Little Compton, Rhode Island
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Template:Rimap Little Compton is a town located in Newport County, Rhode Island. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 3,593. Little Compton is located in southeast Rhode Island, between the Sakonnet River and the Massachusetts state boundary. It is the birthplace of the Rhode Island Red.
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Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 74.9 km² (28.9 mi²). 54.1 km² (20.9 mi²) of it is land and 20.8 km² (8.0 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 27.79% water.
Education
There is only one school in little Compton, the Josephine Wilbur and McMahon school, which teaches K-8. It is called by the natives simply "wilbur school", and is located in the middle of town, known as the commons. There are approximately 350 students. High school students are sent to Portsmouth High school on Acquidneck island.
Rhode Island Red
The Rhode Island Red was originally bred in little Compton, and there is a monument of sorts in Adamsville near a baseball field.
Stores
The majority of stores in little Compton are in the center of the town, the commons. This includes Wilbur's general store, corner cones, and a couple more staple stores like the dry cleaners. In Adamsville, there is the oldest general store in the country, Gray's (also an antique store). There is also Simmons, which use to be in the commons, before it was a post office, and later sovereign bank. Adjacent to the sovereign bank is the town pizza shop, A-1 pizza. Currently being rebuilt, after a fire which destroyed the building, is a staple of rhode island dining, The Commons Lunch which is famous for johnny cakes.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 3,593 people, 1,475 households, and 1,041 families residing in the town. The population density is 66.5/km² (172.1/mi²). There are 2,103 housing units at an average density of 38.9/km² (100.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 98.75% White, 0.06% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 1,475 households out of which 27.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% are married couples living together, 6.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% are non-families. 24.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.44 and the average family size is 2.92.
In the town the population is spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 44 years. For every 100 females there are 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $55,368, and the median income for a family is $62,750. Males have a median income of $43,199 versus $28,676 for females. The per capita income for the town is $32,513. 3.4% of the population and 3.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 1.0% of those under the age of 18 and 2.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.