thumb|right|Kingston in 1900 on Kingstown Road near the intersection of South Road, showing the village well

thumb|Washington County Jail (1858 & 1861). This building housed prisoners awaiting trial in the county courthouse. It is the current home of the [[Pettaquamscutt Historical Society Museum|South County History Center.]]

Kingston is a village and a census-designated place within the town of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, United States, and the site of the main campus of the University of Rhode Island. The population was 7,825 at the 2020 census. Much of the village center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Kingston Village Historic District. It was originally known as Little Rest.

History

Kingston was first settled in the late seventeenth century. Originally known as Little Rest, the name was changed to Kingston in 1826. It was the county seat for Washington County (formerly Kings County) from 1752 until 1894, when a new courthouse was built in nearby West Kingston. West Kingston is also the site of the historic Kingston Railroad Station which opened in June 1875. The station is served by Amtrak on its Northeast Corridor.

For a time, starting in the late 1770s, the preacher Jemima Wilkinson, known as the Public Universal Friend resided and gave sermons in the town. As late as the 1900s inhabitants of Kingston called a species of solidago "Jemima weed", because its appearance in the town coincided with the preacher's first visit to the area.

South Kingstown established the Kingston Historic District in 1959, and much of Kingston village became a National Register historic district in 1974 as Kingston Village Historic District. The historic district is located just outside the campus of the University of Rhode Island and contains many fine examples of 18th and 19th century architecture. The historic district includes 38 buildings, including the Elisha Reynolds House.

The University of Rhode Island was established at Kingston in 1888 as the Rhode Island Agricultural School and Agricultural Experiment Station, by funding from the Hatch Act of 1887. In 1892 the Agricultural School became the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts with funding from the Second Morrill Land Grant Act of 1890, later becoming Rhode Island State College in 1909 and the University of Rhode Island in 1951.

Economy

In addition to the university, major businesses in Kingston include APC by Schneider Electric and the Arnold Lumber Company.

Education

Public schools are operated by the South Kingstown School District. Educational institutions in Kingston include:

  • The Compass School, a public K-8 charter school
  • Kingston Hill Academy, a public K-5 charter school
  • University of Rhode Island
  • Gordon Research Conferences center

Houses of worship

Religious denominations represented with churches, mosques, and synagogues in Kingston or on the university campus are Roman Catholicism, the United Church of Christ, Episcopalians, United Methodists, Baptists, Islam, and Judaism.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.563 square miles (4.05 km), of which 1.556 square miles (4.03 km) is land and 0.007 square miles (0.02 km) (0.45%) is water.

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 7,825 people, 717 households, and 426 families in Kingston. The population density was 5,025.7 per square mile (1,940.4/km). There were 782 housing units at an average density of 502.2 per square mile (193.9/km). Hispanic or Latino of any race was 8.73% (683) of the population.

Of the 717 households, 25.9% had children under the age of 18; 55.0% were married couples living together; 22.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 25.4% of households consisted of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The percent of those with a bachelor's degree or higher was estimated to be 9.6% of the population.

4.5% of the population was under the age of 18, 80.2% from 18 to 24, 5.3% from 25 to 44, 5.4% from 45 to 64, and 4.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 19.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 138.3 males. The median income for those above 16 years old was $4,344 (+/- $533). Approximately, 0.0% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.0% of those under the age of 18 and 2.5% of those ages 65 or over.

Nearby populated areas

  • Wakefield (3 miles)
  • Peace Dale (3 miles)
  • Narragansett (5 miles)

See also

  • George Fayerweather Blacksmith Shop
  • Great Swamp Fight
  • Kingston (Amtrak station)
  • South County History Center
  • Tavern Hall Preservation Society/Elisha Reynolds House (1738)
  • Tootell House
  • Washington County Courthouse
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Rhode Island

References

Further reading

  • Images of America: Kingston by Betty J. Cotter. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, c. 1999
  • Lost South Kingstown : with a history of ten of its early villages by Kathleen Bossy and Mary Keane. Kingston, R.I. : Pettaquamscutt Historical Society, c. 2004
  • A History of Kingston, R.I. 1700 – 1900: Heart of Rural South County by Christian M. McBurney. Kingston, R.I. : The Pettaquamscutt Historical Society, c. 2004
  • Town of South Kingstown, Rhode Island