Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Woonsocket is a city of 43,521 people in Providence County, Rhode Island, founded in 1867.
Why visit Woonsocket
Townapedia lists 67 museums and landmarks, 36 parks and trails, 27 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Diamond Hill, Beacon Pole Hill, North End Historic District and 1761 Milestone.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 19°F, and about 42 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Woonsocket
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Woonsocket
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.
From the Wikipedia article Woonsocket, Rhode Island (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Museums and landmarks67
North End Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Historic district in Rhode Island, United States
1761 Milestone
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Mile marker in Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Allen Street Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
United States historic place
Cato Hill Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Historic district in Rhode Island, United States
Island Place Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Historic district in Rhode Island, United States
Museum of Work and Culture
Museum · 0.8 mi
History museum in Rhode Island, United States
42 South Main Street, Woonsocket
Stadium Theatre
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Movie theater and music venue in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, United States
28 Monument Square, Woonsocket
Woonsocket City Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
City hall in Rhode Island, United States of America
169 Main Street, Woonsocket
Woonsocket Civil War Monument
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Sculpture in Rhode Island, United States of America
Alphonse Gaulin Jr. House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
United States historic place
Andrews Mill Company Plant
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Historic industrial complex in Rhode Island, USA
Ballou House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.1 mi
Historic house in Lincoln, Rhode Island, USA
55 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds36
24 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes27
Ichiraku Ramen & Fusion
Restaurant · 1.7 mi
44 Dowling Village Boulevard, North Smithfield
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-22:00; Fr 11:00-22:30; Sa 11:30-22:00
Christopher's Kitchen And Bar
Restaurant · Mediterranean · 0.8 mi
2 2 S. Main Street, Woonsocket
New York Lunch
Restaurant · Hot Dog · 0.8 mi
8
Tu-Th 11:00-18:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-20:00; Su-Mo 11:00-17:00
15 more on the map.
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.
From the History section of Woonsocket, Rhode Island on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
Motel and hotel · 1.0 mi
194 Fortin Drive, Woonsocket
Churches and places of worship27
Saint Michael’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church
Church · Ukrainian Orthodox · 1.1 mi
74 Harris Avenue, Woonsocket
Shopping6
Gas and EV charging6
Schools, colleges and libraries64
Ashton School
School · 3.7 mi
2602 Mendon Road (Transitional Building), Cumberland
Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School
School · 5.6 mi
500 Financial Park, Franklin
Healthcare6
Rehabilitation Hospital Of Rhode Island
Hospital · 1.5 mi
116 Eddie Dowling Highway, North Smithfield
Landmark Wound Care Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.4 mi
156, 166, 176, 186, 196, 206 Cass Avenue, Woonsocket
Map of Woonsocket
244 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 19°F | 4.4 in | 12.3 in |
| Feb | 40°F | 21°F | 3.7 in | 10.7 in |
| Mar | 47°F | 28°F | 4.9 in | 7.6 in |
| Apr | 60°F | 38°F | 4.7 in | 1.9 in |
| May | 70°F | 48°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 57°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 62°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 75°F | 54°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 64°F | 42°F | 5.1 in | 0.1 in |
| Nov | 53°F | 33°F | 4.2 in | 1.0 in |
| Dec | 43°F | 25°F | 5.3 in | 7.9 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Woonsocket (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Providence County has had 17 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-03-20: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2024-03-20: Severe Storm And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2024-01-07: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2022-05-12: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2021-08-21: Hurricane Henri (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-30: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
North Central State Airport (SFZ) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 6 miles away.
- Franklin Town 7 mi northeast, about 12 min by car
- Valley Falls 8 mi southeast, about 13 min by car
- North Attleborough Town 9 mi east, about 14 min by car
- Central Falls 9 mi southeast, about 15 min by car
- Milford 10 mi north, about 17 min by car
- Pawtucket 11 mi southeast, about 18 min by car
- Attleboro 12 mi southeast, about 19 min by car
- Providence 13 mi south, about 21 min by car
- Cranston 16 mi south, about 26 min by car
- East Providence 16 mi southeast, about 25 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- WoonsocketRI LafayetteMillOfficeBuilding, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- WoonsocketRI LafayetteMillGuestHouse, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- WoonsocketRI OldJuniorHighSchool, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- WoonsocketRI OldSeniorHighSchool, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- WoonsocketRI AlphonseGaulinJrHouse, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Historic St. Ann's Church Complex, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Woonsocket Harris Public Library in Rhode Island, Swampyank, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Woonsocket Public Library Harris Library in Rhode Island, Swampyank, CC BY-SA 4.0
- St. James Episcopal Church, Woonsocket, RI, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Woonsocket Harris Public Library, Rhode Island, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Woonsocket RI District Courthouse and memorial, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Woonsocket District Courthouse 2015, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Hiker (Newman) Woonsocket, Rhode Island Spanish American War Memorial, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0
- P&W bridge over Blackstone River in Woonsocket, February 2016, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- WoonsocketRI PhilmontWorstedCompanyMill, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- P&W bridge abutments in Woonsocket, February 2016, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- P&W bridge over Clinton Street in Woonsocket, June 2021, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- WoonsocketRI WoonsocketCompanyMill02, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- WoonsocketRI WoonsocketCompanyMill01, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- WoonsocketRI WoonsocketCompanyMill03, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Woonsocket Depot from Main Street, February 2016, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Woonsocket Depot from the southeast, February 2016, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Woonsocket Depot stained glass, February 2016, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Woonsocket Depot front panorama, February 2016, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- WoonsocketRI NorthEndHD 03, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- WoonsocketRI 1761Milestone, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- WoonsocketRI AllenStreet 02, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Museum of Work and Culture Woonsocket, Swampyank at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Woonsocket Civil War Monument, Swampyank at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Woonsocket City Hall 2015, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Stadium Theater Building Woonsocket Rhode Island, Swampyank at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- WoonsocketRI CatoHill ClarksonLane, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- WoonsocketRI HenryDarlingHouse, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- John Arnold House Woonsocket, Rhode Island RI, Swampyank, CC BY-SA 3.0
- French Worsted Mills, Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), Public domain
- NorthSmithfieldRI SmithfieldRoadHD 1, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Todd Farm House in North Smithfield Rhode Island RI, Swampyank, CC BY-SA 3.0
- CumberlandRI BurlingameNoonHouse, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Manville Housing, Marcbela, CC0
- Harris curved warehouse, Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), Public domain
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