Weekapaug, Rhode Island

History

"Weekapaug" is a Narragansett word meaning "at the end of the pond". The area is not as well known as neighboring Watch Hill, although it has had summer cottages since 1877. It was known as "Noyes Beach" from 1701 to 1899, named after Reverend James Noyes who purchased 300 acre.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.20 mi (3.1 km), of which 1.16 mi (3.0 km) is land and 0.036 mi (0.09 km) (3.00%) is water. The Winnapaug and Quonochontaug salt ponds dominate the area. Each pond is open to the Atlantic Ocean via a breachway lined with rock jetties. Most of the rock is granite which is readily available in the Westerly area, the quarrying of which was once its primary industry.

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 467 people, 243 households, and 82 families in Weekapaug. The population density was 401.5 PD/sqmi. There were 657 housing units at an average density of 564.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 95.07% (444) white or European American (94.65% non-Hispanic white), 0.43% (2) black or African-American, 0.21% (1) Native American or Alaska Native, 1.28% (6) Asian, 0.0% (0) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.21% (1) from other races, and 2.78% (13) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 1.28% (6) of the population.

Of the 243 households, 15.2% had children under the age of 18; 55.6% were married couples living together; 21.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 33.3% of households consisted of individuals and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The percent of those with a bachelor's degree or higher was estimated to be 31.3% of the population.

12.4% of the population was under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 15.8% from 25 to 44, 32.3% from 45 to 64, and 35.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 59.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 97.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 96.6 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $59,583 (with a margin of error of +/- $11,252) and the median family income was $48,482 (+/- $7,123). Males had a median income of $31,583 (+/- $16,694) versus $34,167 (+/- $17,926) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $33,250 (+/- $12,323). Approximately, 7.3% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those ages 65 or over.

In popular culture

Al Harrington—a rapid-talking recurring character on Family Guy—is president and CEO of Al Harrington's Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm-Flailing Tube Man Emporium and Warehouse on Route 2 in Weekapaug. (The southern terminus of Route 2 is actually about 9 miles or 14.5 km northeast of Weekapaug.) In Season 18 episode 3 of the series, Babs and Peter visit Weekapaug, which is revealed as her hometown.

Phish's song "Weekapaug Groove" is named after the town.

References

• Aubin, George Francis. (1975). A Proto-Algonquian Dictionary. Ottawa : National Museums of Canada.
• Huden, John C. (1962). Indian Place Names of New England, Museum of the American Indian Heye Foundation.

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau.
3. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
4. "US Board on Geographic Names". [[United States Geological Survey]].
5. "Summary Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010". [[United States Census Bureau]].
6. "US Gazetteer files: 2019". [[United States Census Bureau]].
7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
8. "US Census Bureau, Table DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS".
9. "Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
10. "US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE".
11. "US Census Bureau, Table P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE".
12. "US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES".
13. "US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT".
14. "US Census Bureau, Table S1903: MEDIAN INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)".
15. "US Census Bureau, Table S2001: EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)".
16. "US Census Bureau, Table S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS".
17. "US Census Bureau, Table S1702: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF FAMILIES".
18. "Weekapaug Groove History - Phish.net".