Foster, Rhode Island
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Foster is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 4,274. U.S. Senator Nelson Aldrich was born in Foster in 1841.
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[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 134.3 km² (51.9 mi²). 132.5 km² (51.1 mi²) of it is land and 1.9 km² (0.7 mi²) of it (1.41%) is water. Foster contains Rhode Island's highest point, Jerimoth Hill, with an elevation of 248 m (812 ft).
[edit] Famous residents
- Theodore Foster — Senator, the town is named after him.
- Solomon Drowne — Physician, author, close friend of Foster. He lived on a farm called Mount Hygeia.
- Nelson Aldrich — U.S. Senator, father of Abby Rockefeller.
[edit] Demographics
Foster's Capt. Isaac Paine Elementary School, has the top spot for reading proficiency according to the New England Common Assessment Program, or NECAP, exams. 82 percent of its students attained proficiency, the state leader in that testing category.
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 4,274 people, 1,535 households, and 1,198 families residing in the town. The population density was 32.3/km² (83.6/mi²). There were 1,578 housing units at an average density of 11.9/km² (30.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.26% White, 0.21% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.
There were 1,535 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.5% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.9% were non-families. 17.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $59,673, and the median income for a family was $63,657. Males had a median income of $39,808 versus $30,632 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,148. About 1.5% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Points of interest
Foster is home to the Foster Town House. Built in 1795 and in use to this day, the Foster Town House is the oldest government meeting house of its type in the USA. Foster also contains one Rhode Island's only two covered bridges, known as the Swamp Meadow Covered Bridge (the other is located on Ponaganset High School's Cross Country Course in North Scituate). Built in 1994, it is a reproduction of an early 19th century specimen. Jerimoth Hill, the highest point of elevation in Rhode Island, is located in Foster.
Foster is home to the most scenic part of the North South Trail. Along the trail you can see the remnants of the Thomas O' Wagon Wheel Shop which was later converted to a Shingle Mill in 1919.
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