Rhode Island

Kent

170,363
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Kent

Kent, Rhode Island, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 8,848. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 170,363.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 7 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Great Swamp Fight (Second Rhode Island engagement), Swamp Fight Narragansett 1675, Burning of Warwick RI 1676, and 82 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020170,363
2010166,158
2000167,090
1990161,135
1980154,163
1970142,382
1960112,619
195077,763
194058,311
193051,390
192038,269
191036,378
190029,976
189026,754
188020,588
187018,595
186017,303
185015,068
184013,083
183012,789
182010,228
18109,834
18008,487
17908,848
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Kent

Military engagements that took place in Kent, Rhode Island.

Great Swamp Fight (Second Rhode Island engagement)
1675
Swamp Fight Narragansett 1675
1675
Burning of Warwick RI 1676
1676
Warwick Burning
1676
Attack on Warwick 1676
1676
Burning of the Gaspee (RI)
1772
Burning of the Gaspee
1772

Historic places in Kent

National Register of Historic Places listings in Kent, Rhode Island.

District Four School
Warwick
Carbuncle Hill Archaeological District, RI-1072-1079
Coventry
Pontiac Mills
Warwick
Greene-Bowen House
Warwick
Pawtuxet Village Historic District
Warwick
East Greenwich Historic District
East Greenwich
Warwick Lighthouse
Warwick
Tillinghast Mill Site
East Greenwich
Briggs, Joseph, House-Coventry Town Farm
Coventry
Allen, Stephen, House
West Greenwich
Greenwich Mills
Warwick
Paine House
Coventry
Apponaug Historic District
Warwick
Gardiner, Capt. Oliver, House
Warwick
Fry's Hamlet Historic District
East Greenwich
West Greenwich Baptist Church and Cemetery
West Greenwich Center
Tillinghast Road Historic District
East Greenwich
Wickes, Oliver A., House
Warwick
Warwick Civic Center Historic District
Warwick
Waterman, John R., House
Warwick
Waterman Tavern
Coventry
Interlaken Mill Bridge
Coventry
Whitmarsh, Col. Micah, House
East Greenwich
Briggs, Richard, Farm
East Greenwich
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Other counties in Rhode Island

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Everything a full report reveals about Kent County, Rhode Island

This page charts the census history of Kent County, Rhode Island. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Kent

When does Kent first appear in the US census?
Kent, Rhode Island first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 8,848.
What is the population of Kent?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Kent had a recorded population of 170,363.
Were any battles fought in Kent?
7 documented military engagements took place in Kent, including Great Swamp Fight (Second Rhode Island engagement), Swamp Fight Narragansett 1675, Burning of Warwick RI 1676.
How many historic places are in Kent?
82 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Kent, Rhode Island.
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