Best Community #33: Mill Village Pride
GoLocalProv Best Communities Team
Best Community #33: Mill Village Pride
Call it Rhode Island's upstart youngest sibling, and you'd be right. The most recent community in Rhode Island established itself as a separate entity from Warwick in 1913, and built a speedy, proud tradition based on immigrant influx and milling. The pride remains intact - one need look no further than fierce Wizards loyalty at the local high school for evidence.
Just out of the bottom 10 in 2011's Education rankings at 29th, West Warwick nonetheless sits lower to the bottom of the table in Economic Condition, where it ranks 34th, just above Johnston, 30th in Safety, and 32nd in Arts and Culture.
Established: 1648
Population: 29,191
Median household income: $50,606
Median housing price: $155,000
2011 Best Communities rankings
Overall ranking: 33
Affordability ranking: 11
Education ranking: 29
Economic condition ranking: 34
Safety ranking: 30
Arts & Culture ranking: 32
History in a nutshell:
They wanted their own show by the 20th century, and got it. With the urging of a majority of the population in western Warwick (which had served as Warwick's population and industrial center), RI Governor Aram J. Pothier signed a bill in 1913 that divided the town of Warwick. The new town was simply called West Warwick and despite its late founding, the community has a proud heritage and noble tradition. West Warwick came to be a well-respected town due to its continuous educational growth, rapid industrial expansion, and the boost it had received from immigrants in the 19th century. West Warwick had, in fact, been the site of some of the earliest textile mills in the US, along the north and south branches of the Pawtuxet River. The town houses several industrial sites evincing its commitment for continued growth.
Famous residents:
Ann Hood, novelist
Additional research by Nate Holterman