Pascoag, Rhode Island
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Pascoag (pronounced Pas-co) is a census-designated place located in Providence County, Rhode Island. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 4,742.
Pascoag is one of at least eight villages that make up Burrillville,_Rhode_Island. It can trace its origins back to the first half of the 18th century, when a saw mill and other businesses were built in what is now the village center.
In the 19th century, Pascoag became a textile manufacturing town, an industry that continued until after World War II.
Recent history includes an incident involving groundwater contamination. A test of the groundwater conducted on September 14, 2001 showed that the water contained levels of the ether MTBE at levels of about 600 ppb. This was the first public statement concerning the presence of MTBE in Pascoag drinking water, though residents claim to have detected it as early as May, 2001. MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether) is a gasoline additive intended to enhance octane levels. It is believed to have come from leaking tanks at a local Exxon Mobil gas station. Nearly 1,500 residents of Pascoag responded by filing a lawsuit against Exxon Mobile through the law offices of Napoli, Kaiser, and Bern. The lawsuit is pending as of May 2, 2005.
External Links: History of Pascoag (pdf) (http://www.burrillville.org/Public_Documents/BurrillvilleRI_WebDocs/Pascoagwriteup.pdf) Press Release on MTBE Contamination Incident (http://pud-ri.org/mbte/091901.htm)
Geography
Pascoag is located at 41°57'27" North, 71°42'21" West (41.957401, -71.705957)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 14.1 km² (5.5 mi²). 13.0 km² (5.0 mi²) of it is land and 1.1 km² (0.4 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 7.88% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 4,742 people, 1,642 households, and 1,175 families residing in the CDP. The population density is 364.7/km² (944.4/mi²). There are 1,743 housing units at an average density of 134.1/km² (347.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP is 98.33% White, 0.36% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. 1.03% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 1,642 households out of which 37.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% are married couples living together, 10.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% are non-families. 23.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.72 and the average family size is 3.20.
In the CDP the population is spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP is $48,778, and the median income for a family is $54,391. Males have a median income of $37,957 versus $27,241 for females. The per capita income for the CDP is $20,322. 9.0% of the population and 6.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 9.7% of those under the age of 18 and 15.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.