Barrington, Rhode Island

This article is about the town in Rhode Island. For other areas of the same name, see Barrington.
Barrington, Rhode Island
Town

Aerial view of Barrington in 2008

Location in Bristol County and the state of Rhode Island.
Coordinates: 41°44′43″N 71°19′5″W / 41.74528°N 71.31806°W / 41.74528; -71.31806Coordinates: 41°44′43″N 71°19′5″W / 41.74528°N 71.31806°W / 41.74528; -71.31806
Country United States
State Rhode Island
County Bristol
Incorporated 1770
Government
 • Type Council-manager
 • Town Council Stephen B. Primiano (R)
Michael W. Carroll (D)
 • Town Moderator Julia P. Califano (D)
Area
 • Total 15.4 sq mi (39.9 km2)
 • Land 8.4 sq mi (21.8 km2)
 • Water 7.0 sq mi (18.1 km2)
Elevation 50ft at Prince's hill ft (2 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 16,310
 • Density 1,941.7/sq mi (748.2/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 02806
Area code(s) 401
FIPS code 44-05140[1]
GNIS feature ID 1220084[2]
Website Town of Barrington Official Web Site

Barrington (pronounced /ˈbɛər.ɪŋ.tᵻn/[3]) is a suburban, residential town in Bristol County, Rhode Island. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 16,310. Located approximately 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Providence, the town was founded by Congregationalist separatists from Swansea, Massachusetts.

Following its incorporation in 1711, Barrington was ceded to Rhode Island and merged into Warren, Rhode Island, though its independence was later restored by the Rhode Island legislature. Barrington was a sparsely developed, agricultural community until the arrival of brickmaking companies in the 1850s, which employed large numbers of French-Canadians and Italians. The construction of a railroad to Providence in 1855 further contributed to suburban development, attracting residents of neighboring urban areas and contributing to the development of manufacturing industries. Along with the increasing availability of the automobile, the baby boom furthered existing suburbanization trends, resulting in large increases of population.

Barrington's modern education system was constructed following these population increases. It has has received recognition for academic success; Barrington High School, Barrington Middle School, and Nayatt Elementary are all National Blue Ribbon Schools, and Barrington High School has was ranked No. 200 in the United States by Newsweek in 2014. In July 2005, CNN/Money and Money magazine ranked Barrington sixth on its list of the 100 best places to live in the United States.[4] Historical sites, including the Allen-West House, Barrington Civic Center Historic District, and O'Bannon Mill, provide various examples of architectural and suburban development during various stages of the town's history. Nine sites in Barrington are listed under the National Register of Historic Places, a listing of sites, buildings, and areas deemed worthy of preservation by the United States federal government.

History

Early settlements

The land that comprises modern-day Barrington was originally occupied by the Wampanoags, whose territory spanned Narragansett Bay through Cape Cod.[5]:54 Epidemics of disease brought by European colonists largely eliminated their coastal settlements; the Wampanoags' main settlement at the time of the Plymouth Colonists' arrival in 1620 was an area roughly corresponding to Bristol, Barrington and Warren.[6]:5 The Narragansett term for the area, Sowams, is usually used to refer to this area.[5]:104[6]:5 In 1653, investors from Plymouth Colony bought "Sowams and Parts Adjacent" from the Wampanoags, a territory roughly corresponding to modern-day Barrington with portions of Bristol, Warren, and Swansea.[5]:43[6]:6 Some areas in Barrington draw their name from the initial proprietors of this land, such as Prince's Hill, named for Thomas Prince. Thomas Willett, another early proprietor, was responsible for the establishment of a Baptist church at Nockum Hill.[7]

Religious differences between settlers of Sowams and the neighboring Wannamoissett and Rehoboth prompted the incorporation of Swansea in 1667. Plymouth created Bristol County in 1685 to improve adminstration of western lands, which was followed by a merger of the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colonies orchestrated by the British government.[6]:6 Baptist residents petitioned for separation from Swansea in 1711, and Barrington was incorporated as an independent town in 1717. Barrington likely received its name from Barrington, Somerset, the origin of several English settlers.[7] Barrington was ceded to Rhode Island in 1747, and made a part of Warren, Rhode Island. In 1770, its independence was restored by the Rhode Island legislature.[7]

Townhood

The following century was largely characterized by the development of Barrington into an agricultural community, which provided the basis for much of the town's economy. Farmland was usually used to cultivate grains, especially corn, in addition to rye, oats, and barley. Many farmers planted fruit trees, some developing large orchards, as apple cider was an important commodity for trade. Farms were distributed across Barrington's landscape, which created a landscape of open grassland fields separated by fencing and stone walls.[6]:12

Shifts in influence between northern and southern portions of Barrington resulted in relocation of the Congregational Church (pictured).

Religion continued to influence Barrington politics. Upon its establishment, the new Congregational Society was formally declared the town's religion, following Massachusetts custom. Until 1797, taxes supported the Congregational minister, who was employed by the town meeting.[6]:12 Baptists and other religious groups were given the option of supporting their own meetings in 1728. In 1737, discussions regarding a relocation of the Congregational church proved divisive amongst the southern and northern portions of Barrington. The southern area was the historical center of town, hosting the Congregational church and buildings by the original Sowams proprietors. However, rapid increases in population shifted influence northward; northern farmers utilized the area's abundant marshland and fertile soil as the basis of many large farms. Ultimately, the church relocated to the north, using a lot provided by Joshua Bicknell along County Road.[6]:13 In addition to commercial establishments, mainly taverns and inns, farmhouses nearby the church furthered the area's development.[6]:14

Industrial production and suburbanization

In 1847, Nathaniel Potter founded Nayatt Brick Company, which utilized the extensive clay deposits in Brickyard Pond. The company was reincorporated as the Narragansett Brick Company in 1864, and a competitor, the New England Steam Brick Corporation, was founded in 1890.[6]:20 Brick production resulted in road-building, visits from nearby seafaring vessels, and other such economic activity. The original employees of these companies were of mainly French-Canadian descent, but as a result of economic depression in the 1880s, some Italians migrated to the United States; a few hundred came to Barrington and worked at the brickyard. Their descendants still make up a significant portion of the town population.[7] Barrington's population grew from 850 in 1850 to 3697 in 1920, mirroring overall trends in Rhode Island. Clay deposits began to deplete in 1900, and by 1930 brickmaking operations had ceased.[6]:20

The construction of a between Bristol and Providence in 1855 gave residents the ability to commute to Providence, which resulted in an increasingly suburban atmosphere.[6]:3 The railroad led to the creation of several manufacturing industries in West Barrington, such as O'Bannon Mill and Rhode Island Laceworks, the latter providing commercial firefighting services for the town. New public facilities, such as the high school, town hall, and library, were also constructed during this period. Developments such as the Barrington Yacht Club and a golf course at Nayatt (now Rhode Island Country Club) catered to wealthy residents of neighboring urban areas, who came to Barrington in the summer as a result of its location near the shore and proximity to large cities.[7]

Red brick building overlooking street in late afternoon
Cobblestone building with steeple and chimney, surrounded by shrubbery
The railroad from Providence constructed in 1855 led to the development of commercial and public facilities.

Modern era

Manufacturing establishments continued to operate in West Barrington throughout the 20th century; manufacturing employees were mostly of Italian and English descent, although significant numbers of Portuguese descent, originating from nearby Warren, Rhode Island and Bristol. Throughout the 1930s, the Neweth Rubber Company produced retread tires, but the building burned down in the 1940s and was not rebuilt. Rhode Island Laceworks continued to operate until 1990, when its owners deemed profits insufficient. The 1938 New England hurricane caused considerable damage to homes along the shoreline and pleasure crafts, and railroad service was discontinued shortly afterwards.[6]:3[7]

The trend towards suburbanization continued, aided by the availability of the automobile and the later post-World War II baby boom.[7] Commercial enterprises in the 1940s a long County Road further reduced the need for outside travel, significantly altering the landscape in its path.[6]:22 Barrington Shopping Center, constructed in 1948, included a supermarket, pharmacy and bank; two smaller shopping centers were constructed afterwards. Six new schools, which comprise the modern education system of Barrington, were constructed throughout the 1950s. Town services also expanded, with the establishment of a police force in 1934 and a fire department in 1953. Rapid population growth lead the town to adopt a council-manager charter in 1960. New churches also opened, accommodating Roman Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian citizens. In the 1980s, the East Bay Bike Path was constructed along the former railroad lines connecting Providence to Bristol.[6]:3 In the 1990s, a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was brought against the town for its Christmas display, which featured a crèche. The town removed the display, and an individual placed a privately-owned scene on the road neighboring the town hall. Similarly, a lawsuit filed in 1996 by the ACLU regarding the town's decision to plow church parking lots for free was not contested.[7] Barrington was the sole "dry" town in Rhode Island until 2011, when the town council approved 2 liquor stores.[8]

Education

The modern public education system in Barrington was constructed during the 1950s, amdist the baby boom and increasing popularity of automobiles.[7] Barrington's single school district, Barrington Public Schools, comprises four elementary schools, a middle school and a high school.[9] Barrington High School,[10] Barrington Middle School,[11] and Nayatt Elementary,[12] are all National Blue Ribbon Schools, and Barrington High School was ranked No. 200 in the United States in a 2014 analysis by Newsweek.[13]

Private schools in Barrington include Barrington Christian Academy,[14] St. Luke's,[15] and St. Andrew's School.[16]

Two Christian colleges occupied the Belton Court estate throughout the 20th and early 21st century. Barrington College, founded in 1900, occupied the area before merging with Gordon College in 1985.[17] Belton was then sold, and Zion Bible College occupied its grounds until 2007.[18]

Nayatt Point Lighthouse, ca. late 1800s

Historical locations and points of interest

Nine residential and commercial developments from the town's early suburbanization are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a record of important historical sites in American history.[6]:49

The Allen-West House, among the oldest houses in Barrington, stands on grounds farmed from the 17th to 20th century. A rare, well-preserved example of of a vernacular house plan, it serves as an example of architecture from Barrington's agricultural era.[19] Alfred Drowne Road Historic District and Jennys Lane Historic District are historical subdivisions that developed during the late 1800s and early 1900s, having attracted residents from neighboring urban communities.[20][21] Rhode Island Country Club was constructed by Donald Ross in 1911, and since 1999 hosts the CVS Charity Classic anually.[22][23]

The Barrington Civic Center Historic District in central Barrington includes Prince's Hill Cemetery, Barrington Town Hall, and the Leander R. Peck School, the last now housing the library and town senior center. Barrington Town Hall, described by the architects as "medieval", was originally used as the town's seat of government, library, and school; with the construction of Leander R. Peck School in 1917, the school moved and the library took its space. The T-shaped Elizabethan-Revival Peck School, which features a stairway to access its main entrance, was repurposed as the Barrington Public Library in the 1970s.[24]

Nayatt Point Lighthouse, adjoined with its corresponding dwelling, served to guide vessels along the Providence River, marking the narrow passage between Nayatt and Conimicut Point.[25] St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, founded by an Episcopal mission in the 1880s, mixes both Queen Anne and Gothic Revival-style architecture.[26] Belton Court, built for Frederick Peck, a businessman and Rhode Island politician, was the site of two colleges before being auctioned to a Massachusetts investor who intends to repurpose it as elderly housing.[27] O'Bannon Mill, among the first mills to mass-produce imitation leather, went through three purchasers before being converted into elderly apartment housing in the 1990s.[28]

Geography

Barrington is located on the eastern side of Narragansett Bay, in Bristol County, Rhode Island, the third smallest county in the United States.[29] Situated 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Providence, it is comprised of two pensisulas divided by the Barrington and Warren rivers. The shoreline of the western pensisula, Phebe's Neck or Popanomscut, is marked by many coves and indentations, making a sharp bend at Nayatt Point. Rumstick Neck, located around one and a half miles east of Nayatt, forms the southern end of Phebe's Neck. To the northeast of Phebe's Neck lies the second peninsula, New Meadow Neck, which is bordered by Hundred Acre Cove and the Palmer River.[6]:1 According to the United States Census Bureau, Barrington has a total area of 15.4 square miles (40 km2), being composed of 8.2 square miles (21 km2) land and 7.2 square miles (19 km2) water.[30]

Barrington lies on a low, mostly flat plain bordering the sea. This plain, composed mostly of layers of clay, gravel, sand, and silt soils, was formed by a melting glacier towards the end of the last ice age.[5]:2–5[6]:1 Bedrock underlying the soil is largely composed of shales, sandstone, and conglomerate rock, with some outcrops of quartz. A few extremes in elevation, such as Nayatt Point, Primrose and Prince's Hill, rise to heights of fifty feet.[6]:1

Freshwater bodies in Barrington include artificial ponds originally used for brickmaking and some minor streams. Clay deposited by the glacier near Brickyard Pond are exposed to tidewater at Mouscochuck Creek, which was used as a canal for brickmaking operations. Two other artificial ponds, Echo Lake and Volpe Pond, exist along this area; a third, Prince's Pond, drains into the Barrington River in the northeast.[6]:1–2

Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 16,819 people, 6,011 households, and 4,712 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,998.1 people per square mile (771.2/km²). There were 6,199 housing units at an average density of 736.4 per square mile (284.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.37% White, 0.68% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.77% Asian, 0.26% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.05% of the population.

There were 6,011 households out of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.7% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.6% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the town the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $74,591, and the median income for a family was $84,657. Males had a median income of $59,722 versus $36,195 for females. The per capita income for the town was $35,881. About 3.0% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ "Barrington Financial Town Meeting". Town of Barrington. Town of Barrington. (08:15) Geoffrey Grove: Um, so good evening, residents of Barrington (/ˈbɛər.ɪŋ.tᵻn/).
  4. ↑ "MONEY Magazine: Best places to live 2005". Money.cnnm. 2005-05-23. Retrieved 2011-11-27.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Bicknell, Thomas (1898). A History of Barrington, Rhode Island. Snow & Farnham. ISBN 1293409553.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Historical And Architectural Resources of Barrington, Rhode Island (PDF). Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission. 1993. OCLC 30898642. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Mason, Ken. "History of the Town of Barrington, RI". Town of Barrington website. Town of Barrington. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  8. ↑ Niedowski, Erika. "RI’s last dry town getting first 2 liquor stores". The Bangor Daily News. Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "Home - Barrington Public Schools". Barrington Public Schools. Barrington Public Schools. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  10. ↑ "NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS PROGRAM Schools Recognized 1982 Through 2013" (PDF). U.S Department of Education. p. 155. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  11. ↑ "Barrington Middle School is National Blue Ribbon winner". EasyBayRI. East Bay Newspapers. October 1, 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  12. ↑ "3 Rhode Island schools receive national Blue Ribbon honors". Providence Journal. October 4, 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  13. ↑ "America's Top Schools 2014". Newsweek. 13 September 2014.
  14. ↑ "About - Barrington Christian Academy". bcacademy.org. Barrington Christian Academy. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  15. ↑ "Saint Luke's School / Homepage". Saint Luke's School. Saint Luke's School. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  16. ↑ "Saint Andrew's Home - Saint Andrew's School". Saint Andrew's School. Saint Andrew's School. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  17. ↑ "History of Barrington College - Gordon College". Gordon College. Gordon College. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  18. ↑ Lippa, Alex (2012). "Zion Bible College to change its name". Community Newspaper Holdings. Haverhill Gazette. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  19. ↑ "NRHP nomination for Allen-West House" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 2014-04-10.
  20. ↑ "NRHP nomination for Alfred Drowne Road Historic District" (PDF). RI Preservation. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
  21. ↑ "NRHP nomination for Jennys Lane Historic District" (PDF). RI Preservation. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
  22. ↑ "Directory of Golf Courses designed by Donald J. Ross" (PDF). donaldross.org. Donald Ross Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 16, 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  23. ↑ "Rhode Island Country Club About Us Home". Rhode Island Country Club. Rhode Island Country Club. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  24. ↑ Morgan, Keith (12 December 1976). "National Register of Historic Places nomination – Barrington Civic Center Historic District" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  25. ↑ "Nayatt Point Light history" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places—Nomination Form. Rhode Island Preservation Society. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  26. ↑ "NRHP nomination for St. Matthew's Episcopal Church" (PDF). RI Preservation. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
  27. ↑ Dunn, Christine (April 8, 2014). "Retirement community planned in Barrington". Providence Journal. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  28. ↑ "NRHP nomination for O'Bannon Mill" (PDF). RI Preservation. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
  29. ↑ "DataSet.txt". State & County QuickFacts. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2012. (See "Download the Database" for an explanation of this data set.)
  30. ↑ "Rhode Island County Subdivisions". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  31. ↑ Anderson, Porter. "Industry, media figures among crash fatalities". CNN.com. Cable News Network. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  32. ↑ White, Tim. "The History of New England’s Mob Bosses". WPRI.com. TVL Broadcasting LLC. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  33. ↑ Bicknell, Thomas (1913). History and genealogy of the Bicknell family and some collateral lines, of Normandy, Great Britain and America. Comprising some ancestors and many descendants of Zachary Bicknell from Barrington, Somersetshire, England, 1635. Higbee-Bicknell Publishing & Printing Co. p. 474. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  34. ↑ McGaw, Jim. "Mouse tales in Barrington". EastBayRI.com. East Bay Newspapers. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  35. ↑ "Pro golfer’s home sells for $4.525 million". East Bay Newspapers. August 19, 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  36. ↑ Provenzo, Eugene. "Henry Giroux". Contemporary Educational Thought. University of Miami. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  37. ↑ Gray, Spalding (2011). Casey, Nell, ed. The journals of Spalding Gray. New York: Vintage Books. p. 5. ISBN 9780307474919. He had never been a good student, failing most of his classes at the public school in Barrington while wandering about with a group of wayward local boys who drank too much.
  38. ↑ Bloom, Harold (2009). African-American Poets 2. Infobase Publishing. p. 38. ISBN 9781604138108. Retrieved 27 April 2016. Harper was a relative newcomer to Rhode Island when he joined the faculty at Brown University in 1971, having moved from Brooklyn as a teenager to southern California. He attended high school and college in Los Angeles, earned an M.F.A. at the Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa in 1963, and held a number of short-term positions at schools along the Pacific coast before moving to Barrington, Rhode Island.
  39. ↑ Tompkins, Bob (September 26, 2015). "She's one of prominent figures in Leesville history". The Town Talk (USA Today). Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  40. ↑ Providence Journal (2006). "Paris Hilton says Former Miss Teen Rhode Island punched her". Providence Journal. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  41. ↑ "C.D. Wright, ex-R.I. state poet and MacArthur 'genius grant' winner, dies at 67". The Providence Journal. January 14, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2016.


External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Barrington, Rhode Island.


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