County Past
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Washington County, Rhode Island

Historic newspapers, landmarks, and county history layers for genealogists and local historians.

—newspaper titles
—digitized titles
141historic places
—earliest paper
1729formed
129,839pop. 2020
276cemeteries
—CW battlefields

At a glance

Summary

The National Register of Historic Places includes 141 listed properties in the county, first listed in 1966; 4 are also National Historic Landmarks. Most listings are in or near North Kingstown, South Kingstown, Westerly.

Summary generated automatically from the source data on this page.

Newspapers

Library of Congress

Newspaper directory data for Rhode Island is not yet loaded on this site. Browse Washington titles at the Library of Congress.

National Register of Historic Places

NPS NRHP

50 of 141 listings mapped; some locations are restricted by NPS to protect sensitive sites.

141 listed properties
PropertyCityTypeListed
Allen-Madison HouseNorth KingstownBuilding1980
Anthony-Kinney FarmNarragansettBuilding2013
Austin Farm Road Agricultural AreaExeterDistrict1977
Babcock HouseCharlestownBuilding1976
Babcock-Smith HouseWesterlyBuilding1972
Baker, David S., EstateNorth KingstownBuilding2011
Baptist Church in ExeterExeterBuilding1978
Beaver River Road Historic DistrictRichmondDistrict2021
Black FarmHopkintonBuilding1995
Block Island North LightNew ShorehamBuilding1974
Block Island South East LightNew ShorehamStructure1990
Block Island South East Light NHLNew ShorehamStructure1997
Bouchard Archeological Site, RI-1025UsquepaugSite1984
Bradford Village Historic DistrictWesterlyDistrict1996
Browning's Beach Historic DistrictSouth KingstownDistrict1997
Bull, Jireh, Blockhouse Historic SiteSouth KingstownSite1983
Camp EndicottNorth KingstownDistrict1978
Carolina Village Historic DistrictCarolinaDistrict1974
Casey, Silas, FarmNorth KingstownDistrict1973
Cedar Point Historic DistrictNorth KingstownDistrict2022
Central Street Historic DistriictNarragansettDistrict1982
Champlin, Peleg, HouseNew ShorehamBuilding1982
Clarke, Samuel, FarmRichmondBuilding2019
Cocumscussoc Archeological Site NHLWickfordSite1993
Cottrell HouseSouth KingstownBuilding1996
Crowfield Historic DistrictNorth KingstownDistrict1985
Davisville Historic DistrictNorth KingstownDistrict1985
Devil's Foot Cemetery Archeological Site, RI-694North KingstonSite1984
Dewey CottageSouth KingstownBuilding1992
District Schoolhouse No. 2CharlestownBuilding1980
Douglas, George, HouseNorth KingstownBuilding1975
DruidsdreamNarragansettBuilding1989
Dunes Club, TheNarragansettBuilding2015
DunmereNarragansettDistrict2005
Earlscourt Historic DistrictNarragansettDistrict1982
Eldred, Henry, FarmSouth KingstownBuilding1991
Fayerweather, George, Blacksmith ShopKingstownSite1984
Fernwood Archeological Site, RI-702South KingstonSite1985
Fisherville Historic and Archeological DistrictExeterDistrict1980
Flying Horse Carousel NHLWesterlyBuilding1980
Former Immaculate Conception ChurchWesterlyBuilding1973
Fort NinigretCharlestownSite1970
Foster Cove Archeological SiteCharlestownSite1980
GardencourtNarragansettBuilding1982
Gardner, Ezekial, HouseNorth KingstownBuilding1985
Gardner, R. R., HouseSouth KingstownBuilding1996
Gladstone Springhouse and Bottling PlantNarrangansettBuilding1984
Great Salt Pond Archeological DistrictNew ShorehamDistrict1990
Greene InnNarragansettBuilding1976
Hale HouseSouth KingstownBuilding2007
Hallville Historic and Archeological DistrictExeterDistrict1980
Hamilton Mill Village Historic DistrictNorth KingstownDistrict1983
Hillsdale Historic and Archeological DistrictWyomingDistrict1980
Historic Village of the Narragansetts in CharlestownCharlestownDistrict1973
Hope Valley Historic DistrictHopkintonDistrict2004
Hope Village Historic DistrictHopeDistrict1995
Hopkinton City Historic DistrictHopkintonDistrict1974
Hoxsie, John, HouseRichmondBuilding1978
Hygeia HouseNew ShorehamBuilding2001
Indian Burial GroundCharlestownSite1970
Jeffrey, Joseph, HouseCharlestownBuilding1978
Kenyon's Department StoreSouth KingstownBuilding1992
Kingston Hill FarmSouth KingstownDistrict1993
Kingston Railroad StationSouth KingstownBuilding1978
Kingston Village Historic DistrictKingstonDistrict1974
Lafayette VillageNorth KingstownDistrict1978
Lambda Chi Site, RI-704KingstownSite1984
Lawton's MillExeterBuilding1980
Lewis-Card-Perry HouseWesterlyBuilding2005
Lillibridge, Simon, FarmExeterBuilding1978
Main Street Historic DistrictWesterlyDistrict1978
Marchant, Henry, FarmKingstownBuilding1979
Miller, William Davis, HouseWakefield, South KingstownBuilding1985
Ministerial Rd. Site, RI-781South KingstownSite1984
Mumford, Silas Site (Tappan Site RI-705)South KingstownSite1984
Narragansett Baptist ChurchNarragansettBuilding1977
Narragansett Pier Life Saving StationNarragansettBuilding1976
North End Historic DistrictWesterlyDistrict2006
Northrup, Stephen, HouseNorth KingstownBuilding1985
Nursery Site, RI-273WesterlySite1984
Ocean Road Historic DistrictNarragansettDistrict1982
Old Harbor Historic DistrictNew ShorehamDistrict1974
Old Narragansett CemeteryNorth KingstownSite1985
Old Narragansett ChurchNorth KingstownBuilding1973
Palmer-Northrup HouseNorth KingstownBuilding1973
Parris Brook Historic and Archeological DistrictExeterDistrict1980
Peace Dale Historic DistrictSouth KingstownDistrict1987
Perry Homestead Historic DistrictWesterlyDistrict2016
Perry, Commodore Oliver, FarmSouth KingstownBuilding1982
Perry-Carpenter Grist MillSouth KingstownBuilding1990
Pierce, Joseph, FarmNorth KingstownBuilding1985
Plum Beach LighthouseNorth KingstonStructure1988
Point Judith LighthouseNarragansettStructure1988
Poplar Point LighthouseNorth KingstownStructure1988
Potter Pond Archeological DistrictSouth KingstownDistrict1987
Queen's FortExeterSite1980
Ram PointWesterlyBuilding2015
Rathbun HouseNorth KingstownBuilding1985
Red HouseSouth KingstownBuilding1996
Rodman, Gen. Isaac Peace, HouseSouth KingstownBuilding1990
Rose, Benoni, HouseNorth KingstownBuilding2008
Sanford, Esbon, HouseNorth KingstownBuilding1985
Saunderstown Historic DistrictNorth KingstownDistrict1985
Scrabbletown Historic and Archeological DistrictNorth KingstownDistrict1985
Shadow FarmSouth KingstonBuilding1986
Shady Lea Historic DistrictNorth KingstownDistrict1985
Shannock Historic DistrictCharlestownDistrict1983
Sheffield HouseCharlestownBuilding1976
Six Principle Baptist ChurchNorth KingstownBuilding1978
Slocum, Joseph, HouseNorth KingstownBuilding1985
Smith's CastleNorth KingstownBuilding1972
Sodom Mill Historic and Archeological DistrictExeterDistrict1980
Spink FarmNorth KingstownDistrict1985
St. Paul's ChurchNorth KingstownBuilding1972
Stanton, Joseph, HouseCharlestownBuilding1980
Stuart, Gilbert, Birthplace NHLSaunderstownBuilding1966
Theatre-By-the-SeaSouth KingstownBuilding1980
Tomaquag Rock SheltersHopkintonSite1977
Tootell HouseSouth KingstownBuilding2000
Towers Historic DistrictNarragansettDistrict1982
Towers, TheNarragansettBuilding1969
US Post OfficeWesterlyBuilding1971
US Weather Bureau StationNew ShorehamBuilding1983
University of Rhode Island Historic DistrictSouth KingstownDistrict2017
Upper Rockville MillHopkintonBuilding2006
Usquepaug Road Historic DistrictSouth KingstownDistrict1987
Wakefield Historic District (Additional Documentation)South KingstownDistrict1996
Wakefield Historic District (Boundary Increase)South KingstownDistrict2019
Wakefield Historic District (Boundary Increase)South KingstownDistrict2022
Washington County Court HouseSouth KingstownBuilding1992
Watch Hill Historic DistrictWesterlyDistrict1985
Weekapaug InnWesterlyBuilding2007
Westerly ArmoryWesterlyBuilding1996
Westerly Downtown Historic DistrictWesterlyDistrict1984
Westerly Downtown Historic District (Boundary Increase)WesterlyBuilding2007
Westerly Downtown Historic District (Boundary Increase)WesterlyBuilding1995
Wickford Historic DistrictNorth KingstownDistrict1974
Wilcox Park Historic DistrictWesterlyDistrict1973
Willow DellSouth KingstownBuilding1996
Wyoming Village Historic DistrictHopkintonDistrict1974
YWCA SiteNorth KingstownSite1980

Source: National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Property links open NRHP nomination files at the National Archives.

County formation

Newberry AHCB

Washington was formed in 1729 (1729-06-16) from Providence.

KINGS (now WASHINGTON) created from PROVIDENCE.

Source: Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

Population by decade

Census

Washington County population from 1790 to 2020 (Census historical series).

130k72k14k179018001840188019101920196020002020
17901800182018401860188019001920194019501960198020002020
18,07516,13515,68714,32418,71522,49524,15424,93232,49348,54259,05493,317123,546129,839

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau historical county population (Forstall 1790–1990) and public-domain / CC0 county population series through 2020.

Cemeteries & historical places

USGS GNIS

276 cemeteries and 7 historical populated places (ghost towns / former settlements) recorded in USGS GNIS for this county.

Cemeteries — 80 of 276 listed
NameLatLon
Albert Sweet Lot Cemetery41.54537-71.55312
Allen - Pierce Farm Cemetery41.52815-71.44395
Allen Cemetery41.15616-71.60847
Alpheus Burdick Lot Cemetery41.52219-71.74773
Amos Perkins Lot Cemetery41.5906-71.77299
Amos Whitford Lot Cemetery41.58087-71.5925
Amos Whitford Lot Cemetery41.58105-71.5864
Anthony - Arnold Plot41.55518-71.60519
Arnold - Sherman Lot Cemetery41.50309-71.51386
Augustus Sweet Lot Cemetery41.53977-71.53348
Avis Barber Lot Cemetery41.5315-71.72029
Babcock Family Lot Cemetery41.42679-71.75363
Barber Plot41.52534-71.70694
Benjamin Kinyon Lot Cemetery41.51975-71.74046
Benjamin Lawton Lot Cemetery41.59734-71.50831
Benjamin Potter Lot Cemetery41.51903-71.56206
Benjamin Stanton Lot41.49376-71.42527
Bitgood Plot41.53951-71.69968
Boone Family Lot Cemetery41.58664-71.67519
Braman Lot Cemetery41.51795-71.56612
Bramen Plot41.49848-71.7232
Brown and Briggs Lot41.59087-71.45754
Burdick Cemetery41.40855-71.6947
Burton Lot Cemetery41.46948-71.78261
Caleb Allen Cemetery41.53031-71.43529
Captain Christopher Gardner Lot Cemetery41.49042-71.4853
Captain Constantine Llufrio Lot Cemetery41.57504-71.45016
Captain Daniel Fones Lot Cemetery41.63192-71.46521
Captain Edmund Cooper Lot41.57281-71.45164
Captain George Tennant Plot41.57161-71.45898
Captain Henry Reynolds Lot Cemetery41.57528-71.55008
Captain Joseph Spicer Lot Cemetery41.46536-71.77726
Captain Nathan Brown Lot Cemetery41.57864-71.49726
Captain Reynolds Lillibridge Lot Cemetery41.59179-71.6354
Captain Stephen Lewis Lot Cemetery41.59113-71.66476
Card Plot Cemetery41.55591-71.59921
Carpenter Fenner Lot Cemetery41.49795-71.73116
Carpenter Lot Cemetery41.50151-71.72227
Carr Cemetery41.56982-71.48283
Casey Cemetery41.51364-71.42405
Caswell Lot Cemetery41.5464-71.75259
Cezar Onion Lot Cemetery41.59017-71.67824
Champlin Greene Burial Ground Cemetery41.57566-71.54477
Champlin Lot Cemetery41.50302-71.51858
Chase Cemetery41.59622-71.45306
Chestnut Hill Cemetery41.58163-71.55826
Coggshall Thomas Lot Cemetery41.5582-71.4885
Colonel Joseph Taylor Plot41.53659-71.47013
Congdon - Gardiner Cemetery41.53009-71.48865
Congregational Church Yard Cemetery41.46738-71.46269
Cross Mills Cemetery41.38205-71.64044
Curtis Maine Lot Cemetery41.46246-71.78824
Daniel Barber Lot Cemetery41.55433-71.72307
Daniel Dawley Lot Cemetery41.55043-71.58297
Daniel Lewis Plot41.43454-71.76896
Daniel Peckham Lot41.4337-71.77396
David Green Lot Cemetery41.53245-71.42225
David Greene Cemetery41.52047-71.48533
David Larkin Lot Cemetery41.46641-71.68873
Dawley - Straight Lot Cemetery41.55029-71.58612
Dawley Brown Plot Cemetery41.56075-71.57661
Dickens Cemetery41.15604-71.60844
Doctor Isaac Collins Lot Cemetery41.46648-71.72177
Dowley Plot41.55204-71.57588
Eben Henry Lot Cemetery41.51061-71.52462
Eber J Sherman Plot41.54128-71.60679
Eber Sherman Lot41.54537-71.57173
Eber Sherman Plot41.54208-71.60653
Elezer Slocum Plot41.59981-71.61395
Elias Lewis Lot Cemetery41.43192-71.75999
Eliphalet Young Plot41.57335-71.44903
Ellet Lock Lot Cemetery41.57784-71.77305
Elm Grove Cemetery41.55055-71.46499
Enos - Crandall Plot41.4763-71.75181
Exeter Historical Cemetery 5141.59026-71.56469
Exeter Historical Cemetery 5541.59263-71.61395
Exeter School Cemetery41.5435-71.5527
Ezekiel Austin Lot Cemetery41.59526-71.66416
First Hopkinton Cemetery41.40169-71.79664
Flagg Lane Cemetery41.53593-71.46645
Historical populated places — 7 of 7
NameLatLon
Cocumscussoc41.5803-71.45731
Congdon Hill41.51982-71.47923
Cranstons Corner41.58343-71.50062
Quonochontaug Beach41.33232-71.72446
Rodman Crossing41.43899-71.48672
Tower Hill41.46788-71.46228
Whale Rock Light41.44427-71.42339

Source: USGS Geographic Names Information System (public domain). Cemeteries from the 2021 NationalFile archive; historical places from GNIS HistoricalFeatures topical extract.

Historical markers

HMdb link

Marker text and photos from the Historical Marker Database (HMdb) are not embedded here. HMdb allows non-commercial reuse with attribution, but commercial/compensated use needs written permission; this is a commercial site, so we only link out.

Search HMdb for Washington County, Rhode Island

Terms: hmdb.org/copyright.asp. Linking is encouraged by HMdb.