial districts, one of which is currently held by Democrat Leonidas P. Raptakis (District 33) and other by Republican Elaine J. Morgan (District 34). The other, District 21, is currently vacant but was last held by Republican Nicholas D. Kettle before his resignation in February 2018 following a sex scandal. At the federal level, West Greenwich is a part of Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district, which is currently represented by James R. Langevin.

In presidential elections, West Greenwich tends to be a fairly independent or swing municipality with a slight Republican tilt. That red lean was strengthened in 2016 when Donald Trump won the town by 23.5 points, the best performance for a Republican in the town in three decades.