Rhode Island

Washington

129,839
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Washington

Washington, Rhode Island, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 18,075. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 129,839.

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

On the ground today, 18 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Block Island (Endicott Expedition), Battle of Block Island 1636, Block Island Raid 1636 (prelude to Pequot War), and 141 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020129,839
2010126,979
2000123,546
1990110,006
198093,317
197083,586
196059,054
195048,542
194032,493
193029,334
192024,932
191024,942
190024,154
189023,649
188022,495
187020,097
186018,715
185016,430
184014,324
183015,411
182015,687
181014,962
180016,135
179018,075
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Washington

Military engagements that took place in Washington, Rhode Island.

Battle of Block Island (Endicott Expedition)
1636
Battle of Block Island 1636
1636
Block Island Raid 1636 (prelude to Pequot War)
1636
Block Island Raid 1636 (Pequot War)
1636
Block Island Raid
1636
Block Island Expedition 1637
1637
Battle of Great Swamp (Narragansett Winter Campaign)
1675
Battle of Swamp Fight (Great Swamp Massacre)
1675
Great Swamp Massacre
1675
Great Swamp Massacre 1675
1675
Battle of Narragansett Fort
1675
Naragansett Country Raids 1675
1675
Great Swamp Fight (King Philip's War)
1675
Great Swamp Massacre (Rhode Island)
1675
Battle of Great Swamp (King Philip's War)
1675
Wickford RI Burning 1676
1676
Wickford Burning (Rhode Island)
1676
Raid on Block Island (1778)
1778

Historic places in Washington

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

Rose, Benoni, House
North Kingstown
Towers Historic District
Narragansett
Historic Village of the Narragansetts in Charlestown
Charlestown
Kingston Railroad Station
South Kingstown
Kingston Hill Farm
South Kingstown
Bull, Jireh, Blockhouse Historic Site
South Kingstown
Shannock Historic District
Charlestown
Block Island South East Light
New Shoreham
Sanford, Esbon, House
North Kingstown
Fayerweather, George, Blacksmith Shop
Kingstown
Saunderstown Historic District
North Kingstown
Black Farm
Hopkinton
Upper Rockville Mill
Hopkinton
Sheffield House
Charlestown
Cottrell House
South Kingstown
Old Harbor Historic District
New Shoreham
Devil's Foot Cemetery Archeological Site, RI-694
North Kingston
Parris Brook Historic and Archeological District
Exeter
Earlscourt Historic District
Narragansett
District Schoolhouse No. 2
Charlestown
Druidsdream
Narragansett
Dewey Cottage
South Kingstown
North End Historic District
Westerly
Narragansett Pier Life Saving Station
Narragansett
Browse all Rhode Islandhistoric sites ›

Other counties in Rhode Island

Explore census history and historic records for more Rhode Island counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Washington County, Rhode Island

This page charts the census history of Washington 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 Washington

When does Washington first appear in the US census?
Washington, Rhode Island first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 18,075.
What is the population of Washington?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Washington had a recorded population of 129,839.
Were any battles fought in Washington?
18 documented military engagements took place in Washington, including Battle of Block Island (Endicott Expedition), Battle of Block Island 1636, Block Island Raid 1636 (prelude to Pequot War).
How many historic places are in Washington?
141 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, Rhode Island.
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