About Us

The Town of West Greenwich was set off from East Greenwich and incorporated by the General Assembly April 6, 1741. In 1790 the population of the town was 2,054. In 1920 it had dropped to 387 but in 1970 it had increased to 1,841. The 2000 census data lists the population at 5,085.
Town Seal

The original deed was executed June 30, 1709 for 1,100 pounds. It divided West Greenwich, some 35,000 acres of land, from the vacant land in the Narragansett country tract and ran to 13 residents of East Greenwich and Warwick. A petition was submitted in October 1740, to Governor Richard Ward, requesting that this area be set off as a separate town. It wasn't until April 1741 that the General Assembly for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the request of freemen of this area incorporated West Greenwich is a separate town (by Roberta Baker - Bits and Pieces of West Greenwich Memoranda)

Our coat of arms was one of the Coats of Arms of Municipalities in Kent County designed by Howard M. Chapin - one time head of the Rhode Island Historical Society in conjunction with the State Tercentenary Celebration. It is patterned after Greenwich, England in the county of Kent. A silver hour glass on a little blue field, with a golden stripe at the top on which is a red setting sun. The arms are a modification of those of East Greenwich, difference with the setting sun significant of the west.

  • In 1889 there were 12 school districts in West Greenwich. The average monthly wage for a teacher was $30.26.
  • District Number 8 - Plain School also known as Red School House Plain Meeting House Road, built in 1881.
  • District Number 7 - Hazard School House - Hazard Road - built in the 1840s.
  • In 1927, the West Greenwich schools united for the first joint graduation in the Town's history. Over 200 people were in attendance and there were 4 graduates: William Mattscheck, Catherine O'Brien, Dagny Olsson, and Unto Frank Ikonen. Ice cream and cake was served by M.J. Duff, proprietor of the Noose Neck Inn.
  • Picture taken early in the 1970's of Route 102 headed North just past Blueberry Heights. Photo submitted by Lorraine Simpanen.