Bristol, Rhode Island

Bristol is a town in Bristol County, Rhode Island, as well as the historic county seat.[4] The town is built on the traditional territories of the Pokanoket Wampanoag.[5] It is a deep-water seaport named after Bristol, England.

Town of Bristol
Town
(L–R) Walley School (1896), First Baptist Church, and Bristol County Statehouse/Courthouse (1816)
Location in Bristol County and the state of Rhode Island
Coordinates: 41°41′3″N 71°16′7″W
CountryUnited States
StateRhode Island
CountyBristol
Settled1680
IncorporatedOctober 28, 1681
Annexed from MassachusettsJanuary 27, 1747
Government
 • TypeCouncil-manager
 • Town AdministratorSteven Contente (I) RI
 • Town Council
  • Timothy E. Sweeney (D)
  • Mary A. Parella (R)
  • Nathan T. Calouro (D)
  • Aaron Ley (D)
  • Antonio A Teixeira (I)
 • Town ClerkLouis P. Cirillo (R)
Area
 • Total20.6 sq mi (53.4 km2)
 • Land10.1 sq mi (26.2 km2)
 • Water10.5 sq mi (27.2 km2)
Elevation
0–131 ft (0–40 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total22,954
 • Density2,269/sq mi (876.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
02809
Area code(s)401
FIPS code44-09280[1]
GNIS feature ID1220083[2]
DemonymBristolian[3] ("brihs-TOH-lee-an")
Websitewww.bristolri.us

The population of Bristol was 22,954 at the 2010 census. Major industries include boat building and related marine industries, manufacturing, and tourism. The town's school system is united with neighboring Warren, Rhode Island. Prominent communities include Luso-Americans (Portuguese-Americans), mostly Azorean, and Italian-Americans.

History

Early colonization

Before the Pilgrims arrived in 1620, the Pokanokets occupied much of Southern New England, including Plymouth. They had previously suffered from a series of plagues which killed off large segments of their population, and their leader, the Massasoit Osamequin, befriended the early settlers.[6]:10 King Philip's War was a conflict between the Plymouth settlers and the Pokanokets and allied tribes, and it began in the neighboring area of Swansea, Massachusetts. Metacomet made nearby Mount Hope (a corruption of the Pokanoket word Montaup) his base of operations; he died following an ambush by Captain Benjamin Church on August 12, 1676.[6]:11 "Massasoit's Seat" is a rocky ledge on the mountain which was a lookout site for enemy ships on Mount Hope Bay.

After the war concluded, four colonists purchased a tract of land known as "Mount Hope Neck and Poppasquash Neck" as part of the Plymouth Colony. Other settlers included John Gorham and Richard Smith. A variant of the Indian name Metacomet is now the name of a main road in Bristol: Metacom Avenue (RI Route 136).[6]:11 Bristol was a town of Massachusetts until the Crown transferred it to the Rhode Island Colony in 1747.[6]:11

Slave trade and the DeWolf family

The DeWolf family was among the earliest settlers of Bristol. Bristol and Rhode Island became a center of slave trading. James DeWolf, a leading slave trader, later became a United States Senator from Rhode Island. Beginning in 1769 and continuing until 1820 (over a decade after the slave trade was outlawed in the Atlantic), the DeWolf family trafficked people out of West Africa, enslaving them and bringing them to work on DeWolf-owned plantations, or selling them to be auctioned at ports in places such as Havana, Cuba and Charleston, South Carolina. When in Cuba, sugar and molasses, harvested/created by enslaved Africans, was brought back to Rhode Island to DeWolf-owned distilleries. By the end of 1820, the DeWolf family had trafficked and enslaved over 10,000 African people. James DeWolf died as the second wealthiest person in the United States.[7]

As it did many northern towns and port cities, slavery built the wealth of Bristol, which processed various materials, such as cotton, created or harvested through the use of slave labor.[7] Quakers from Rhode Island were involved early in the abolition movement, although abolition was a divisive issue among Quakers, resulting in the creation of new Quaker groups.[8]

The history of the DeWolf family, as well as Bristol's and the northern United State's participation in slavery, are covered in the 2008 documentary, Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North.

American Revolution
A view of Bristol RI from the harbor. 1886 engraving.

During the American Revolutionary War, the British Royal Navy bombarded Bristol twice. On October 7, 1775, a group of ships led by Captain Wallace and HMS Rose sailed into town and demanded provisions. When refused, Wallace shelled the town, causing much damage. The attack was stopped when Lieutenant Governor William Bradford rowed out to Rose to negotiate a cease-fire, but then a second attack took place on May 25, 1778. This time, 500 British and Hessian troops marched through the main street (now called Hope Street (RI Route 114)) and burnt 30 barracks and houses, taking some prisoners to Newport.

Other history and current day

Until 1854, Bristol was one of the five state capitals of Rhode Island.

Bristol is home to Roger Williams University, named for Rhode Island founder Roger Williams.

The southerly terminus of the East Bay Bike Path[9] is located at Independence Park on Bristol Harbor. The bike path continues north to India Point Park in Providence, R.I., mostly constructed following an abandoned railroad right of way. Some of the best views of Narragansett Bay can be seen along this corridor. This path is a valued commodity to Bristol; it allows bikers, roller skaters, and walkers to enjoy the area. The construction of the East Bay Bike Path was highly contested by Bristol residents before construction because of the potential of crime, but it has become a welcome asset to the community and the anticipated crime was non-existent.

The Bristol-based boat company Herreshoff built five consecutive America's Cup Defenders between 1893 and 1920. The Colt Estate, now known as Colt State Park, was home to Samuel P. Colt, nephew of the man famous for the arms company, and founder of the United States Rubber Company, later called Uniroyal and the largest rubber company in the nation. Colt State Park lies on manicured gardens abutting the West Passage of Narragansett Bay, and is popular for its views of the waterfront and sunsets.

Bristol is the site of the National Historic Landmark Joseph Reynolds House built in 1700. The Marquis de Lafayette and his staff used the building as headquarters in 1778 during the Battle of Rhode Island.[10]

Fourth of July parade
Main article: Bristol Fourth of July Parade
The front of the 231st Bristol Fourth of July Parade in 2016.

Bristol has the oldest continuously celebrated Independence Day festivities in the United States. The first mention of a celebration comes from July 1777, when a British officer noted sounds coming from across Narragansett Bay:

This being the first anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the Rebel Colonies, they ushered in the morning by firing 13 cannons, one for each colony, we suppose. At sunset, the rebel frigates fired another round of 13 guns, each one after the other. As the evening was very still and fine the echo of the guns down the Bay had a grand effect.[11]

The annual official and historic celebrations (Patriotic Exercises) were established in 1785 by Rev. Henry Wight of the First Congregational Church and veteran of the Revolutionary War, and later by Rev. Wight as the Parade, and continue today, organized by the Bristol Fourth of July Committee.[12] The festivities officially start on June 14, Flag Day, beginning a period of outdoor concerts, soap-box races and a firefighters' muster at Independence Park. The celebration climaxes on July 4 with the oldest annual parade in the United States, "The Military, Civic and Firemen's Parade", an event that draws over 200,000 people from Rhode Island and around the world. These elaborate celebrations give Bristol its nickname, "America's most patriotic town".

Bristol is represented in the parade with hometown groups like the Bristol Train of Artillery and the Bristol County Fifes and Drums.[13]

Geography

Bristol is situated on 10.1 square miles (26 km2) of a peninsula (the smaller sub-peninsula on the west is called Poppasquash), with Narragansett Bay on its west and Mount Hope Bay on its east. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 20.6 square miles (53.4 km2), of which, 10.1 square miles (26.2 km2) of it is land and 10.5 square miles (27.2 km2) of it (50.99%) is water. Bristol's harbor is home to over 800 boat moorings in seven mooring fields.

Climate
Climate data for Bristol, Rhode Island
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 67
(19)		 64
(18)		 80
(27)		 89
(32)		 91
(33)		 94
(34)		 98
(37)		 96
(36)		 93
(34)		 83
(28)		 74
(23)		 70
(21)		 98
(37)
Average high °F (°C) 38
(3)		 40
(4)		 47
(8)		 58
(14)		 68
(20)		 77
(25)		 83
(28)		 82
(28)		 74
(23)		 64
(18)		 53
(12)		 43
(6)		 61
(16)
Average low °F (°C) 21
(−6)		 22
(−6)		 29
(−2)		 38
(3)		 48
(9)		 58
(14)		 64
(18)		 63
(17)		 56
(13)		 45
(7)		 35
(2)		 27
(−3)		 42
(6)
Record low °F (°C) −7
(−22)		 −7
(−22)		 2
(−17)		 18
(−8)		 31
(−1)		 41
(5)		 50
(10)		 49
(9)		 35
(2)		 27
(−3)		 14
(−10)		 4
(−16)		 −7
(−22)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.66
(93)		 3.34
(85)		 4.52
(115)		 3.90
(99)		 3.54
(90)		 3.90
(99)		 3.54
(90)		 4.03
(102)		 3.90
(99)		 4.64
(118)		 3.90
(99)		 4.52
(115)		 47.39
(1,204)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 10
(25)		 10
(25)		 7.1
(18)		 1
(2.5)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 1
(2.5)		 7.1
(18)		 36.2
(91)
Source: ,[14][15]

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±%
17481,069—    
17551,080+1.0%
17741,209+11.9%
17761,067−11.7%
17821,032−3.3%
17901,406+36.2%
18001,678+19.3%
18102,698+60.8%
18203,197+18.5%
18303,084−3.5%
18403,490+13.2%
18504,616+32.3%
18605,271+14.2%
18705,302+0.6%
18806,628+25.0%
18905,478−17.4%
19006,901+26.0%
19108,565+24.1%
192011,375+32.8%
193011,953+5.1%
194011,159−6.6%
195012,320+10.4%
196014,570+18.3%
197017,860+22.6%
198020,128+12.7%
199021,625+7.4%
200022,469+3.9%
201022,954+2.2%
201522,357−2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[16][17]

As of the 2010 census Bristol had a population of 22,954. The ethnic and racial composition of the population was 94.9% non-Hispanic white, 0.8% Black, 0.1% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.4% some other race, 1.4% from two or more races and 2.0% Hispanic or Latino of any race.[18]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 22,469 people, 8,314 households, and 5,653 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,222.2 people per square mile (858.1/km2). There were 8,705 housing units at an average density of 860.9 per square mile (332.4/km2). The ethnic group makeup of the town was 97.14% White, 1.29% Hispanic or Latino (of any race), 0.67% Asian, 0.62% Black, 0.16% Native American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.33% other ethnic group, and 1.03% from two or more races.

Government
Bristol town vote
by party in presidential elections[19]
Year GOP DEM Others
2016 38.26% 4,080 54.11% 5,771 7.63% 814
2012 36.11% 3,707 61.94% 6,359 1.96% 201
2008 35.39% 3,834 63.08% 6,833 1.53% 166
2004 38.30% 4,000 60.10% 6,276 1.60% 167
2000 32.20% 3,065 62.13% 5,914 5.67% 540
1996 26.15% 2,293 62.42% 5,474 11.44% 1,003
1992 28.00% 2,818 49.87% 5,018 22.13% 2,227
1988 42.51% 3,538 57.02% 4,746 0.47% 39

In the Rhode Island Senate, Bristol is split into three senatorial districts, all Democratic:

At the federal level, Bristol is a part of Rhode Island's 1st congressional district and is currently represented by Democrat David N. Cicilline. In presidential elections, Bristol is a Democratic stronghold, as no Republican presidential nominee has won the town in over three decades.

Points of interest and Registered Historic Places

Notable people

References
  1. "U.S. Census website". 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. MacKay, Scott (October 7, 2013). "Why I'll Never Call Myself a Bristolian". One Square Mile (story series). Rhode Island Public Radio. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  5. "Po Metacom Camp responds to Brown letter disputing Pokanoket legitimacy". rifuture.org. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  6. Susan Cirillo; Lombard John Pozzi (1980). Bristol: Three Hundred Years. Providence, Rhode Island: Franklin Graphics. OCLC 6811058.
  7. "Synopsis". Traces of the Trade. 2008-06-14. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  8. Faulkner, Carol (2011-05-10). Lucretia Mott's Heresy: Abolition and Women's Rights in Nineteenth-Century America. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 978-0-8122-0500-8.
  9. Archived May 17, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  10. Archived July 4, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  11. Simpson, Richard V. (2002). Bristol: Montaup to Poppasuash (RI). Making of America. Mount Pleasant, S.C.: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0-738523-56-9.
  12. "Annual Fourth of July Celebration | Bristol, Rhode Island". July4thbristolri.com. Retrieved 2013-07-01.
  13. Bristol County Fifes and Drums
  14. MSN weather records and averages for Bristol, RI
  15. MyForecast.co for snowfall averages
  16. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  17. Snow, Edwin M. (1867). Report upon the Census of Rhode Island 1865. Providence, RI: Providence Press Company.
  18. 2010 general profile of population and housing characteristics of Bristol from the US Census
  19. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-08-14. Retrieved 2018-08-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. Bristol Art Museum
  21. Coggeshall Farm Museum

Further reading
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