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Johnston, Rhode Island
—  Town  —
Location of Johnston in Providence County, Rhode Island
Coordinates: 41°49′36″N 71°29′41″W / 41.82667°N 71.49472°W / 41.82667; -71.49472
Country United States
State Rhode Island
County Providence
Government
 • Mayor Joe Polisena
Area
 • Total 24.4 sq mi (63.1 km2)
 • Land 23.7 sq mi (61.3 km2)
 • Water 0.7 sq mi (1.8 km2)
Elevation 318 ft (97 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 28,769
 • Density 1,213.9/sq mi (469.3/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 02919
Area code(s) 401
FIPS code 44-37720[1]
GNIS feature ID 1220073[2]

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[3] and the only landfill in Rhode Island. Incorporated on March 6, 1759, Johnston was named for the colonial attorney general, August Johnston.[4] Johnston has the lowest public school test scores of any town or city in Rhode Island.

Contents

Geography [edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 24.4 square miles (63 km2). 23.7 square miles (61 km2) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) (2.91%) is water.

Neighborhoods [edit]

Demographics [edit]

Clemence Irons House, a rare stone-ender, built in 1691 in Johnston, Rhode Island

At the 2000 census[1], 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 especially Italian Americans (46.7%), 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 Americans of any municipality in the country.[5]

Government [edit]

The town is governed by a mayor (currently Joe Polisena and a five member town council.[6]

Education [edit]

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.[7]

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.[8]

Media [edit]

Johnston has one local weekly newspaper, the Johnston Sun Rise.[9] The paper is 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 Providence, Rhode Island.[10]

WLNE ABC 6 Rhode Island News Channel broadcasts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.[11]

WPRI 12 Fox 64 Providence Eyewitness News Channel broadcasts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.[12]

New England Cable News channel "NECN" is a cable news station based in Boston which covers all of New England's news.[13]

Economy [edit]

Insurance company FM Global is based in Johnston.

Notable natives [edit]

  • "Anthony Paul Cerbo", singer, native of Johnston and graduated from Johnston Senior High School.
  • Paul Delvecchio (better known as Pauly D) is a native of Johnston and a graduate of Johnston Senior High School.
  • Samuel Ward King, Governor of Rhode Island during the Dorr Rebellion.
  • Joe Polisena, former member of the Rhode Island Senate and mayor of Johnston
  • Thomas Blacke, multiple Guinness World Record holder
  • Joseph Domenico, widely considered the top athlete to ever hail from the area.

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  3. ^ Historic New England: Defining the Past. Shaping the Future
  4. ^ Johnston Historical Society: Johnston History
  5. ^ [1]
  6. ^ City website: Town Council members
  7. ^ 2005 JHS SALT Performance Report
  8. ^ Johnston school problems cited | Johnston | Rhode Island news | projo.com | The Providence Journal
  9. ^ (www.johnstonsunrise.net)
  10. ^ WJAR NBC News Channel 10
  11. ^ WLNE ABC 6
  12. ^ WPRI Eyewitness News 12
  13. ^ http://NECN New England News

External links [edit]

Coordinates: 41°49′N 71°29′W / 41.817°N 71.483°W / 41.817; -71.483

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