Johnston, Rhode Island
Encyclopedia
Johnston is a town
in Providence County
, Rhode Island
, United States
. The population was 28,769 at the 2010 census
. Johnston is the site of the Clemence Irons House (1691) a stone-ender museum and the only landfill in Rhode Island. Incorporated on March 6, 1759, Johnston was named for the colonial attorney general, August Johnston.
, the town has a total area of 24.4 square miles (63.2 km²). 23.7 square miles (61.4 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) (2.91%) is water.
At the 2000 census
, there were 28,195 people, 11,197 households and 7,725 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,191.4 per square mile (459.9/km²). There were 11,574 housing units at an average density of 489.1 per square mile (188.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.66% White, 0.65% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.08% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races
, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.89% of the population.
There were 11,197 households of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples
living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.02.
Age distribution was 20.9% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.
The median household income
was $43,514, and the median family income was $54,837. Males had a median income of $40,210 versus $29,314 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $21,440. About 6.8% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.
In 2000, 46.7% of Johnston residents identified themselves as being of Italian
heritage. This was the highest percentage of Italian American
s of any municipality in the country.
In 2008, the Johnston School Committee decided to close both Graniteville and Calef Elementary schools. Students affected by the closures were transferred to Brown Avenue Elementary School and Winsor Hill Elementary School. This decision was not without controversy, as school officials, parents and teachers complained of inadequate staffing, increased neighborhood traffic and lack of attention for special-needs students.
WJAR NBC News Channel 10 broadcasts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The news station is set in Cranston, Rhode Island.
WLNE ABC 6 Rhode Island News Channel broadcasts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
WPRI 12 Fox 64 Providence Eyewitness News Channel broadcasts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
New England Cable News channel "NECN" is a cable news station based in Boston which covers all of News Englands news.
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
in Providence County
Providence County, Rhode Island
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 621,602 people, 239,936 households, and 152,839 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,504 people per square mile . There were 253,214 housing units at an average density of 613 per square mile...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 28,769 at the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
. Johnston is the site of the Clemence Irons House (1691) a stone-ender museum and the only landfill in Rhode Island. Incorporated on March 6, 1759, Johnston was named for the colonial attorney general, August Johnston.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 24.4 square miles (63.2 km²). 23.7 square miles (61.4 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) (2.91%) is water.
Neighborhoods
- ThorntonThornton, Rhode IslandThornton is a neighborhood located in the north-west part of Cranston, Rhode Island on the Johnston line and extends into the Johnston side.The residents of this neighborhood are predominantly Italian-American....
(This neighborhood includes part of CranstonCranston, Rhode IslandCranston, once known as Pawtuxet, is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. With a population of 80,387 at the 2010 census, it is the third largest city in the state. The center of population of Rhode Island is located in Cranston...
) - Graniteville
- Hughesdale
- Morgan Mills
- Manton
- Simmonsville
- Pocasset
- West End
- Belknap
- Frog City
Demographics
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, there were 28,195 people, 11,197 households and 7,725 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,191.4 per square mile (459.9/km²). There were 11,574 housing units at an average density of 489.1 per square mile (188.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.66% White, 0.65% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.08% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.89% of the population.
There were 11,197 households of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.02.
Age distribution was 20.9% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.
The median household income
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
was $43,514, and the median family income was $54,837. Males had a median income of $40,210 versus $29,314 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $21,440. About 6.8% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.
In 2000, 46.7% of Johnston residents identified themselves as being of Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
heritage. This was the highest percentage of Italian American
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
s of any municipality in the country.
Education
The Johnston Public School System has four elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Johnston Senior High School is a 2005 Rhode Island Department of Education Regents' Commended School.In 2008, the Johnston School Committee decided to close both Graniteville and Calef Elementary schools. Students affected by the closures were transferred to Brown Avenue Elementary School and Winsor Hill Elementary School. This decision was not without controversy, as school officials, parents and teachers complained of inadequate staffing, increased neighborhood traffic and lack of attention for special-needs students.
Media
Johnston has two local newspapers the Johnston Sun Rise and the Johnston Insider. Both papers are complimentary, and can be found in many Johnston businesses.WJAR NBC News Channel 10 broadcasts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The news station is set in Cranston, Rhode Island.
WLNE ABC 6 Rhode Island News Channel broadcasts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
WPRI 12 Fox 64 Providence Eyewitness News Channel broadcasts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
New England Cable News channel "NECN" is a cable news station based in Boston which covers all of News Englands news.
Notable natives
- Samuel Ward KingSamuel Ward KingSamuel Ward King was the 15th Governor of Rhode Island from 1839 to 1843.King was born in Johnston, Providence County, Rhode Island to William Borden King and Welthian Walton....
, Governor of Rhode Island during the Dorr RebellionDorr RebellionThe Dorr Rebellion was a short-lived armed insurrection in the U.S. state of Rhode Island led by Thomas Wilson Dorr, who was agitating for changes to the state's electoral system.- Precursors :...
. - The character "Pauly D" from Jersey ShoreJersey ShoreThe Jersey Shore is a term used to refer to both the Atlantic coast of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the adjacent resort and residential communities. . The New Jersey State Department of Tourism considers the Shore Region, Greater Atlantic City, and the Southern Shore to be distinct, each having...
is a native of Johnston and a graduate of Johnston Senior High School. - Mary Arnold, star of the hit show "My Life is Crumbling To Pieces", is a Johnston native.