Bristol County Rhode Island
Bristol,
which claims to be the most patriotic town in America, may very
well be so. The first 4th of July celebration was held there, in
1785! This fervor continues today in the three-week Celebration
which culminates in the gala Parade on Independence Day which is
watched by over 200,000 enthusiastic people.
Throughout
Bristol's existance, sailing and shipbuilding have played an
important role in life since the 17th century. This tradition
continues today, with some of the best commercial and recreational
boat manufacturers in the world located in Bristol. Bristol also
is home to Herreshoff Marine Museum.
Bristol
is located in Bristol County, of which it is the county seat, 12
miles southeast of Providence
between Island Park and Warren along Highway 114 near Colt State
Park and Roger Williams College. Bristol is port and longtime
center for boatbuilding.
Rhode Island has 5 counties.
The
early history of Bristol is associated with the King Philip War. It was
within its borders that King Philip maintained his headquarters and
plotted his campaign against the white settlers. Perhaps the most noted
spot in the town is the place where King Philip was killed in the swamp
at the foot of Mount Hope.
Bristol
was incorporated as part of Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts in 1680. Under
royal decree, in 1746 it was transferred to Rhode Island, together with the
Towns of Barrington, Tiverton, Little Compton and Cumberland.
Sailing
and shipbuilding have played an important role in the life of Bristol since
the 17th Century. The historic downtown area contains many fine examples of
Colonial and Federal architecture from Bristol's seafaring era. The annual
4th of July parade is the oldest, largest, and most colorful in the nation.
The
main campus of Roger Williams College is located on Mount Hope Bay in
Bristol, and is one of the few seaside campuses in the northeast.
The
town has a variety of shops and restaurants as well as the Bristol Art
Museum, the Haffenreffer Indian Museum, and an interesting waterfront.
Bounded
by 15 miles of coastline on Narragansett Bay, the town provides facilities
for boating, swimming, and fishing. Residents of Bristol enjoy swimming at
Beach Terrace, Bristol Highlands, Bristol Narrows, and at the Town Beach.
Colt State Park provides a pleasant recess on the west side of the town
overlooking Narragansett Bay.
Bristol's
geography, as a peninsula between Narragansett Bay and Mt. Hope Bay, makes
its climate more moderate than most New England communities, warmer in the
winter and cooler in the summer.
The
town is only a 30 minute drive from both Providence and Newport and 1 1/2
hours from Boston via Route 24.
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Bristol County
