Westerly, Rhode Island
Town in Rhode Island / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Westerly, Rhode Island?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Westerly is a town on the southwestern coastline of Washington County, Rhode Island, United States, first settled by English colonists in 1661 and incorporated as a municipality in 1669. It is a beachfront community on the south shore of the state with a population of 23,359 as of the 2020 census.
Westerly, Rhode Island | |
---|---|
Town | |
Coordinates: 41°22′39″N 71°49′38″W | |
Country | United States |
State | Rhode Island |
County | Washington |
Government | |
• Town Council | William J. Aiello, President Philip M. Overton, Jr., Vice President Kevin J. Lowther, II Joy L. Cordio Dylan J. LaPietra Mary E. Scialabba Robert L. Lombardo |
Area | |
• Total | 74.8 sq mi (193.8 km2) |
• Land | 30.1 sq mi (77.9 km2) |
• Water | 44.7 sq mi (115.8 km2) |
Elevation | 36 ft (11 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 23,359 |
• Density | 777/sq mi (299.9/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
ZIP Codes | 02808 (Bradford, Rhode Island), 02891 (Westerly) |
Area code | 401 |
FIPS code | 44-77000[1] |
GNIS feature ID | 1220091[2] |
Website | westerlyri |
The Pawcatuck River flows on the western border of Westerly and was once renowned for its own species of Westerly salmon, three of which are on the town's official seal. The river flows from 15 mi (24 km) inland, emptying into Little Narragansett Bay. It also serves as the boundary between Westerly and Pawcatuck, Connecticut. Three large salt ponds lie along the coast of Westerly which serve as shallow, reef-like pools whose outer walls form the long, white beaches for which the town is renowned. From west to east, these ponds are Maschaug Pond, Winnapaug Pond, and Quonochontaug Pond.
The Westerly area was known for its granite and stone-cutting industry,[3][4] which quarried a unique stone known as Westerly granite. This pinkish granite is ideal for statuary and has been used in numerous government buildings of several states on the eastern seaboard.[5]
Westerly becomes a popular tourist destination during the summer months when the population nearly doubles.[6] Its well-known beaches include Weekapaug Beach, Westerly Town Beach, Misquamicut State Beach, East Beach, and Watch Hill Beach.