Washington County, known locally as South County, is a county located in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. As of the 2020 census, the population was 129,839. Rhode Island counties have no governmental functions other than as court administrative boundaries, which are part of the state government.
| Name: | Washington County |
|---|---|
| FIPS code: | 44-009 |
| State: | Rhode Island |
| Founded: | June 3, 1729 |
| Named for: | George Washington |
| Seat: | South Kingstown |
| Largest town: | South Kingstown |
| Total Area: | 563 sq mi (1,460 km²) |
| Land Area: | 329 sq mi (850 km²) |
| Total Population: | 129,839 |
| Population Density: | 830/sq mi (320/km²) |
| Time zone: | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| Summer Time Zone (DST): | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Washington County location map. Where is Washington County?
History
Washington County was created as Kings County in 1729 within the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. It was renamed Washington County on October 29, 1781, in honor of George Washington. At the earliest stage of colonial settlement, the area was called “The Narragansett Country”, named after the Naragansett tribe and its tributary tribe the Niantics, both of whom lived in the area.
Early land purchases in the Narragansett Country were effected by settlers after the establishment of Indian trading posts at Fort Neck in Charlestown, and at “Smith’s Castle” in Wickford. A series of conflicts involving the Manisseans on Block Island gave that island to the Massachusetts Bay Colony for a number of years, before being transferred to the Rhode Island Colony under Newport County, and then finally to Washington County in 1959.
The borders of the Narragansett country were disputed for nearly 100 years among the colonies of Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The Narragansetts had pledged their fealty to King Charles, and the area was known as “The King’s Province” and was placed under the authority of Rhode Island “until the King’s pleasure was further known”. In 1664, a royal commission under Charles II stepped in to adjudicate these conflicting claims. The commission extinguished the claims of Massachusetts, and Rhode Island was granted jurisdiction until the commission finished processing Connecticut’s appeals, which were not ended until 1726. Settlements of King’s Province were named to reflect the English Restoration, in honor of King Charles II. Towns reflecting this history include the two Kingstowns and Charlestown, as well as the villages of Kingston and West Kingston.
Washington County is also known in Rhode Island as “South County”, though some definitions of South County include outside towns, such as East Greenwich in neighboring Kent County, and exclude towns within Washington County, such as New Shoreham.
Washington County Road Map
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 563 square miles (1,460 km), of which 329 square miles (850 km) is land and 234 square miles (610 km) (41%) is water. It is the largest county in Rhode Island by total area. The county’s topography ranges from flat along the shoreline to gently rolling hills farther inland. The highest point is a large area approximately 560 feet (171 m) above sea level in the Exeter neighborhood of Black Plain; the lowest point is sea level along the coast. The northern boundary west of Davisville is approximately 41.60°N. The western boundary north of Westerly is approximately 71.79°W.
National protected areas
- Block Island National Wildlife Refuge
- John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge
- Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge
- Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge
Major Highways
- I-95
- US 1
- Route 1A
- Route 2
- Route 3
- Route 4
- Route 78
- Route 91
- Route 102
- Route 108
- Route 110
- Route 112
- Route 138
- Route 165
- Route 216
- Route 402
- Route 403
Washington County Topographic Map
Washington County Satellite Map
Washington County Outline Map
