Westerly | |
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Westerly, Rhode Island | |
The Westerly Town Hall and Court House (2021) The Westerly Armory (2005) Westerly High School (2017) | |
Location of Westerly in Rhode Island Location in the United States | |
Coordinates: 41°22′39″N 71°49′38″W / 41.37750°N 71.82722°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Rhode Island |
County | Washington County |
First settled | 1661 |
Incorporated | 1669 |
Villages | List
|
Government | |
• Type | Mayor–council government[1] |
• President | Christopher A. Duhamel |
• Vice-President | Mary E. Scialabba |
• Town Manager | Shawn M. Lacey |
• Town Clerk | Mary L. LeBlanc |
• Town Solicitor | William J. Conley |
Area | |
• Total | 74.8 sq mi (194 km2) |
• Land | 30.1 sq mi (78 km2) |
• Water | 44.7 sq mi (116 km2) |
Elevation | 36 ft (11 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 23,359 |
• Density | 777/sq mi (300/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
ZIP Codes | 02891 02808 (Bradford) |
Area code | 401 |
FIPS code | 44-77000[2] |
GNIS feature ID | 1220091[3] |
Website | westerlyri |
Westerly is a town on the southwestern coastline of Washington County, Rhode Island, United States, first settled by English colonists in 1661, and incorporated as a municipality in 1669. Westerly is a beachfront community on the south shore of the state with a population of 23,359 as of the 2020 census.
The Pawcatuck River flows on the western border of Westerly, and was once renowned for its own species of Westerly salmon, three of which are displayed on the town's official seal. The Pawcatuck River flows from 15 mi (24 km) inland, emptying into Little Narragansett Bay. It also serves as the boundary between Westerly and Pawcatuck, Connecticut. Three large salt ponds lie along the coast of Westerly which serve as shallow, reef-like pools whose outer walls form the long, white beaches for which the town is renowned, such as the Misquamicut State Beach. From west to east, these ponds are Maschaug Pond, Winnapaug Pond, and Quonochontaug Pond.
Westerly becomes a notable tourist destination during the summer months when the population nearly doubles.[4] Its well-known beaches include Weekapaug Beach, Westerly Town Beach, Misquamicut State Beach, East Beach, and Watch Hill Beach. The Town of Westerly was known historically for local important granite mining and stone-cutting industry, which ran until the quarries stopped operating in the 1950s.[5]