Wakefield, Rhode Island
Wakefield | ||
---|---|---|
Village | ||
ZIP code 02880[1] | ||
GNIS feature ID | 1219863[2] |
Wakefield is a village in the
The Wakefield village center along Main Street (old Boston Post Road) between Belmont Avenue and Columbia Street was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996 as Wakefield Historic District, with boundary increases in 2019 and 2022. The district is significant for being an early commercial and industrial center. The district includes 53 properties over an area of 400 acres (160 ha).
History
Wakefield was a focus for settlement due to its location on the
The local
The Wakefield Mill underwent several ownership changes and expansions in the 20th century. In 1903, it was sold to the Wakefield Woolen Company, which installed new looms and carding equipment for producing high-grade woolen fabrics. It sold again in 1922 and four more times between World War II and 1984. Beginning in the 1950s, parts of the mill complex began to be converted to other uses, but as of 1984, much of the complex was still used for textile manufacturing.[3]
Wakefield's first hospital was started in a house in 1919, and a new South County Hospital building was built in 1925 on a 6-acre (2.4 ha) tract that formerly had been the town farm.[3]
Beginning in the late 1950s, commercial activity in Wakefield migrated away from the central business district to new commercial areas on the periphery of the community. As of 1984, the village was considered the largest shopping area in South County.[3]
Economy
Much of Wakefield's economy is driven by seasonal tourism, as the main central business district of South Kingstown runs from the Saugutucket River up to Old Tower Hill.
Arts and culture
Buildings in Wakefield listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Rhode Island include Wakefield Baptist Church, Nathaniel C. Armstrong House, John H. Armstrong House, Hera Gallery,[4] and Bell Block.[5]
Education
Wakefield is part of the South Kingstown School District. Schools in Wakefield include South Kingstown High School, Broad Rock Middle School, Curtis Corner Middle School, and Wakefield Elementary School.[6]
Media
The Narragansett Times, a twice-weekly paper serving Narragansett and South Kingstown, is published in Wakefield.[citation needed]
Notable people
- Ron Locke, baseball player
- play-by-play announcer for the Atlanta Hawks
References
- ^ "Wakefield ZIP Code". zipdatamaps.com. 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Wakefield
- ^ a b c d e Historic and Architectural Resources of South Kingstown, Rhode Island: A Preliminary Report, Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, 1984
- ^ "State of Rhode Island Historic Property Search". National Register of Historic Places. State of Rhode Island, Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission. September 30, 2012.
- ^ "State of Rhode Island Historic Property Search Bell Block". National Register of Historic Places. State of Rhode Island, Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission. September 30, 2012.
- ^ "Our Schools". South Kingstown School District. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
External links
Media related to Wakefield, Rhode Island at Wikimedia Commons