Warwick, Rhode Island is located in Kent County, and it forms a part of the Providence Metropolitan Area. Topographically, Warwick is situated on the Seaboard Lowland of Rhode Island surrounded by salt marshes and sandy beaches. Those moving to Warwick will discover a humid climate, defined as short, humid and warm summers and long cold, snowy winters.
Economy:
According to statistics released by the United States Census Bureau, Warwick has a total land area of 35.5 square miles and a population, counted in mid 2009, of 84,760 residents – a slight decrease of 1.2 percent since 2000.
Kent County Memorial Hospital, Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital, Eleanor Slater Hospital and the Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island serve the city's health needs, while the Theodore Francis Green State Airport provides international air routes and Fall River Municipal Airport, New Bedford Regional Airport, Westerly State Airport, Block Island State Airport and Martha's Vineyard Airport provide national air connections. Tourism and retail shopping, mainly in the Route 2 section of the city which is known as the Miracle Mile of Shopping, are the mainstays of the economy of Warwick. The large manufacturing sector produces textiles; jewelry; metalwork, tools and machinery; electronic components and software technology; and seafood products.
History:
The original inhabitants of the area now known as Warwick were the Mahament Native Americans, a part of the Nanhiganset Indian Nation.
The first settlement of Europeans in the area was in 1642, but King Philip's War of 1675 - 1676 obliterated the community. Warwick was the site where the first salvo of the American Revolution was fired in 1772.
Tourism:
The natural beauty of the land and sea around Warwick brings large numbers of tourists to enjoy its beaches, marinas, water sports and amazing views of Narrangansett Bay. There are many organized walking tours; and numerous restaurants, taverns and bars to suit every taste.
History buffs will revel in the city's colonial, industrial and nautical history. Among the best sites to visit are the Apponaug, Conimicut and Pawutexet Villages which feature museums, colonial buildings and churches of note.