Best Community #34: More Than Big Hair
GoLocalProv Best Communities Team
Best Community #34: More Than Big Hair
Perhaps forever known as one of Rhode Island's spawning grounds for Big Hair culture, this town also seems unable to shake an ongoing series of controversies surrounding its most-famous site: the Central Landfill. A little-known claim to demographic fame: with 46.7% of Johnston residents identifying themselves in 2000 as being of Italian heritage, the town has the highest percentage of Italian Americans of any municipality in the country.
The dominant factor in Johnston's bottom 10 performance in 2011's rankings lies squarely in its Education scores (33rd in the state) and Economic Condition ranking (35th). The town's Safety ranking was 27th overall, considerably higher than most low-ranking communities.
Established: 1636
Population: 28,769
Median household income: $57,387
Median housing price: $174,700
2011 Best Communities rankings
Overall ranking: 34
Affordability ranking: 14
Education ranking: 33
Economic condition ranking: 35
Safety ranking: 27
Arts & Culture ranking: 25
History in a nutshell:
Johnston was originally a part of Providence before it became its own town when it was incorporated in 1759. It was named in honor of Augustus Lucas Johnston, the attorney general of Rhode Island from 1758 to 1766. Early settlers worked in the soapstone quarry, cotton mills, and a dyestuffs factory. In addition to its early industry, Johnston was also a farming community. However, the past importance of farming has now been replaced by the manufacturing of jewelry and silverware and trade establishments. Today, most of the community has been a product of suburban development but a few old colonial farm houses still paint the landscape, including a rare and historic stone-ender, the Clemence Irons House (above).
Famous residents:
Samuel Ward King, Governor of Rhode Island during the Dorr Rebellion
Pauly D, DJ and featured performer from The Jersey Shore
Additional research by Nate Holterman