Bristol County, Rhode Island
Bristol County is a county located in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. As of the 2020 census, the population was 50,793, making it the least populous county in Rhode Island. In terms of land area, it is the third-smallest county in the United States, at only. The county was created in 1747 when it was separated from Bristol County, Massachusetts. Bristol County is included in the Providence metropolitan area, which in turn constitutes a portion of the Greater Boston area.
History
The county was formed by the transfer of part of Bristol County, Massachusetts, to the Colony of Rhode Island in 1746, having been the subject of a long-running border dispute.The original county was part of the Plymouth Colony and named after its "shire town", what is now Bristol, Rhode Island. The new Rhode Island county was formed in 1746 with the full modern territory of Bristol, Barrington, and Warren.
See Bristol County, Massachusetts, for later land transfers between Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. It is the smallest county in Rhode Island. In land area only, it is the third-smallest county in the United States, following Kalawao County, Hawaii and New York County, New York. The highest point in the county is Mount Hope, in Bristol, which stands above sea level.Adjacent counties
- Bristol County, Massachusetts: east
- Providence County: north
- Kent County: west
- Newport County: south
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 50,793. Of the residents, 18.1% were under the age of 18 and 21.1% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 44.6 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.2 males. 98.9% of residents lived in urban areas and 1.1% lived in rural areas.The racial makeup of the county was 89.3% White, 1.5% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5% Asian, 1.0% from some other race, and 5.5% from two or more races. [Hispanic and Race (United States Census)|Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino] residents of any race comprised 3.8% of the population.
There were 19,926 households in the county, of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 21,504 housing units, of which 7.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.4% were owner-occupied and 30.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.8%.
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | % 2000 | % 2010 | ||
| White alone | 48,651 | 47,052 | 44,671 | 96.05% | 94.33% | 87.94% |
| Black or African American alone | 331 | 363 | 732 | 0.65% | 0.72% | 1.44% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone | 72 | 71 | 85 | 0.14% | 0.14% | 0.16% |
| Asian alone | 500 | 704 | 1,279 | 0.98% | 1.41% | 2.51% |
| Pacific Islander alone | 14 | 3 | 1 | 0.02% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone | 36 | 51 | 169 | 0.07% | 0.10% | 0.33% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial | 472 | 642 | 1,913 | 0.93% | 1.28% | 3.76% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 572 | 989 | 1,943 | 1.12% | 1.98% | 3.82% |
| Total | 50,648 | 49,875 | 50,793 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 49,875 people, 19,150 households, and 12,750 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 20,850 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 95.7% white, 1.4% Asian, 0.8% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.0% of the population. The largest ancestry groups were:- 24.8% Portuguese
- 22.2% Irish
- 21.0% Italian
- 14.5% English
- 9.8% French
- 8.1% German
- 4.4% French Canadian
- 4.3% Polish
- 2.9% Scottish
- 2.7% American
- 2.4% Swedish
- 2.0% Scotch-Irish
- 1.5% Greek
- 1.4% Russian
The median income for a household in the county was $68,333 and the median income for a family was $87,781. Males had a median income of $59,725 versus $44,060 for females. The per capita income for the county was $35,588. About 3.5% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census, there were 50,648 people, 19,033 households, and 13,361 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 19,881 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 96.81% White, 0.69% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 1% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Of the population 1.13% were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.7% were of Portuguese, 18.6% Italian, 12.4% Irish, 10.5% English and 5.9% French ancestry. 85.4% spoke English, 10.4% Portuguese and 1.3% Spanish as their first language. The United States Census Bureau reported Bristol County as being one of two counties in the United States with a plurality of people of Portuguese ancestry.There were 19,033 households, out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. Of all households 25.10% were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.90% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $50,737, and the median income for a family was $63,114. Males had a median income of $41,902 versus $28,985 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,503. About 4.40% of families and 6.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.20% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Since 1928, Bristol County has leaned Democratic, only voting for Republicans in national landslide elections after that. The county has voted Democratic in every presidential election since 1984, often by margins of over 20 points.| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third parties |
| 2022 | 34.7% 7,134 | 61.8% 12,724 | 3.5% 717 |
| 2018 | 32.0% 6,772 | 58.1% 12,316 | 9.9% 2,091 |
| 2014 | 26.21% 4,806 | 39.88% 7,312 | 33.91% 6,218 |
| 2010 | 34.37% 6,796 | 19.98% 3,950 | 45.64% 9,025 |