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Rhode Island State...
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Rhode Island Counties
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Rhode Island Counties
There are five counties in the state of Rhode Island. Rhode Island has the second lowest number
of counties of any U.S. state (only Delaware has fewer, with three counties). Although Rhode Island is divided
into counties, it does not have any local government at the county level. |
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Newport County, Rhode Island
Newport County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education
County Seat:
Year Organized: 1703
Square Miles: 104 |
Court House: County does not have any form of county government.
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Etymology - Origin of County Name
Renamed for Newport, Wales and was formerly named Rhode Island, after Aquidneck Island.
Demographics:
County QuickFacts:
Census Bureau Quick Facts
History
Established: June 22, 1703
Original County
Former Name: Rhode Island
Date of Name Change: June 16, 1729
Bristol County was created from Bristol, Mass., 1747. Kent County was made from Providence County in 1750.
Newport County was originally created as Rhode Island County in 1703 and renamed in 1729. Providence County was
formed as Providence Plantations County in 1703. Washington County was originally created as Kings County from
Providence Plantations in 1729 and renamed in 1781. Block Island was transferred from Newport County to Washington
County May 6, 1963. Although you will see the "South County" mentioned in many places, it does not exist as an
actual county. Basically, Charlestown, Exeter, Hopkinton, Narragansett, North Kingstown, Richmond, South Kingstown,
Westerly and West Greenwich, make up what is known as South County, RI
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 314 square miles (812 kmē), of which, 104
square miles (269 kmē) of it is land and 210 square miles (543 kmē) of it (66.83%) is water.
The county consists of Aquidneck Island, Conanicut Island, Prudence Island, and the eastern portion of the state on
the mainland. The highest point is Pocasset Hill, 320 feet (98 m) above sea level, located in Tiverton. The lowest
elevation is sea level.
Neighboring Counties:
- Bristol County, Rhode Island - north
- Bristol County, Massachusetts - east
- Washington County, Rhode Island - west
Cities and Towns:
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- Jamestown |
town |
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- Little Compton |
town |
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- Middletown |
town |
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- Newport |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Portsmouth |
town |
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- Tiverton |
town |
County Resources:
Enter County Resources and Information Here
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County Resource Guide
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The history of our nation can be seen as a prolonged struggle to define the relative roles and powers of our governments: federal, state, and local. And the names we've given our counties, our most locally based jurisdictions, reflects the "characteristic
features of our country!"
But age, size and colorful names of our counties isn't the only reason to explore counties' role in American history, or the history of county government itself. In fact, the story of county government reflects the larger meanings of American history.
Today's counties are the most flexible, locally responsive and creative governments in the US. They are the most diverse, varying in size, population, geography, and governmental structure. In their politics and policies, they express a 1990's political slogan "Think globally,
act locally." |
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