Woonsocket, Rhode Island

{{short description|City in Rhode Island, United States}} {{Redirect|Woonsocket|the city in South Dakota|Woonsocket, South Dakota}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = | settlement_type = City | nickname = | motto = "A City on the Move" | image_skyline = Woonsocket City Hall 2015.jpg | imagesize = | image_seal = Seal of Woonsocket, Rhode Island.svg | image_caption = Woonsocket's city hall | established_title2 = Incorporated (city) | established_date2 = 1888 | established_title = Incorporated (town) | established_date = 1867 | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Providence | government_type = Mayor-council | image_map = Providence County Rhode Island incorporated and unincorporated areas Woonsocket highlighted.svg | map_caption = Location in Providence County and the state of Rhode Island | mapsize = 300px | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}} | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Rhode Island}} | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Christopher Beauchamp<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.woonsocketri.gov/mayor-christopher-beauchamp|title=Mayor Christopher Beauchamp &#124; City of Woonsocket RI|website=Woonsocketri.gov|access-date=June 26, 2025}}</ref> | area_magnitude = | area_total_km2 = 20.55 | area_land_km2 = 20.06 | area_water_km2 = 0.48 | area_total_sq_mi = 7.93 | population_as_of = 2020 | population_total = 43240 | population_density_km2 = 2155.42 | population_density_sq_mi = 5582.24 | timezone = Eastern | utc_offset = −5 | timezone_DST = Eastern | utc_offset_DST = −4 | area_land_sq_mi = 7.75 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.19 | elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> | elevation_ft = 194 | coordinates = {{coord|42|00|30|N|71|30|58|W|region:US-RI_type:city|display=inline,title}} | region = | postal_code_type = ZIP Code | postal_code = 02895 | website = https://www.woonsocketri.gov/ | area_code = 401 | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 44-80780<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> | blank1_name = GNIS feature ID | blank1_info = 1219339<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1219339}}</ref> | footnotes = | pop_est_as_of = | pop_est_footnotes = | population_est = | unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='44'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 12, 2022}}</ref> | name = Woonsocket | population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/> }}

'''Woonsocket''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=En-Woonsocket.oga|w|ʊ|n|ˈ|s|ɒ|k|ᵻ|t|,_|w|ə|n|-}} {{respell|wuun|SOK|it|,_|wən|-}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Farzan |first=Antonia Noori |title=Rhode Island pronunciation guide: 35 names that visitors and even some locals get wrong |url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/lifestyle/2024/07/02/how-do-you-pronounce-quonochontaug-heres-how-to-say-ris-trickiest-names-sachuest-pawtucket-pascoag/73789429007/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=The Providence Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>), 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.

The city is the corporate headquarters of CVS Health, a pharmacy services provider. It is home to Landmark Medical Center, the Museum of Work and Culture, and the American-French Genealogical Society.<ref>{{cite news | title = About Woonsocket | publisher = City of Woonsocket | url = http://www.ci.woonsocket.ri.us/backgnd.htm | access-date = January 27, 2009 | archive-date = February 2, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090202191306/http://www.ci.woonsocket.ri.us/backgnd.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref>

==History== {{See also|Historic mill villages of Woonsocket}} [[File:Woonsocket_District_Courthouse_2015.jpg|thumb|Woonsocket District Courthouse, built in 1894]]

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.<ref name="woonsocket.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.woonsocket.org/industrial.html|title=Woonsocket, Rhode Island - My Home Town - History|website=Woonsocket.org|access-date=June 19, 2006|archive-date=August 15, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060815061820/http://www.woonsocket.org/industrial.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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''.<ref>Walter Nebiker, ''The History of North Smithfield'' (New England History Press: Somersworth, NH: 1976), pp. 12–13.</ref>

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".<ref name= "names">{{cite web|title=Nipmuc place names of New England|publisher= native tach.org| url=https://www.nativetech.org/Nipmuc/placenames/mainmass.html|access-date=April 12, 2008}}</ref> Another theory proposes that the city was named after Woonsocket Hill in neighboring North Smithfield.<ref>{{cite web|title="Historic and Architectural Resources of North Smithfield, Rhode Island: A Preliminary Report"|publisher=North Smithfield - Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage |page=63|url=http://www.preservation.ri.gov/pdfs_zips_downloads/survey_pdfs/north_smithfield.pdf}}</ref>

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.

The town of Woonsocket was not established until 1867, when three villages in the town of Cumberland, namely Woonsocket Falls, Social and Jenckesville, officially became the town of Woonsocket. In 1871, three additional industrial villages<ref name=MW>{{cite news | author =Erik Eclison | title =Growth of an Industrial City | publisher =Woonsocket: My Hometown on the Web | url =http://www.woonsocket.org/industrial.html | access-date =January 27, 2009 | archive-date =February 10, 2009 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090210022742/http://woonsocket.org/industrial.html | url-status =dead }}</ref> from Smithfield—Hamlet, Bernon, and Globe—were added to the town, establishing its present boundaries. Woonsocket was incorporated as city in 1888.

The growth of industries and associated jobs attracted numerous immigrants, predominantly Québecois and French-Canadians from other provinces. When the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste d'Holyoke organized a national cultural and benefit society in 1899, the Union Saint-Jean-Baptiste d'Amérique, Woonsocket, with its proximity to several industrial areas having large French-Canadian populations, was chosen for the organization's headquarters.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Worcester Magazine|title=L'Union St. Jean Baptiste d'Amerique|pages=184–185|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XHcWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA184|publisher=Worcester Chamber of Commerce; Belisle Printing & Publishing |year=1915 |volume=XVIII}}</ref>

By 1913, a survey by the American Association of Foreign Language Newspapers found the city had to have the sixth-largest population of French or French-Canadian foreign nationals in the country.<ref name="AmLeader">{{cite magazine|magazine=The American Leader|publisher=American Association of Foreign Language Newspapers, Inc.|location=New York|volume=IV|issue=11|date=December 11, 1913|title=French Towns in the United States; A Study of the Relative Strength of the French-Speaking Population in Our Large Cities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j8HMDSORztsC&pg=PA672|pages=672–674}}</ref> In the decades that followed this population grew, and by time the local textile industry were shuttered during the Great Depression, ethnic French Canadians comprised 75 percent of the population. French-language newspapers were published; radio programs, movies, and most public conversations were conducted in French.<ref>Pierre Anctil, "Franco-American in New England" in Dean R. Louder and Eric Waddell, ed., and Franklin Philip, tran. ''French America: Mobility, Identity and Minority Experience Across the Continent'' (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1993), p. 40</ref> As recently as 1980, 70% of Woonsocket's population was of French-Canadian descent. The New England French language their ancestors spoke gradually vanished from public discourse.<ref name="Anctil p. 41">Anctil, "Franco-Americans in New England", p. 41</ref>

Throughout the 20th century the city's fortunes ebbed and flowed with national trends. During the Great Depression the textile economy of Woonsocket came to an effective standstill; however, it was revived during World War II. The city became a major center of fabric manufacturing for the war effort, including production of military uniforms.

In the postwar years, the Woonsocket economy diversified as manufacturing declined, and other commercial sectors, such as retail, technology and financial services took hold.<ref name=MW /> In the early 1980s Woonsocket was struggling with high unemployment rates.<ref name="Anctil p. 41"/>

Beginning in 1979, Woonsocket sponsored Autumnfest, an annual cultural festival that takes place on Columbus Day weekend, at World War II Veteran's Memorial State Park. It has become one of the city's most popular events, attracting thousands of attendees.<ref>{{cite news | author = Philip Marcelo| title = Woonsocket's Autumnfest draws thousands| newspaper = The Providence Journal | date = October 9, 2007| url =http://www.projo.com/news/content/NO_WOONSOCKET_AUTUMFEST_10-09-07_A17D20J.2c2a241.html| access-date=January 28, 2009}}</ref>

<gallery widths=250 heights=185> File:Woonsocket from the East.jpg|Woonsocket from the East, 1886 engraving File:North Smithfield2.jpg|Woonsocket Medical Corporation, founded in 1839 by Dr. Seth Arnold File:Post Office Square, Central Part of Woonsocket, Rhode Island.jpg|Woonsocket in 1855 File:Downtown Woonsocket Rhode Island engraving.jpg|Woonsocket, 1886 engraving </gallery>

==Geography== According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|8.0|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|7.7|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.3|sqmi|km2}} (3.14%) is water. Woonsocket is drained by the Blackstone River. Adjacent communities include Blackstone and Bellingham, Massachusetts, along with Cumberland and North Smithfield, Rhode Island.

===Climate=== Woonsocket has a strong humid continental climate (Köppen ''Dfa'') with four distinct seasons. Being influenced by both the sea and the interior during winter, diurnal temperature variation is relatively high, with days most often being above freezing before severe frosts hit at night.

{{Weather box|width=auto |location = Woonsocket, Rhode Island (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1967–present) |single line = Y | Jan record high F = 71 | Feb record high F = 73 | Mar record high F = 82 | Apr record high F = 96 | May record high F = 97 | Jun record high F = 97 | Jul record high F = 101 | Aug record high F = 102 | Sep record high F = 97 | Oct record high F = 86 | Nov record high F = 80 | Dec record high F = 73 | year record high F = 102 | Jan high F = 37.8 | Feb high F = 39.9 | Mar high F = 47.3 | Apr high F = 59.8 | May high F = 69.9 | Jun high F = 78.5 | Jul high F = 84.0 | Aug high F = 82.5 | Sep high F = 75.4 | Oct high F = 63.9 | Nov high F = 53.4 | Dec high F = 43.0 | year high F = 61.3 | Jan mean F = 28.3 | Feb mean F = 30.5 | Mar mean F = 37.8 | Apr mean F = 48.9 | May mean F = 58.9 | Jun mean F = 67.9 | Jul mean F = 73.6 | Aug mean F = 72.1 | Sep mean F = 64.9 | Oct mean F = 52.9 | Nov mean F = 43.3 | Dec mean F = 33.8 | year mean F = 51.1 | Jan low F = 18.8 | Feb low F = 21.1 | Mar low F = 28.2 | Apr low F = 38.0 | May low F = 47.9 | Jun low F = 57.3 | Jul low F = 63.3 | Aug low F = 61.7 | Sep low F = 54.4 | Oct low F = 42.0 | Nov low F = 33.2 | Dec low F = 24.6 | year low F = 40.9 | Jan record low F = −8 | Feb record low F = −11 | Mar record low F = −2 | Apr record low F = 18 | May record low F = 26 | Jun record low F = 38 | Jul record low F = 44 | Aug record low F = 43 | Sep record low F = 29 | Oct record low F = 18 | Nov record low F = 9 | Dec record low F = 0 | year record low F = −11 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation inch = 4.37 | Feb precipitation inch = 3.67 | Mar precipitation inch = 4.89 | Apr precipitation inch = 4.71 | May precipitation inch = 3.64 | Jun precipitation inch = 4.26 | Jul precipitation inch = 3.62 | Aug precipitation inch = 4.01 | Sep precipitation inch = 4.17 | Oct precipitation inch = 5.08 | Nov precipitation inch = 4.22 | Dec precipitation inch = 5.27 | year precipitation inch = 51.91 | Jan snow inch = 12.3 | Feb snow inch = 10.7 | Mar snow inch = 7.6 | Apr snow inch = 1.9 | May snow inch = 0.0 | Jun snow inch = 0.0 | Jul snow inch = 0.0 | Aug snow inch = 0.0 | Sep snow inch = 0.0 | Oct snow inch = 0.1 | Nov snow inch = 1.0 | Dec snow inch = 7.9 | year snow inch = 41.5 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in | Jan precipitation days = 11.5 | Feb precipitation days = 10.1 | Mar precipitation days = 10.9 | Apr precipitation days = 11.9 | May precipitation days = 12.8 | Jun precipitation days = 11.4 | Jul precipitation days = 10.7 | Aug precipitation days = 10.3 | Sep precipitation days = 10.1 | Oct precipitation days = 11.4 | Nov precipitation days = 10.2 | Dec precipitation days = 11.2 | year precipitation days = 132.5 | unit snow days = 0.1 in | Jan snow days = 5.2 | Feb snow days = 4.3 | Mar snow days = 2.7 | Apr snow days = 0.4 | May snow days = 0.0 | Jun snow days = 0.0 | Jul snow days = 0.0 | Aug snow days = 0.0 | Sep snow days = 0.0 | Oct snow days = 0.0 | Nov snow days = 0.5 | Dec snow days = 3.0 | year snow days = 16.1 | source 1 = NOAA<ref name=nws> {{cite web | url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=box | title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data | publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | access-date = May 30, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI> {{cite web | url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00379423&format=pdf | publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | title = Station: Woonsocket, RI | work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020) | access-date = May 30, 2021}}</ref> }}

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1870= 11527 |1880= 16050 |1890= 20830 |1900= 28204 |1910= 38126 |1920= 43496 |1930= 49376 |1940= 49303 |1950= 50211 |1960= 47080 |1970= 46820 |1980= 45914 |1990= 43877 |2000= 43224 |2010= 41186 |2020= 43240 |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N%2CNAME&for=place%3A%2A&in=state%3A44|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 12, 2022}}</ref> | align = right | align-fn = center }} ===2020 census=== As of the 2020 census, Woonsocket had a population of 43,240.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME%2CDP1_0021P%2CDP1_0024P%2CDP1_0025C%2CDP1_0049C%2CDP1_0045C%2CDP1_0069C%2CDP1_0073C%2CDP1_0125P%2CDP1_0126P%2CDP1_0129P%2CDP1_0133P%2CDP1_0137P%2CDP1_0138P%2CDP1_0139P%2CDP1_0141P%2CDP1_0142P%2CDP1_0143P%2CDP1_0145P%2CDP1_0146P%2CDP1_0147C%2CDP1_0148C%2CDP1_0149C%2CDP1_0156C%2CDP1_0157C%2CDP1_0158C%2CDP1_0159P%2CDP1_0160P&for=place%3A80780&in=state%3A44|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=February 3, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL"/> The population density was {{convert|5,582.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 19,754 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2,550.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.<ref name=:0>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?q=Woonsocket%20city,%20Rhode%20Island%20dp1 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> The median age was 37.2 years; 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.7 males.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME%2CP2_002N%2CP2_003N&for=place%3A80780&in=state%3A44|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=February 3, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" |+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N%2CP1_003N%2CP1_004N%2CP1_005N%2CP1_006N%2CP1_007N%2CP1_008N%2CP1_009N%2CP2_001N%2CP2_002N%2CH1_001N%2CH1_002N&for=place%3A80780&in=state%3A44|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=February 3, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> ! Race !! Number !! Percent |- | White || 27,850 || 64.4% |- | Black or African American || 3,399 || 7.9% |- | American Indian and Alaska Native || 267 || 0.6% |- | Asian || 2,502 || 5.8% |- | Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 28 || 0.1% |- | Some other race || 4,167 || 9.6% |- | Two or more races || 5,027 || 11.6% |- | ''Hispanic or Latino (of any race)'' || 9,086 || 21.0% |}

There were 18,287 households in Woonsocket, of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 30.2% were married-couple households, 24.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 33.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 3.2.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1101?q=Woonsocket%20city,%20Rhode%20Island%20s1101%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 12.4% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1501?q=Woonsocket%20city,%20Rhode%20Island%20s1501%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $44,310 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,816) and the median family income was $55,818 (+/- $4,785). Males had a median income of $38,889 (+/- $2,065) versus $27,544 (+/- $2,343) for females.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1903: MEDIAN INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1903?q=Woonsocket%20city,%20Rhode%20Island%20s1903%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> The median income for those above 16 years old was $33,424 (+/- $2,183).<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S2001: EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S2001?q=Woonsocket%20city,%20Rhode%20Island%20s2001%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Approximately, 15.0% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.8% of those under the age of 18 and 15.1% of those ages 65 or over.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1701?q=Woonsocket%20city,%20Rhode%20Island%20s1701%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1702: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1702?q=Woonsocket%20city,%20Rhode%20Island%20s1702&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

===2010 census=== At the 2010 census Woonsocket had a population of 41,186. The population was 71.3% non-Hispanic white, 14.2% Hispanic or Latino, 6.4% African American, 5.4% Asian, 0.4% Native American and 4.3% reporting two or more races.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/44/4480780.html|title=Census Quick facts for Woonsocket|website=Quickfacts.census.gov}}</ref>

===2000 census=== At the 2000 census,<ref name="GR2" /> there were 43,224 people, 17,750 households, and 10,774 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|5608.8|PD/sqmi}}. There were 18,757 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2433.9|/sqmi}}. The racial makeup of the city was 83.14% White, 4.44% African American, 0.32% Native American, 4.06% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.86% from other races, and 3.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.32% of the population.

Woonsocket is a part of the Providence metropolitan area, which has an estimated population of 1,622,520.

There were 17,750 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. Of all households, 32.7% were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,819, and the median income for a family was $38,353. Males had a median income of $31,465 versus $24,638 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,223. About 16.7% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.3% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over. In March 2013, ''The Washington Post'' reported that one-third of Woonsocket's population used food stamps, putting local merchants on a "boom or bust" cycle each month when EBT payments were deposited.<ref>{{Cite news | title = Food stamps put Rhode Island town on monthly boom-and-bust cycle | newspaper = The Washington Post | access-date = 2013-04-14 | date = 2013-03-16 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/food-stamps-put-rhode-island-town-on-monthly-boom-and-bust-cycle/2013/03/16/08ace07c-8ce1-11e2-b63f-f53fb9f2fcb4_story.html }}</ref>

At the 2000 census, 46.1% of Woonsocket's population were identified as being of French or French-Canadian ethnic heritage. The city has referred to itself as {{Langx|fr|La ville la plus française aux États-Unis|lit=the most French city in the United States|label=none}}.<ref>{{cite news|author=Dani Safford |title=Woonsocket's Autumnfest draws thousands |work=The Woonsocket Call |date=September 13, 2008 |url=http://www.woonsocketcall.com/content/view/51323/112/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080920123545/http://www.woonsocketcall.com/content/view/51323/112/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 20, 2008 |access-date=January 28, 2009 }}</ref> ==Arts and culture== ===Historic sites=== Properties and districts in Woonsocket listed on National Register of Historic Places: {{div col}} * 1761 Milestone * Allen Street Historic District * Alphonse Gaulin Jr. House (1885) * Bernon Worsted Mill (1919) * Cato Hill Historic District * Frank Wilbur House (1923) * Glenark Mills (1865) * Grove Street Elementary School (1876) * Hanora Mills (1827) * Harris Warehouse (1855) * Henry Darling House (1865) * Honan's Block and 112-114 Main Street (1879) * Hope Street School (1899) * Island Place Historic District * Jenckes Mansion (1828) * John Arnold House (1712) * L'Eglise du Precieux Sang (1873) * Linton Block (1888) * Logee House (1729) * Main Street Historic District * North End Historic District * Philmont Worsted Company Mill (1919) * Pothier House (1881) * Smith-Ballou House (1906) * Smithfield Friends Meeting House, Parsonage and Cemetery (1719/1881) * South Main Street Historic District * St. Andrews Episcopal Chapel (1894) * St. Ann's Church Complex (1913) * St. Charles Borromeo Church Complex (1867) * Stadium Building (1925) * Union Village Historic District * Woonsocket City Hall (1856) * Woonsocket Civil War Monument (1868) * Woonsocket Company Mill Complex * Woonsocket Depot Square (1847) * Woonsocket District Courthouse (1894) * Woonsocket Rubber Company Mill (1857) {{div col end}}

==Notable people== {{Div col}} <!-- Note: · Only people who already have a Wikipedia article may appear here. This establishes notability. · The article must mention how they are associated with Woonsocket, whether born, raised, or residing. · The fact of their association should have a reliable source cited. · Alphabetical by last name please. · All others will be deleted. --> * Greg Abate, jazz musician * Norm Abram, master carpenter, TV host/personality * Nicholas Alahverdian, child welfare reform advocate, scammer, and convicted sex offender * Jonathan Earle Arnold, politician * Lisa Baldelli-Hunt, politician * Rocco Baldelli, former baseball player and former manager of the Minnesota Twins * Latimer Whipple Ballou, congressman * Bryan Berard, hockey player * Brian Boucher, hockey player *Josephine Byrd, civil rights activist * Percy Daniels, populist politician * Marcel Desaulniers, chef * Eddie Dowling, actor, screenwriter and songwriter * Allen Doyle, golfer * Denise Duhamel, poet * Susan Eisenberg, voice artist * Eileen Farrell, opera soprano * Marie Rose Ferron, stigmatist * Ernest Fortin, theology professor * Stuart Gitlow, physician * Edward Harris, manufacturer, philanthropist, and abolitionist * Gabby Hartnett, baseball player and manager * Michelle Holzapfel, woodworking artist * Ambrose Kennedy, congressman * Clem Labine, baseball player * Nap Lajoie (1874-1959), baseball player * Neil Lanctot, historian and author * Francis Leo Lawrence (1937–2013), college president<ref>{{Cite news|date=2013-04-18|title=Francis Lawrence, Former Rutgers President, Dies at 75|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/18/education/francis-lawrence-who-led-rutgers-dies-at-75.html|access-date=2024-08-21|newspaper=The New York Times|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> * William C. Lovering, congressman * James McAndrews, congressman * J. Howard McGrath, politician * Dave McKenna, jazz pianist * Susan Menard, politician * Isabelle Ahearn O'Neill, Rhode Island's first woman legislator * Edwin O'Connor, radio personality and novelist * Aram J. Pothier, governor * Duke Robillard, blues guitarist * Christopher Robinson, congressman * Nick Rochefort, comedian * Mathieu Schneider, NHL hockey player *Andre Soukhamthath, mixed martial artist * Bill Summers, umpire {{div col end}}

==Filming location== Woonsocket has served as a filming location for several movies, including ''Lost in Woonsocket'' (2007), ''Hachi: A Dog's Tale'' (2009), and ''The Purge: Election Year'' (2016).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/search/|title=Advanced search|website=IMDb.com|access-date=June 26, 2025}} {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=July 2022}}</ref>

==See also== {{Portal|Rhode Island}} * Woonsocket High School *Woonsocket station {{clear}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} {{wikivoyage|Woonsocket}} {{Collier's poster|Woonsocket}} * {{official website|https://www.woonsocketri.gov/}}

{{Providence County, Rhode Island}} {{Blackstone Valley}} {{Rhode Island}} {{Greater Boston}}

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Category:Woonsocket, Rhode Island Category:Cities in Providence County, Rhode Island Category:Cities in Rhode Island Category:French-American culture in Rhode Island Category:History of the textile industry Category:Providence metropolitan area