2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Central Falls had a population of 22,583, with 7,700 households and 4,315 families. The population density was 18,913.7 per square mile (7,302.6/km). There were 8,191 housing units at an average density of 6,860.1 per square mile (2,648.7/km).
There were 8,191 housing units, of which 6.0% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 2.9%.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 6,308 || 27.9%
|-
| Black or African American || 1,687 || 7.5%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 523 || 2.3%
|-
| Asian || 134 || 0.6%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 17 || 0.1%
|-
| Some other race || 8,840 || 39.1%
|-
| Two or more races || 5,074 || 22.5%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 14,752 || 65.3%
|}
28.4% of the population was under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 102.7 males, and for every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 101.2 males.
The average household size was 3.1 and the average family size was 3.7. The percent of those with a bachelor's degree or higher was estimated to be 5.2% of the population.
The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $34,689 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,947) and the median family income was $36,928 (+/- $4,820). Males had a median income of $24,390 (+/- $2,861) versus $21,893 (+/- $3,074) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $23,205 (+/- $2,867).
Approximately, 23.7% of families and 29.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.4% of those under the age of 18 and 17.8% of those ages 65 or over.
2010 census
In the 2010 U.S. census, Central Falls was the only majority-minority municipality in Rhode Island with 60.31 percent of its residents identifying as Hispanic/Latino with Puerto Ricans, Guatemalans, and Colombians making up the largest share among the ethnicity.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, Central Falls had a median household income of $28,901 during the 2012-2016 estimates, making it the poorest municipality in Rhode Island.
2000 census
In the 2000 census, there were 18,928 people, 6,696 households, and 4,359 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 7,270 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 57.16% White, 5.82% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 28.35% from other races, and 7.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 47.77% of the population.
There were 6,696 households, out of which 38.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.4% were married couples living together, 21.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the city, 29.2% were aged under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 15.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,628, and the median income for a family was $26,844. Males had a median income of $23,854 versus $18,544 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,825. About 25.9% of families and 29.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.8% of those under age 18 and 29.3% of those age 65 or over.
Education
thumb|right|[[Central Falls High School]]
Residents are served by the Central Falls School District. This school district is funded and appointed by the State of Rhode Island Department of Education.
In February 2010, the entire faculty and administrative staff of Central Falls High School was fired after the teachers' union refused to accept one of the "No Child Left Behind" options for restructuring failing schools. In accordance with NCLB legislation, schools deemed failing have four options to follow for restructuring. The superintendent chose the "turnaround model", which requires a district to fire the entire staff (teachers and administrators). They may rehire up to 50% of the teachers for the beginning of the next school year. In 2009, the school had a graduation rate of around 50%, and 7% of 11th-graders were proficient in mathematics.
This school had been identified as one of the worst in the state. The teachers' union sued the school district, challenging the requirement that teachers reapply for their jobs. The Obama administration sided with the school board. In May 2010, the teachers were rehired when they agreed to work the extra time required.<!---soft/hard copy refs do not match internally but are the same article--->
In the 2000 U.S. census, 5.9% of Central Falls residents 25 and older had a bachelor's or advanced college degree.
There has been at least one Catholic school in Central Falls since 1895. By 1908, there were three: St. Matthew's, Holy Trinity, and Notre Dame.
In 1995, these three schools combined to create St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Academy, in the building originally serving St. Matthew's. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Academy is the only non-public school in Central Falls.
Government
thumb|upright|Central Falls City Hall
In the Rhode Island Senate, Central Falls is in the 16th District, represented by Democrat Jonathan Acosta. At the federal level, Central Falls is a part of Rhode Island's 1st congressional district, represented by Democrat Gabe Amo.
The city has a mayor-council government led by Mayor Maria Rivera. The city council consists of five wards and is represented by Jonathan Acosta, Robert Ferri, Hugo Figueroa, Franklin Solano, and Jessica Vega.
The Pawtucket Water Supply Board owns and operates the water system.
Issues
In April 2010, the Providence Journal Bulletin ran an article detailing rampant fraud and corruption by Mayor Charles D. Moreau, outlining no-bid contracts and kickbacks from a high school friend, Michael G. Bouthillette, who was granted almost $2 million in overpriced property boarding fees. The article further states that Bouthillette gave him a $6,875 furnace for his home for only $6,000, which Moreau said he paid in cash. Bouthillette was a donor to Moreau's multiple reelection campaigns. These allegations and others are being investigated by the Rhode Island State Police.
Central Falls's government's financial straits worsened in the 2000s as the state cut money to cities and towns, and pensions and pensioner health insurance for city employees accumulated to the extent that the city government declared insolvency in May 2010 and went into receivership. On August 1, 2011, Central Falls filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 9, Title 11 of the United States Code. It made the filing as it grappled with an $80 million unfunded pension and retiree health benefit liability that was over five times its annual budget of $17 million.
Presidential Election Voting
Like most other majority-minority urban municipalities, Central Falls is overwhelmingly Democratic in presidential elections. No Republican has come remotely close to winning the city in over three decades, during which time voters have consistently backed Democratic nominees with lopsided majorities. In 2020, however, Donald Trump won a massive increase in the vote, mirroring his performance in other majority-Hispanic areas. Despite this, Joe Biden still won by an overwhelming percentage.
{| class="wikitable" class="toccolours" style="float:right; margin:1em 0 1em 1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ Central Falls city vote<br /> by party in presidential elections
|-
! Year
!GOP
!DEM
!Others
|-
| style="text-align:center"; |2024
| style="text-align:center"; |34.3% 1,265
| style="text-align:center"; |63.4% 2,335
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.3% 84
|-
| style="text-align:center"; |2020
| style="text-align:center"; |26.05% 1,113
| style="text-align:center"; |71.93% 3,073
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.02% 86
|-
| style="text-align:center"; |2016
| style="text-align:center"; |15.51% 657
| style="text-align:center"; |80.12% 3,394
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|4.37% 185
|-
| style="text-align:center"; |2012
| style="text-align:center"; |12.89% 512
| style="text-align:center"; |85.87% 3,410
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.23% 49
|-
| style="text-align:center"; |2008
| style="text-align:center"; |16.97% 661
| style="text-align:center"; |81.95% 3,191
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.08% 42
|-
| style="text-align:center"; |2004
| style="text-align:center"; |23.05% 807
| style="text-align:center"; |75.61% 2,647
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.34% 47
|-
| style="text-align:center"; |2000
| style="text-align:center"; |17.57% 611
| style="text-align:center"; |79.07% 2,750
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|3.36% 117
|-
| style="text-align:center"; |1996
| style="text-align:center"; |13.68% 486
| style="text-align:center"; |76.75% 2,727
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|9.57% 340
|-
| style="text-align:center"; |1992
| style="text-align:center"; |23.39% 955
| style="text-align:center"; |55.57% 2,269
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|21.04% 859
|-
| style="text-align:center"; |1988
| style="text-align:center"; |33.36% 1,493
| style="text-align:center"; |66.24% 2,964
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.40% 18
|}
National historic places in Central Falls
- Central Falls Congregational Church
- Central Falls Mill Historic District
- Central Street School
- Samuel B. Conant House
- David G. Fales House
- Benjamin F. Greene House
- Holy Trinity Church
- Jenks Park & Cogswell Tower
- South Central Falls Historic District
- St. Joseph Church
- St. Matthew Church (now Holy Spirit Parish)
- Valley Falls Mill
- Valley Falls Mill, Office and Bath House
Notable people
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- Lincoln Carter Almond, 72nd Governor of Rhode Island; grew up in Central Falls
- Michael Breault, game designer, editor and author; born in Central Falls
- Malcolm Greene Chace, financier, head of Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates; born in Central Falls
- Francis Condon, US congressman representing Rhode Island's 1st congressional district; born in Central Falls
- Viola Davis, Academy Award-winning actress; grew up in Central Falls
- James Diossa, politician, born in Central Falls
- Carl Russell Fish, historian and professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison; born in Central Falls
- Roland Hemond, executive for several Major League Baseball teams; born in Central Falls
- Leon Stanislaw Jablecki, rocket scientist
- Jack McGee, aviation pioneer; born in Central Falls
- Glyn O'Malley, playwright; grew up in Central Falls
- Charles Risk, US congressman representing Rhode Island's 1st congressional district; born in Central Falls
- John Robitaille, US Army captain; unsuccessful politician Rhode Island gubernatorial candidate (2010); born in Central Falls
- Max Surkont, baseball player, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox and Boston Braves; born in Central Falls
See also
- Valley Falls Company
- Lorenzo de Nevers
- Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility
- Project Weber/RENEW
References
External links
- City of Central Falls
- Adams Memorial Library
- Blackstone Valley Historical Society