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The Town of Richmond, originally a part of
Charlestown, was incorporated August 18, 1747. It was probably named in honor of
Edward Richmond, the Attorney General of the colony from 1671 to 1680, who took
an active part in the original settlement of the area. A large portion of the
town was included in the Shannock Purchase, a tract of vacant land sold by the
Commissioners of the General Assembly to a company of purchasers in 1709.
Like many other communities in Washington County, 17th Century Richmond was home
for many early settlers. After purchasing land from the Indians, these wealthy
Narragansett planters, who were educated, intelligent, landed gentry, settled in
South County and brought an accumulated wealth to the area making it the
wealthiest area in Rhode Island for many years. Eventually industry overpowered
these agricultural moguls, and the greater wealth moved to the cities. Today,
Richmond's small population is primarily employed in manufacturing.The end of
the plantation era also signaled the beginning of the early water-powered
industry. The water power of Richmond's streams furnished the motive power for
its sawmills and the textile industry. The first cotton mill was organized at
Hope Valley 1810, and a second Usquepaugh.
The late C.D. Kenyon began producing
corn meal in three-pound boxes in 1910. Today the mill is still a grist mill in
the true Early American sense~"the flavor of an old time industry remains"-and
is still in high production, producing Johnnycake meal. Johnny cakes, whose
named was derived from "journey cakes" because they were originally taken by sea
captains on long voyages, are made from locally grown flint corn. The corn is
ground into a meal, and and then cooked into a small flapjack type cake. Arcadia
is a quaint village popular for Arcadia State Park, and Dovecrest, an Indian
restaurant operated by descendants of the Old Narragansett Tribe. There is also
the state-operated Fish Cultural Station in Arcadia where the primary focus has
been to introduce such species as Northern Pike and Atlantic Shad to New England
waters.
Other points of interest in Richmond include the Bell School, a one room
school house established in 1826, and used until 1934, and Shannock Falls, the
location of a fierce battle between the Narragansett Indians and the Pequot
Indians for possession of fishing rights.
Government
Established in 1669, Incorporated in 1747
Form of Government: Five-member Town Council headed by Council President.
Fiscal Year Begins: July 1
Town Hall
5 Richmond Townhouse Road
Wyoming, RI 02898
FAX: 539-1089
Hours: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
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