Newport is a city located in Newport County, Rhode Island. It is the largest
city on Aquidneck Island in Narragansett Bay. As of the 2000 census, the
city had a total population of 26,475. It was founded in 1639 and
incorporated as a city in 1784. It was an important port during the slave
trade (particularly a key port in the Triangular trade) and has since become
a favourite holiday location.
It is the home of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, where important
tennis players are commemorated, as well as a number of mansions dating back
to the Gilded Age, including Belcourt Castle, The Breakers, Rosecliff,
Marble House and The Elms. Some of these are open for guided tours.
The city is also known for the Newport Jazz Festival.
With coastlines on the west, south and east, Newport is a maritime town.
Its harbors teem with commercial fishing boats, power and sail pleasure
craft. Many defenses of the America's Cup yachting prize took place here.
The city has long been entwined with the U.S. Navy. It has been home to many
warships, though none since the early 1990s. It held the campus of the U.S.
Naval Academy during the Civil War, when the undergraduate officer training
school was temporarily moved north from Annapolis, Maryland. It remains
today the location of the U.S. Naval War College and a major training center.
Newport is also home to the Newport Tower, Salve Regina University, and the
Touro Synagogue, the oldest Jewish house of worship in the United States.
Geography
Newport is located at 41°29'17" North, 71°18'45" West (41.488002,
-71.312622).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of
29.7 km˛ (11.5 mi˛). 20.6 km˛ (7.9 mi˛) of it is land and 9.2 km˛ (3.5 mi˛)
of it is water. The total area is 30.86% water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 26,475 people, 11,566 households, and
5,644 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,287.4/km˛
(3,336.3/mi˛). There are 13,226 housing units at an average density of
643.1/km˛ (1,666.7/mi˛). The racial makeup of the city is 84.12% White,
7.75% African American, 0.85% Native American, 1.33% Asian, 0.09% Pacific
Islander, 2.41% from other races, and 3.44% from two or more races. 5.54% of
the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 11,566 households out of which 22.9% have children under the age
of 18 living with them, 32.3% are married couples living together, 13.6%
have a female householder with no husband present, and 51.2% are non-families.
39.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.9% have someone
living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is
2.11 and the average family size is 2.86.
In the city the population is spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18,
14.6% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who
are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100
females there are 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there
are 90.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $40,669, and the median
income for a family is $54,116. Males have a median income of $37,780 versus
$27,492 for females. The per capita income for the city is $25,441. 14.4% of
the population and 12.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the
total people living in poverty, 23.8% are under the age of 18 and 8.3% are
65 or older.
