Greenville is a village and

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...

(CDP) in the

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

of Smithfield in

Providence County Providence County is the List of counties in Rhode Island, most populous county in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the county's population was 660,741, or 60.2% of the state's population. Provid ...

Rhode Island Rhode Island ( ) is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Connecticut to its west; Massachusetts to its north and east; and the Atlantic Ocean to its south via Rhode Island Sound and Block Is ...

, United States. The population was 8,658 at the 2010 census. The CDP is centered on the village of Greenville but also encompasses the nearby villages of West Greenville and Spragueville, as well as the Mountaindale Reservoir and beach. The village of Greenville is named after Revolutionary War general

Nathanael Greene Major general (United States), Major General Nathanael Greene (August 7, 1742 – June 19, 1786) was an American military officer and planter who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, Revolutionary War. He emerge ...

, who was born in Rhode Island in 1742. The location, however, was first settled in the 17th century. The village contains the Greenville Baptist Church (

American Baptist Churches, USA The American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) is a mainline Protestant and Baptist Christian denomination. It is a reorganization from 1907 of the Triennial Convention. The Triennial Convention was renamed as the Northern Baptist Convention in 1 ...

), Greenville Public Library, and

William Winsor School William is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. It became popular in England after the Norman conquest in 1066,All Things William"Meaning & Origin of the Name"/ref> and remained so throughout the Middle Ages and into the modern era. It is ...

, and there are many apple

orchard An orchard is an intentional plantation of trees or shrubs that is maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit tree, fruit- or nut (fruit), nut-producing trees that are generally grown for commercial production. Orchards are also so ...

s in the surrounding area. The area was active in the

Free Will Baptist Free Will Baptists or Free Baptists are a group originating from General Baptists that emphasizes the teaching of free salvation and free will. The movement can be traced back to the General Baptists in 17th century England. In 1702, Paul Palm ...

movement in the 19th century, and the

Smithville Seminary The Smithville Seminary was a Freewill Baptist institution established in 1839 at the location of the modern Institute Lane in Smithville-North Scituate, Rhode Island. Renamed the Lapham Institute in 1863, it closed in 1876. The site was then u ...

, a Free Baptist institution, was nearby.

U.S. Route 44 U.S. Route 44 (US 44) is an east–west United States Numbered Highway that runs for through four states in the Northeastern United States. The western terminus is at US 209 and New York State Route 55 (NY 55) in Kerhonks ...

, known locally as "Putnam Pike", runs through the center of Greenville.

Notable people

Arthur Steere Arthur Wallace Steere (1865–1943) was a Rhode Island politician and prominent businessman and landowner. Biography Steere (known as "A.W.") was born in Glocester, Rhode Island, on September 3, 1865, to Seth Hunt Steere and Lucy L. Smith. ...

(1865–1943), senator, businessman *

John Steere John Steere (ca. 1634 – 1724) was one of the earliest settlers of the state of Rhode Island, a town official, and a founder of the town of Smithfield, Rhode Island. John Steere was purportedly born in Ockley, Dorking, Surrey in England around ...

(1634–1724), early settler, farmer *

Thomas Angell Thomas Angell (c.1616–1694) was one of the four men who wintered with Roger Williams at Seekonk, Plymouth Colony in early 1636, and then joined him in founding the settlement of Providence Plantation in what became the Colony of Rhode Island ...

, Baptist scholar at

Bates College Bates College () is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Lewiston, Maine. Anchored by the Historic Quad, the campus of Bates totals with a small urban campus which includes 33 Victorian ...

* William Winsor (1819–1904), philanthropist, supporter of education *

Margaret Bingham Stillwell Margaret Bingham Stillwell (1887 – 1984) was an American librarian and bibliographer who spent most of her professional career as curator of the Annmary Brown Memorial. Education and career Stillwell entered Pembroke College in Brown Universi ...

(1887 – 1984), bibliographer, librarian *

Bernard Hawkins Bernard Hawkins (born May 18, 1963) is an American politician. He served as a Democratic member for the 53rd district of the Rhode Island House of Representatives. Born in Greenville, Rhode Island, Hawkins attended Southern Connecticut State ...

, American politician

Geography

Greenville is located at (41.876749, −71.553375). According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the CDP has a total area of , of which is land and (9.39%) is water. Bodies of water in Greenville include Waterman Reservoir and Slack's Pond.

Distinct villages in Greenville CDP

* Greenville * West Greenville * Spragueville * Mountaindale (also Mountain Dale) — the location of Mountaindale Beach. Mountaindale was home to the Mountain Dale Hosiery Mill owned by J.P. and J.G. Ray.

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 9,061 people, 3,370 households, and 2,326 families in Greenville. The population density was . There were 3,489 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 92.78% (8,407)

white White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

European American European Americans are Americans of European ancestry. This term includes both people who descend from the first European settlers in the area of the present-day United States and people who descend from more recent European arrivals. Since th ...

(91.84%

non-Hispanic white Non-Hispanic Whites, also referred to as White Anglo Americans or Non-Latino Whites, are White Americans who are classified by the United States census as "White" and not of Hispanic or Latino origin. According to annual estimates from the Unit ...

), 0.73% (66)

black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...

African-American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from any of the Black racial groups of Africa. ...

, 0.24% (22) Native American or

Alaska Native Alaska Natives (also known as Native Alaskans, Alaskan Indians, or Indigenous Alaskans) are the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Indigenous peoples of Alaska that encompass a diverse arena of cultural and linguistic groups, including the I ...

, 1.63% (148) Asian, 0.0% (0)

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

Native Hawaiian Native Hawaiians (also known as Indigenous Hawaiians, Kānaka Maoli, Aboriginal Hawaiians, or simply Hawaiians; , , , and ) are the Indigenous peoples of Oceania, Indigenous Polynesians, Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaiʻi was set ...

, 1.49% (135) from other races, and 3.12% (283) from

two or more races Multiracial Americans, also known as mixed-race Americans, are Americans who have mixed ancestry of two or more races. The term may also include Americans of mixed-race ancestry who self-identify with just one group culturally and socially (cf. t ...

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race was 3.33% (302) of the population. Of the 3,370 households, 28.8% had children under the age of 18; 55.0% were married couples living together; 26.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 25.7% of households consisted of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.4 and the average family size was 3.0. The percent of those with a bachelor's degree or higher was estimated to be 30.1% of the population. 17.3% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 18.7% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 27.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 118.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 123.1 males. The 2016-2020 5-year

American Community Survey The American Community Survey (ACS) is an annual demographics survey program conducted by the United States Census Bureau. It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the United States census, decennial census ...

estimates show that the median household income was $90,048 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,682) and the median family income was $105,227 (+/- $7,813). Males had a median income of $52,063 (+/- $5,193) versus $43,971 (+/- $11,464) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $50,018 (+/- $6,118). Approximately, 1.4% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 0.7% of those under the age of 18 and 5.4% of those ages 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,626 people, 3,302 households, and 2,314 families residing in the CDP. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was . There were 3,418 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.47%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 0.28%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.20% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.02%

, 0.06% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 0.58% of the population. There were 3,302 households, out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.05. In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 21.7% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.1 males. The median income for a household in the CDP was $56,036, and the median income for a family was $66,832. Males had a median income of $49,671 versus $31,545 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the CDP was $24,770. About 1.6% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

Notable sites and historic places in Greenville

Saint Thomas Episcopal Church and Rectory Saint Thomas Episcopal Church is an Episcopal church located at 1 Smith Avenue (the junction of United States Route 44 and Rhode Island Route 116) in the village of Greenville in Smithfield, Rhode Island. History The present church, a handsom ...

(1852) * Smithfield Exchange Bank (1822) * Stephen Winsor House (1850) * Waterman-Winsor Farm (1774)

Images

Image:Arthur Steere House.JPG, The farm of Greenville resident

at the start of the 20th century Image:Greenville RI School House.JPG, Greenville School House, formerly near the site of Greenville's post office Image:Greenville Finishing Company Smithfield RI.JPG, Greenville Finishing Company at the start of the 20th century Image:Slacks Pond Greenville RI.JPG, Slacks Pond in Greenville File:Greenville RI Library.JPG, Old Greenville Public Library, originally in downtown Greenville in between the Baptist and Episcopal churches File:Whale Rock on Mapleville Road in Greenville Smithfield Rhode Island RI.jpg, Whale Rock on Mapleville Road, a local landmark Greenville Baptist Church in Greenville Rhode Island in the town of Smithfield RI.jpg, Greenville Baptist Church File:Waterman-Winsor Farm House in Greenville RI in the town of Smithfield Rhode Island USA.jpg, Waterman-Winsor Farm House on Austin Avenue File:Saint Thomas Episcopal Church.jpg,

References

{{authority control Census-designated places in Providence County, Rhode Island Smithfield, Rhode Island Villages in Providence County, Rhode Island Providence metropolitan area Villages in Rhode Island Census-designated places in Rhode Island