Best Community #14: Small-Town Seaside
GoLocalProv Best Communities Team
Best Community #14: Small-Town Seaside
With a strand of preserved beachfront creating arguably one of the most beautiful shorelines in Rhode Island, the smallish South County town enjoys open spaces and old-fashioned beachfront life. It also is headquarters to Rhode Island's Narragansett Indian Tribe.
With the unspoiled vistas of the Ninigret Wildlife Refuge within town borders, it's remarkable that Charlestown manages an Affordability ranking in 2011 of 18th (many of Rhode Island's more glamorous beach communities ranked much lower). As with its regional school district neighbors of Hopkinton and Richmond (19th and 21st in the overall rankings), Charlestown places 6th on this year's Education Ranking. The town
Charlestown by the numbers
Established: 1669
Population: 7,827
Median household income: $73,857
Median housing price: $288,000
2011 Best Communities rankings
Overall ranking: 14
Affordability ranking: 18
Education ranking: 6
Economic condition ranking: 4
Safety ranking: 21
Arts & Culture ranking: 28
History in a nutshell:
The community of Charlestown derives its name from King Charles II. It was taken from the town of Westerly and incorporated in 1738 but in 1747, Charlestown was divided. The northern half took the name of Richmond while the southern half kept its namesake. Charlestown’s landscape is set with ridges of steeply rolling hills, flat coastal areas, and large wetlands. A great portion of the land, approximately 1,900 square acres are lands that are designated to the Narragansett Tribe of Indians. In addition to the tribal lands are vast expanses of conservational and recreational ground. State parks, wildlife refuges, and beaches comprise a large portion of Charlestown’s land and they also serve to attract visitors and local residents alike.
Additional research by Nate Holterman