Woonsocket ( wuun-SOK-it, wən-), is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 43,240 at the 2020 census, making it the sixth largest city in the state. Being Rhode Island’s northernmost city, Woonsocket lies directly south of the Massachusetts state line and constitutes part of both the Providence metropolitan area and the larger Greater Boston Combined Statistical Area.

The city is the corporate headquarters of CVS Health, a pharmacy services provider. It is home to Landmark Medical Center, the Museum of Work and Culture, and the American-French Genealogical Society.

History

Before the arrival of European settlers in northern Rhode Island during the 17th century, today’s Woonsocket region was inhabited by three Native American tribes: the Nipmuc (Cowesett), Wampanoag, and Narragansett. In 1661, the English theologian Roger Williams purchased the area from the “Coweset and Nipmucks”, and in a letter referred to modern day Woonsocket as Niswosakit.

Other possible derivations of the name include several Nipmuc geographic names from nearby Massachusetts. These include Woonksechocksett, from Worcester County meaning “fox country”, and Wannashowatuckqut, also from Worcester County, meaning “at the fork of the river”. Another theory proposes that the city was named after Woonsocket Hill in neighboring North Smithfield.

Woonsocket Falls Village was founded in the 1820s. Its fortunes expanded as the Industrial Revolution developed in nearby Pawtucket. With the Blackstone River providing ample water power, the region became a prime location for textile mills. In 1831 Edward Harris built his first textile mill in Woonsocket.

The town of Woonsocket was not established until 1867, when three villages in the town of Cumberland, namely Woonsocket Falls, Social and Jenckesville, officially became the town of Woonsocket. In 1871, three additional industrial villages from Smithfield– Hamlet, Bernon, and Globe, were added to the town, establishing its present boundaries. Woonsocket was incorporated as city in 1888.

The growth of industries and associated jobs attracted numerous immigrants, predominantly Québecois and French-Canadians from other provinces. When the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste d’Holyoke organized a national cultural and benefit society in 1899, the Union Saint-Jean-Baptiste d’Amérique, Woonsocket, with its proximity to several industrial areas having large French-Canadian populations, was chosen for the organization’s headquarters.

By 1913, a survey by the American Association of Foreign Language Newspapers found the city had to have the 6th-largest population of French or French-Canadian foreign nationals in the country. In the decades that followed this population grew, and by time the local textile industry shuttered during the Great Depression, ethnic French Canadians comprised 75 percent of the population. French-language newspapers were published; radio programs, movies, and most public conversations were conducted in French. As recently as 1980, 70% of Woonsocket’s population was of French-Canadian descent. The New England French language their ancestors spoke gradually vanished from public discourse.

Throughout the 20th century the city’s fortunes ebbed and flowed with national trends. During the Great Depression the textile economy of Woonsocket came to an effective standstill; however, it was revived during World War II. The city became a major center of fabric manufacturing for the war effort, including production of military uniforms.

In the postwar years, the Woonsocket economy diversified as manufacturing declined, and other commercial sectors, such as retail, technology and financial services took hold. In the early 1980s Woonsocket was struggling with high unemployment rates.

Beginning in 1979, Woonsocket sponsored Autumnfest, an annual cultural festival that takes place on Columbus Day weekend, at World War II Veteran’s Memorial State Park. It has become one of the city’s most popular events, attracting thousands of attendees.

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 43,240 people, 18,287 households, and 9,497 families in Woonsocket. The population density was 5,582.2 per square mile (2,155.3/km). There were 19,754 housing units at an average density of 2,550.2 per square mile (984.6/km²). The racial makeup was 64.41% (27,850) white or European American (59.68% non-Hispanic white), 7.86% (3,399) black or African-American, 0.62% (267) Native American or Alaska Native, 5.79% (2,502) Asian, 0.06% (28) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 9.64% (4,167) from other races, and 11.63% (5,027) from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race was 21.01% (9,086) of the population.

Of the 18,287 households, 27.8% had children under the age of 18; 30.2% were married couples living together; 33.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 34.6% of households consisted of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 3.2. The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 12.4% of the population.

21.9% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 104.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 107.8 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $44,310 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,816) and the median family income was $55,818 (+/- $4,785). Males had a median income of $38,889 (+/- $2,065) versus $27,544 (+/- $2,343) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $33,424 (+/- $2,183). Approximately, 15.0% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.8% of those under the age of 18 and 15.1% of those ages 65 or over.

2010 census

At the 2010 census Woonsocket had a population of 41,186. The population was 71.3% non-Hispanic white, 14.2% Hispanic or Latino, 6.4% African American, 5.4% Asian, 0.4% Native American and 4.3% reporting two or more races.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 43,224 people, 17,750 households, and 10,774 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,608.8 inhabitants per square mile (2,165.6/km²). There were 18,757 housing units at an average density of 2,433.9 per square mile (939.7/km). The racial makeup of the city was 83.14% White, 4.44% African American, 0.32% Native American, 4.06% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.86% from other races, and 3.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.32% of the population.

Woonsocket is a part of the Providence metropolitan area, which has an estimated population of 1,622,520.

There were 17,750 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. Of all households, 32.7% were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,819, and the median income for a family was $38,353. Males had a median income of $31,465 versus $24,638 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,223. About 16.7% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.3% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over. In March 2013, The Washington Post reported that one-third of Woonsocket’s population used food stamps, putting local merchants on a “boom or bust” cycle each month when EBT payments were deposited.

At the 2000 census, 46.1% of Woonsocket’s population were identified as being of French or French-Canadian ethnic heritage. The city has referred to itself as La ville la plus française aux États-Unis, ‘the most French city in the United States’.