Bristol is a town in Bristol County, Rhode Island, US as well as the historic county seat. The town is built on the traditional territories of the Pokanoket Wampanoag. It is a deep water seaport named after

Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city i ...

, England. The population of Bristol was 22,493 at the 2020 census. Major industries include boat building and related marine industries, manufacturing, and tourism. The town's school system is united with that of the neighboring town of Warren. Prominent communities include Portuguese-Americans, mostly

Azorean ) , motto= ( en, "Rather die free than subjected in peace") , anthem=( en, "Anthem of the Azores") , image_map=Locator_map_of_Azores_in_EU.svg , map_alt=Location of the Azores within the European Union , map_caption=Location of the Azores wi ...

s, and Italian-Americans.

History

Early colonization

Before the Pilgrims arrived in 1620, the

Pokanokets The Pokanoket (also spelled PakanokickKathleen J. Bragdon, ''Native People of Southern New England, 1500–1650'', page 21) was the village governed by Massasoit ( Wampanoag, c. 1581–1661). The term broadened to refer to all peoples and lands ...

occupied much of Southern New England, including

Plymouth Plymouth () is a port city and unitary authority in South West England. It is located on the south coast of Devon, approximately south-west of Exeter and south-west of London. It is bordered by Cornwall to the west and south-west. Plymouth ...

. They had previously suffered from a series of plagues which killed off large segments of their population, and their leader, the Massasoit Osamequin, befriended the early settlers. King Philip's War was a conflict between the Plymouth settlers and the Pokanokets and allied tribes, and it began in the neighboring area of

Swansea, Massachusetts Swansea is a town in Bristol County in southeastern Massachusetts. It is located at the mouth of the Taunton River, just west of Fall River, south of Boston, and southeast of Providence, Rhode Island. The population was 17,144 at the 2020 cens ...

. Metacomet made nearby Mount Hope (a corruption of the Pokanoket word ''Montaup'') his base of operations; he died following an ambush by Captain Benjamin Church on August 12, 1676. "Massasoit's Seat" is a rocky ledge on the mountain which was a lookout site for enemy ships on Mount Hope Bay. After the war concluded, four Boston merchants—Stephen Burton, Nathaniel Byfield, Nathaniel Oliver, and John Walley—purchased a tract of land known as "Mount Hope Neck and Poppasquash Neck" as part of the Plymouth Colony. Other settlers included John Gorham and

Richard Smith Richard Smith may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Richard Penn Smith (1799–1854), American playwright * Richard Smith (silent film director) (1886–1937), American silent film director * Richard Smith (screenwriter), Scottish screenwriter, ...

. A variant of the Indian name Metacomet is now the name of a main road in Bristol: Metacom Avenue ( RI Route 136). Bristol was a town of

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

until the Crown transferred it to the Rhode Island Colony in 1747.

Slave trade and the DeWolf family

The DeWolf family was among the earliest settlers of Bristol. Bristol and Rhode Island became a center of slave trading. James DeWolf, a leading slave trader, later became a

United States Senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and p ...

from Rhode Island. Beginning in 1769 and continuing until 1820 (over a decade after the slave trade was outlawed in the Atlantic), the DeWolf family trafficked people out of West Africa, enslaving them and bringing them to work on DeWolf-owned plantations, or selling them to be auctioned at ports in places such as

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

and

Charleston Charleston most commonly refers to: * Charleston, South Carolina * Charleston, West Virginia, the state capital * Charleston (dance) Charleston may also refer to: Places Australia * Charleston, South Australia Canada * Charleston, Newfoundlan ...

South Carolina )'' Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = "Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = G ...

. In Cuba, sugar and molasses, harvested/created by enslaved Africans, was brought back to Rhode Island to DeWolf-owned distilleries. By the end of 1820, the DeWolf family had trafficked and enslaved over 10,000 African people. James DeWolf died as the second wealthiest person in the United States. As it did in many northern towns and port cities, slavery built the wealth of Bristol, which processed various materials, such as cotton, created or harvested through the use of slave labor.

Quakers Quakers are people who belong to a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Members of these movements ("theFriends") are generally united by a belief in each human's abil ...

from Rhode Island were involved early in the abolition movement, although abolition was a divisive issue among Quakers, resulting in the creation of new Quaker groups. The history of the DeWolf family, as well as Bristol's and the northern United States' participation in slavery, are covered in the 2008 documentary '' Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North'', in the 2008 companion memoir ''Inheriting the Trade: A Northern Family Confronts Its Legacy as the Largest Slave-Trading Dynasty in U.S. History'' by Thomas Norman DeWolf, and the 2014 historical study ''James DeWolf and the Rhode Island Slave Trade'' by Cynthia Mestad Johnson.

American Revolution

During the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of ...

, the British

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by Kingdom of England, English and Kingdom of Scotland, Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were foug ...

bombarded Bristol twice. On October 7, 1775, a group of ships led by Captain Wallace and sailed into town and demanded provisions. When refused, Wallace shelled the town, causing much damage. The attack was stopped when

Lieutenant Governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...

William Bradford rowed out to ''Rose'' to negotiate a cease-fire, but then a second attack took place on May 25, 1778. This time, 500 British and

Hessian troops Hessians ( or ) were German soldiers who served as auxiliaries to the British Army during the American Revolutionary War, British Army during the American Revolutionary War. The term is an American synecdoche for all Germans in the American Revo ...

marched through the main street (now called Hope Street (RI Route 114)) and burnt 30 barracks and houses, taking some prisoners to

Newport Newport most commonly refers to: *Newport, Wales *Newport, Rhode Island, US Newport or New Port may also refer to: Places Asia *Newport City, Metro Manila, a Philippine district in Pasay Europe Ireland *Newport, County Mayo, a town on the ...

Other history and current day

Until 1854, Bristol was one of the five state capitals of Rhode Island. Bristol is home to Roger Williams University, named for Rhode Island founder

Roger Williams Roger Williams (21 September 1603between 27 January and 15 March 1683) was an English-born New England Puritan minister, theologian, and author who founded Providence Plantations, which became the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantat ...

. The southerly terminus of the East Bay Bike Path is located at Independence Park on Bristol Harbor. The bike path continues north to India Point Park in Providence, R.I., mostly constructed following an abandoned railroad right of way. Some of the best views of Narragansett Bay can be seen along this corridor. This path is a valued commodity to Bristol; it allows bikers, roller skaters, and walkers to enjoy the area. The construction of the East Bay Bike Path was highly contested by Bristol residents before construction because of the potential of crime, but it has become a welcome asset to the community and the anticipated crime was non-existent. The Bristol-based boat company Herreshoff built five consecutive America's Cup Defenders between 1893 and 1920. The Colt Estate, now known as Colt State Park, was home to

Samuel P. Colt Samuel Pomeroy Colt (January 10, 1852 – August 13, 1921) was an industrialist and politician from Rhode Island. He formed the United States Rubber Company, later called Uniroyal and the largest rubber company in the nation. Early life and ed ...

, nephew of the man famous for the arms company, and founder of the United States Rubber Company, later called Uniroyal and the largest rubber company in the nation. Colt State Park lies on manicured gardens abutting the West Passage of Narragansett Bay, and is popular for its views of the waterfront and sunsets. Bristol is the site of the National Historic Landmark

Joseph Reynolds House The Joseph Reynolds House (also known as Willowmere) is a historic house at 956 Hope Street (RI 114) in Bristol, Rhode Island, United States, built c. 1698–1700. The three-story wood-frame house is one of the oldest buildings in Bristol and t ...

built in 1700. The Marquis de Lafayette and his staff used the building as headquarters in 1778 during the Battle of Rhode Island.

Fourth of July parade

Bristol has the oldest continuously celebrated

Independence Day An independence day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or more rarely after the end of a military occupation. Man ...

festivities in the United States. The first mention of a celebration comes from July 1777, when a British officer noted sounds coming from across Narragansett Bay: The annual official and historic celebrations (Patriotic Exercises) were established in 1785 by Rev. Henry Wight of the First Congregational Church and veteran of the Revolutionary War, and later by Rev. Wight as the Parade, and continue today, organized by the Bristol Fourth of July Committee. The festivities officially start on June 14, Flag Day, beginning a period of outdoor concerts, soapbox car races and a firefighters' muster at Independence Park. The celebration climaxes on July 4 with the oldest annual parade in the United States, "The Military, Civic and Firemen's Parade", an event that draws over 200,000 people from Rhode Island and around the world. These elaborate celebrations give Bristol its nickname, "America's most patriotic town". Bristol is represented in the parade with hometown groups like the Bristol Train of Artillery and the Bristol County Fifes and Drums.

Geography

Bristol is situated on of a

peninsula A peninsula (; ) is a landform that extends from a mainland and is surrounded by water on most, but not all of its borders. A peninsula is also sometimes defined as a piece of land bordered by water on three of its sides. Peninsulas exist on all ...

(the smaller sub-peninsula on the west is called Poppasquash), with Narragansett Bay on its west and Mount Hope Bay on its east. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy An economy is an area of th ...

, the town has a total area of 20.6 square miles (53.4 km²), of which, 10.1 square miles (26.2 km²) of it is land and 10.5 square miles (27.2 km²) of it (50.99%) is water. Bristol's harbor is home to over 800 boat moorings in seven mooring fields.

Climate

Demographics

As of the 2010 census Bristol had a population of 22,954. The ethnic and racial composition of the population was 94.9% non-Hispanic white, 0.8% Black, 0.1% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.4% some other race, 1.4% from two or more races and 2.0% Hispanic or Latino of any race. As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

of 2000, there were 22,469 people, 8,314 households, and 5,653 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 8,705 housing units at an average density of . The ethnic group makeup of the town was 97.14%

White White is the lightness, lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully diffuse reflection, reflect and scattering, scatter all the ...

, 1.29% Hispanic or Latino (of any race), 0.67% Asian, 0.62%

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ha ...

, 0.16% Native American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.33% other ethnic group, and 1.03% from two or more races.

Government

In the Rhode Island Senate, Bristol is split into three senatorial districts, all Democratic: * District 10: Walter S. Felag, Jr. * District 11: James A. Seveney * District 32: Cynthia Armour Coyne At the federal level, Bristol is a part of Rhode Island's 1st congressional district and is currently represented by Democrat

David N. Cicilline David Nicola Cicilline (; born July 15, 1961) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the 36th mayor of Providence from 2003 to 2011, the first openly ga ...

. In presidential elections, Bristol is a Democratic stronghold, as no Republican presidential nominee has won the town since prior to the 1988 election.

Points of interest and Registered Historic Places

File:Bristol Rhode Island sign.jpg, Welcome sign File:Bristol (Rhode Island) Town Common.jpg, Bristol Town Common File:Bristol Rhode Island Town Hall and War Memorial.jpg, Town Hall and War Memorial File:Bristol (Rhode Island) State House.jpg, The Bristol County Statehouse/Courthouse File:A stone bridge in Colt State Park.jpg, Colt State Park File:MtHopeBridge.jpg, Mt. Hope Bridge * America's Cup Hall of Fame *

Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum The Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum is an arboretum of , located at 101 Ferry Road, Bristol, Rhode Island, midway between Newport and Providence, Rhode Island, on Bristol Harbor with views over Narragansett Bay. It includes a mansion, ...

* Bristol Art Museum * Bristol County Courthouse (Rhode Island) *

Bristol County Jail Bristol County Jail is a historic jail at 48 Court Street in Bristol, Rhode Island, and home to the Bristol Historical and Preservation Society. The jail was built on the site of a previous jail house dating to 1792 and salvaged materials were ...

Bristol Customshouse and Post Office Bristol Customshouse and Post Office is a historic two-story rectangular Italian palazzo style brick building that was used as a post office and customshouse in Bristol, Rhode Island, United States. The land for the site was acquired for $4,400. ...

* Bristol Ferry Lighthouse * Bristol Waterfront Historic District * Coggeshall Farm MuseumCoggeshall Farm Museum
/ref> () * Colt State Park *

Juniper Hill Cemetery Juniper Hill Cemetery is a historic cemetery at 24 Sherry Avenue in Bristol, Rhode Island founded by George R.Usher, James D'Wolf Perry, Byron Diman, Ambrose E. Burnside, James H. West, Charles H. R. Doringle, and Lemanuel W. Briggs. The origina ...

* Herreshoff Marine Museum * Linden Place, home of the DeWolfs, Colts * Longfield (Charles Dana Gibson house) * Mount Hope Bridge * Mount Hope Farm * Poppasquash Farms Historic District *

* Roger Williams University ** Roger Williams University School of Law

Notable people

* William Thomas "Billy" Andrade, golfer with the PGA Tour; born in Bristol *

Ethel Barrymore Colt Ethel Barrymore Colt (April 20, 1912 – May 22, 1977) was an American actress and producer and a soprano who sang in more than 100 concerts in the United States, Canada, and South America. She was a member of the ninth generation of the Barrymore ...

, silent film and stage actress; member of the influential Barrymore family * Benjamin Bourne, US congressman and federal judge; born in Bristol * William Bradford (1729–1808), physician, lawyer, and President pro tempore of the US Senate; lived and died in Bristol *

Jonathan Russell Bullock Jonathan Russell Bullock (September 6, 1815 – May 7, 1899) was a justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island. Education and career Born i ...

, federal and Rhode Island Supreme Court judge; born in Bristol * Ambrose Burnside, railroad executive, US senator, 30th governor of Rhode Island, and

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...

general; lived and died in Bristol * Sean Callery, Emmy-winning composer, raised in Bristol *

Mary Cantwell Mary Cantwell (May 10, 1930 – February 1, 2000) was an American-born journalist and novelist. Cantwell served as a member of the '' New York Times'' editorial board for sixteen years. She wrote unsigned editorials, novels, and commentary f ...

, journalist, magazine editor, author and member of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' editorial board; grew up in Bristol *

Mary H. Gray Clarke Mary Hannah Gray Clarke (, Gray; pen name Nina Gray Clarke; March 28, 1835 - May 30 or 31, 1892) was an American author, correspondent, and poet from Rhode Island. She wrote extensively for magazines and for the public press, and was also the au ...

(born 1835), correspondent *

, entrepreneur, child labor advocate, and Rhode Island state representative; lived in Bristol *

Mark Anthony DeWolf Mark Anthony DeWolf (also spelled D'Wolf and deWolfe; 8 November 1726 - 9 November 1793) was an American merchant and slave trader. Biography Mark Anthony DeWolf was born in 1726 Guadeloupe, Guadaloupe, French West Indies. He was second son of ...

(1726–1793) was the fourth child of Charles DeWolf, the only one who returned to America. He became the patriarch of the Bristol branch of the DeWolf family; he was a merchant and slave trader. * James DeWolf (1764–1837), son of Mark Anthony DeWolf. He was one of the richest men of his time, making the majority of his fortune in the slave trade. * General George W. DeWolf (1778–1844), a grandson of Mark Anthony DeWolf. He was a slave trader and the original owner of Linden Place * Jonathan DeFelice, president of

Saint Anselm College Saint Anselm College is a private Benedictine liberal arts college in Goffstown, New Hampshire. Founded in 1889, it is the third-oldest Catholic college in New England. Named for Saint Anselm of Canterbury (Archbishop of Canterbury from 1093 to ...

; lived in Bristol * Rebecca Donovan, novelist * Nancy Dubuc, businesswoman * Ramon Guiteras, surgeon and urologist, born and buried in Bristol * Nathanael Herreshoff, naval architect and mechanical engineer, designed several undefeated America's Cup winners; born in Bristol *

Gilbert C. Hoover Gilbert Corwin Hoover (July 25, 1894 – January 8, 1980) was a United States Naval officer from 1916 to 1947. He served in both world wars, was involved in the early stages of the development of the Atomic Bomb, and managed the Atomic Energy Co ...

, USN admiral involved in the nuclear bomb project * Edward L. Leahy, US senator and federal judge; born in Bristol * Ira Magaziner, senior adviser for policy development to the

Clinton Clinton is an English toponymic surname, indicating one's ancestors came from English places called Glympton or Glinton.Hanks, P. & Hodges, F. ''A Dictionary of Surnames''. Oxford University Press, 1988 Clinton has frequently been used as a given ...

administration; Chairman of the Clinton Foundation Policy Board; lives in Bristol * Pat McGee, musician ( Pat McGee Band) *Alyssa Merkle-Deschenes, National Director of Biomedical Engineering at CREF/ Steward Healthcare, former

New England Patriots The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East divisio ...

cheerleader * Anthony Quinn, actor (''Zorba the Greek (film), Zorba the Greek'', ''Lawrence of Arabia (film), Lawrence of Arabia'', ''Viva Zapata!'', ''Lust for Life (1956 film), Lust for Life''); twice won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (1952, 1956); lived in Bristol. He loved his home so much that he requested, and was given permission by the town, to be buried on his property * Norman Rene, theater and film director; born in Bristol * John Saffin, merchant and author (''A Brief and Candid Answer'' to Samuel Sewall's ''The Selling of Joseph'', 1700); lived in Bristol * Chris Santos, executive chef and owner of the Stanton Social and Beauty & Essex, judge on ''Chopped'' (Food Network TV), born in Bristol

References

External links

Official Town Website

Destination Bristol
��official tourism site {{Authority control Bristol, Rhode Island, County seats in Rhode Island King Philip's War Populated coastal places in Rhode Island Portuguese-American culture in Rhode Island Providence metropolitan area Towns in Rhode Island