Portsmouth, RI

Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Introduction to Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Portsmouth, Rhode Island, in Newport county, is 8 miles SW of Fall River, Massachusetts (center to center) and 53 miles S of Boston, Massachusetts. The town has a population of 17,149.

Portsmouth History

A group of religious dissenters settled Portsmouth in 1638. They came from Boston Colony and included Dr. John Clarke, Anne Hutchinson, and William Coddington. The area was originally called Pocasset by the native Indians. It was officially named Portsmouth in May, 1639. It was named after Portsmouth in New Hampshire, England. The town was formally established by the signatories of the Portsmouth Compact.

Portsmouth and nearby Attractions

• Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Sanctuary
• Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum
• Fort Wetherill State Park
• Herreshoff Marine Museum
• Green Valley Country Club
• Watson Farm

Things To Do In Portsmouth

Portsmouth is home to several historic sites including the Battle of Rhode Island Site, a partially preserved area where the Battle of Rhode Island was fought in 1778. The Colt State Park spreads over 464 acres and has beautiful manicured lawns, flowering bushes, and fruit trees. The Herreshoff Marine Museum is another interesting place with exhibits of the original Herreshoff boats, steam engines, photographs, and artifacts.

Portsmouth Transportation

Flights can be availed from Logan International Airport.

Portsmouth Higher Education

Facilities for higher education can be availed from Roger Williams University, Community College of Rhode Island, and Bristol Community College.

High Points

Portsmouth strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Rhode Island):

Category	Trophy
College Educated Adults (vs. Peers)	Top 13%
Low Rate of Poverty (vs. Peers)	Top 14%
Well-Paid Single Men (vs. Peers)	Top 18%
People in Middle Class or Better (vs. Peers)	Top 18%

Comparative Profile of Portsmouth, RI

Comparing Portsmouth to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Rhode Island (State):

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Well-Paid Single Men
Age of the Population
Well-Paid Single Women
Male Share of the Population
Senior Citizens
Children Under 5 Years Old
Female Share of the Population
Racial Diversity

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Portion of People Married
Average Household Size

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
College Educated Adults
People Above Poverty
People in Middle Class or Better
Median Family Income

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Working at Home
Public Transportation Use
Short Commute Times
Walking and Biking to Work

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Seasonal and Vacation Housing
Housing Recently Built
People Living Alone
Affordability of Rents
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals
Affordability of Property Taxes

Crime

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Low Property Crime
Low Violent Crime

Portsmouth Almanac

Portsmouth Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

• Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
• Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

Portsmouth Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Neighborhood and Nearby Area Names

According to the US Postal Service, Portsmouth, its neighborhoods, and/or surrounding areas are also referred to as:

Note that not all alternate names are acceptable for use in US Post Office addresses.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Portsmouth Public Libraries

More Information for Librarians

Portsmouth High Schools (2004)

PORTSMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
EDUCATION LANE
401-683-2124
Serves 976 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 15.3

Portsmouth Colleges

(List of All Rhode Island Colleges)

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