National Register of Historic Places

Rumford Historic District

East Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
Listed
November 28, 1980
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
80000008

About this property

Rumford is the northern section of the city of East Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Also considered a neighborhood or village, the Rumford section of East Providence borders Seekonk, Massachusetts to the east, Pawtucket, Rhode Island to the north, and the Ten Mile River (Seekonk River) to the south. The zip code for Rumford is 02916, and the population as of 2020 is 8,350. Since the establishment of the separate parish formed by Newman Congregational Church in 1643, Rumford has had a community identity. Rumford has been part of three towns and two states: Rehoboth then Seekonk in Massachusetts, then East Providence in Rhode Island. Eben Norton Horsford, a Harvard chemist who received the Rumford Chair of Physics in 1847, developed the first practical calcium phosphate baking powder. He co-founded Rumford Chemical Works in 1859, named in honor of Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford, his benefactor. Rumford Baking Powder was made in the town at the Rumford Chemical Works and received a Post Office, which led to Rumford's current name. Wannamoisett Country Club was established in Rumford in 1898 on land rented from Rumford Chemical Works and it hosts the Northeast Amateur Invitational Golf Tournament each year. The 1931 PGA Championship was played here. About 150 acres (61 ha) of the Rumford area was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, encompassing the historic heart of old Seekonk and the 19th-century center of East Providence. National Register of Historic Places listings in Providence County, Rhode Island

Location

East Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
41.83273, -71.34878

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Rumford Historic District

This page lists Rumford Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

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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Nearby Historic Sites

Bridgham Farm
Industrial
0.4 mi
Newman Cemetery
Listed
0.5 mi
Rumford Chemical Works and Mill House Historic District
Industrial
0.6 mi
Newman Congregational Church
Industrial
0.6 mi
Boston and Providence Railroad Bridge
Industrial
0.7 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Bunker Hill – Rhode Island contingent
1775Revolutionary War
2.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Rumford Historic District listed on the National Register?

Rumford Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 28, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Rumford Historic District?

Rumford Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Rumford Historic District?

The period of significance for Rumford Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Rumford Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Rumford Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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