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North Kingstown (Not to be confused with Kingston, Rhode Island or South Kingstown, Rhode Island) is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States, and is part of the Providence metropolitan area. The population was 27,732 in the 2020 census. North Kingstown is home to the birthplace of American portraitist Gilbert Stuart, who was born in the village of Saunderstown. Within the town is Quonset Point, location of the former Naval Air Station Quonset Point, known for the invention of the Quonset hut, as well as the historic village of Wickford.
Location of North Kingstown in Washington County, Rhode Island
Coordinates: 41°34′50″N 71°27′14″W
History
The area was first settled by Roger Williams and Richard Smith who set up trading posts near Wickford where Smith's Castle is today. The town of Kings Towne was founded in 1674, by the colonial government, and included the present day towns of North Kingstown, South Kingstown, Exeter, and Narragansett. In 1723, Kings Towne was split into two parts, North Kingstown and South Kingstown, with North Kingstown, having the earliest settlements, retaining the 1674 establishment date. In 1742, the town of Exeter was taken from the western part of North Kingstown.
Notable people
- Elizabeth Beisel, two-time Olympic medalist swimmer[7]
- John Cole (1715–1777), was a lawyer and 12th Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court[8]
- Captain Daniel Fones
- Gilbert Stuart (1755–1828), painter; his portrait of George Washington appears on the one dollar bill
- Dee Dee Myers (born 1961), 19th White House Press Secretary[9]
The Gilbert Stuart Birthplace in North Kingstown