Jamestown, Rhode Island
| Jamestown, Rhode Island | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
 Location of Jamestown in Newport County, Rhode Island |
|
| Coordinates: 41°31′N 71°22′W / 41.517°N 71.367°WCoordinates: 41°31′N 71°22′W / 41.517°N 71.367°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Rhode Island |
| County | Newport |
| Government | |
| • Town Council | Kristine S. Trocki (D) Blake A. Dickinson (R) Mary E. Meagher (D) Michael G. White (D) Thomas P. Tighe (D) |
| • Town Moderator | John A. Murphy (D) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 35.3 sq mi (91.5 km2) |
| • Land | 9.7 sq mi (25.1 km2) |
| • Water | 25.6 sq mi (66.4 km2) |
| Elevation | 167 ft (51 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 5,405 |
| • Density | 557.2/sq mi (215.3/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 02835 |
| Area code(s) | 401 |
| FIPS code | 44-36820 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1220061 |
Jamestown is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, in the United States. The population was 5,405 at the 2010 census. Jamestown is situated almost entirely on Conanicut Island, the second largest island in Narragansett Bay. It also includes the uninhabited Dutch Island and Gould Island.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has an area of 35.3 square miles (91 km2), of which, 9.7 square miles (25 km2) of it is land and 25.6 square miles (66 km2) of it is water. The total area is 72.55% water.
Rhode Island Route 138 is the only state highway in Jamestown, connecting the town and island to North Kingstown to the west (over the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge) and Newport to the east (over the Newport Bridge).
Humans arrived in the area about 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, at the end of the last ice age, when they settled near streams and rivers. Ongoing melting of glaciers caused the sea level to rise, covering low-lying areas and eventually filling Narragansett Bay. The rising sea forced humans to higher elevations, and submerged most traces of the earliest inhabitants. The oldest human artifacts found on Conanicut Island date from around 3000 BC.
In 1524, the Italian navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano and his crew visited Narragansett Bay. In 1636 or 1637, "Dutch Island" was used by fur traders. In 1638 the English made arrangements to use Conanicut Island for grazing sheep.
Ferries were in operation between Conanicut Island and Newport by 1675. In 1678, Conanicut Island was incorporated as the town of Jamestown. There were about 150 residents. The town was named for James, Duke of York, who would become King James II in 1685.
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