Aquidneck Island Today: Summary Data on Existing Conditions Editors Meg Kerr Virginia Lee Sue Kennedy Chapter Authors Population: Rupert Friday, Kevin Fitzgerald, Kelly Woodward Land Use, Natural Resources, and Recreation: Alan Desbonnet, Kevin Fitzgerald Economy: Rupert Friday, Kevin Fitzgerald, Kelly Woodward Public Facilities and Services: Kevin Fitzgerald, Kelly Woodward, Rupert Friday, Jennifer McCann Water Facilities and Services: Jessica Hock, Rupert Friday, Meg Kerr Historic and Cultural Resources: Bonnie Nickerson, Lori Watson, Rupert Friday Housing: Rupert Friday, Kevin Fitzgerald, Bonnie Nickerson, Kelly Woodward Transportation: Kelly Woodward, Sue Kennedy GIS Maps Alan Desbonnet Layout Michelle Moulton Rhode Island Sea Grant/URI Coastal Resources Center 2001 Acknowledgements This work would not have been possible without the financial support of the city of Newport, the town of Middletown, the town of Portsmouth, the Aquidneck Island Land Trust, and the cooperation of municipal departments and boards. Special thanks go to Newport City Manager Michael D. Malinoff, Middletown Town Administrator Michael E. Embury, and Portsmouth Town Administrator Robert G. Driscoll for generously supplying staff time and resources for this project. Thanks go also to Newport Director of Planning Paige Bronk, Middletown Town Planner Michelle Maher and Portsmouth Town Planner Robert W. Gilstein for providing technical review for the project. The editors appreciate the many people who provided technical assistance with development of this report. We acknowledge retired Newport Director of Planning Bruce Bartlett, Chief of the Newport Water Department Roy Anderson, Church Community Housing Executive Director Steve Ostiguy, and Newport Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Keith Stokes. Thanks also to the municipal school, public works, recreation, and fiscal department staff who assisted the research team. Special thanks to the Newport and Middletown Planning Boards and the Portsmouth Economic Development Committee for careful and insightful review of chapter drafts. Special thanks also goes to the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission, Naval Station Newport, the Preservation Society of Newport County, the Middletown Historic Society, the Portsmouth Historic Society, the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission, Salve Regina University, the Newport County Chamber of Commerce, the Newport County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the many other people who contributed time and energy to this initiative. Although these groups and individuals were critical to the completion of this document, all errors or omissions are the sole responsibility of the editors. Editors’ Note All references to the town of Portsmouth in the Land Use, Natural Resources, and Recreation chapter include Prudence Island. ii Table of Contents Acknowledgements...................................................................................................................1 Preface......................................................................................................................................ix Population.................................................................................................................................1 Land Use, Natural Resources, and Recreation....................................................................25 Economy..................................................................................................................................51 Public Facilities and Services................................................................................................79 Water Facilities and Services................................................................................................95 Historic and Cultural Resources........................................................................................119 Housing..................................................................................................................................129 Transportation......................................................................................................................149 Map Index.............................................................................................................................154 iii Figures Figure 1. Aquidneck Island population, 1970-2000.......................................................8 Figure 2. Aquidneck Island municipal populations, 1970-2000...................................8 Figure 3. Newport population, 1970-2000......................................................................9 Figure 4. Middletown population, 1970 – 2000..............................................................9 Figure 5. Portsmouth population, 1970 – 2000............................................................10 Figure 6. Aquidneck Island population distribution, 1970-2000. ..............................10 Figure 7. Student turnover in public schools, 1997-1998 school year........................11 Figure 8. Number of residents who relocated from outside Newport County during the previous five years.......................................................................11 Figure 9. In-migration of new residents, 1965-1970....................................................12 Figure 10. In-migration of new residents, 1975-1980....................................................12 Figure 11. Total personnel for the Newport Naval Complex, 1989-1999....................13 Figure 12. Percent occupancy of lodging establishments in Newport County, 1998..13 Figure 13. Salve Regina University enrollment, 1996-2000..........................................14 Figure 14. Median age of Aquidneck Islanders by community, 1970-1990. ...............14 Figure 15. Percent of population age 65 and older, 1970-1990.....................................15 Figure 16. Newport population by age, 1970. ................................................................15 Figure 17. Newport population by age, 1980. ................................................................16 Figure 18. Newport population by age, 1990. ................................................................16 Figure 19. Middletown population by age, 1970............................................................17 Figure 20. Middletown population by age, 1980............................................................17 Figure 21. Middletown population by age, 1990............................................................18 Figure 22. Portsmouth population by age, 1970............................................................18 Figure 23. Portsmouth population by age, 1980............................................................19 Figure 24. Portsmouth population by age, 1990............................................................19 Figure 25. Education attainment - Aquidneck Island municipalities, 1990................20 Figure 26. Per capita income, 1970-1990........................................................................21 Figure 27. Median family income, 1970-1990................................................................21 Figure 28. Families below poverty level, 1980 and 1990...............................................22 Figure 29. Percent of students eligible for subsidized lunch, 1996-2000.....................22 Figure 30. Population diversity, Aquidneck Island and Rhode Island, 1990..............23 Figure 31. Persons per occupied housing unit, 1970-1990............................................23 Figure 32. Statewide planning population projections, 2000-2020..............................24 Figure 33. Newport population project projections, 1990, 2000, 2010........................24 Figure 34. Undeveloped land on Aquidneck Island. .....................................................34 Figure 35. Residential land use on Aquidneck Island and its member towns............35 Figure 36. Land preserved for conservation on Aquidneck Island. ............................36 Figure 37. Number of private sector jobs on Aquidneck Island, 1980-1998...............58 Figure 38. Percent change in number of private sector jobs 1980-1998, Aquidneck Island municipalities and statewide..........................................58 Figure 39. Total personnel for the Newport Naval Complex, 1989-1999....................59 Figure 40. Aquidneck Island employment, 1998. ..........................................................59 Figure 41. Aquidneck Island private sector employment by industry, 1975 and 1998. .........................................................................................................60 Figure 42. Services industry employment, Aquidneck Island, 1975-1998...................60 Figure 43. Retail trade employment, Aquidneck Island, 1975-1998............................61 Figure 44. Manufacturing employment, Aquidneck Island, 1975-1998......................61 Figure 45. Construction employment, Aquidneck Island, 1975-1998..........................62 iv Figure 46. Finance, insurance, and real estate employment, Aquidneck Island, 1975-1998. .......................................................................................................62 Figure 47. Transportation, communication, and public utilities employment, Aquidneck Island, 1975-1998........................................................................63 Figure 48. Wholesale trade average employment, Aquidneck Island, 1975-1998......63 Figure 49. Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries employment, Aquidneck