Weekapaug, Rhode Island
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Weekapaug, Rhode Island
|settlement_type = Census-designated place
|nickname =
|motto =
|image_skyline = Weekapaug.jpg
|imagesize = 300px
|image_caption = A photo of Weekapaug showing the breachway, jetty, channel, Fenway Beach, and numerous ocean front homes.
|image_flag =
|image_seal =
|pushpin_map = Rhode Island
|pushpin_label_position = left
|pushpin_map_caption = Location in the state of Rhode Island
|pushpin_mapsize =
|image_map =
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|image_map1 =
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|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = Rhode Island
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = Washington
|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
|leader_title =
|leader_name =
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|area_magnitude =
|area_total_km2 = 3.10
|area_land_km2 = 3.01
|area_water_km2 = 0.09
|area_total_sq_mi = 1.20
|area_land_sq_mi = 1.16
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.04
|population_as_of = 2020
|population_total = 467
|population_density_km2 = 155.09
|population_density_sq_mi = 401.55
|timezone = Eastern (EST)
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST = EDT
|utc_offset_DST = -4
|elevation_footnotes =
|elevation_m = 2
|elevation_ft = 7
|coordinates = {{coord|41|19|51|N|71|45|18|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type = ZIP code
|postal_code = 02891
|area_code = 401
|blank_name = FIPS code
|blank_info = 44-75920{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}
|blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
|blank1_info = 2631342{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2020-07-21|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=United States Geological Survey}}
|website =
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|unit_pref = Imperial
}}
File:Weekapaug, Rhode Island at sunset.JPG
Weekapaug ({{IPAc-en|'|w|iː|k|ə|p|ɔː|g}}) is a census-designated place in southern Washington County, Rhode Island, United States, part of the town of Westerly. The population was 425 at the 2010 census.{{cite web |title=Summary Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2012/dec/cph-1.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 20, 2020}}
History
"Weekapaug" is a Narragansett word meaning "at the end of the pond".{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} 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 {{convert|300|acre|km2}}.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.20 mi{{sup|2}} (3.1 km{{sup|2}}), of which 1.16 mi{{sup|2}} (3.0 km{{sup|2}}) is land and 0.036 mi{{sup|2}} (0.09 km{{sup|2}}) (3.00%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2020-07-19|title=US Gazetteer files: 2019}} 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
{{US Census population
|2020= 467
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}
}}
=2020 census=
The 2020 United States census counted 467 people, 243 households, and 82 families in Weekapaug. The population density was {{convert|401.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 657 housing units at an average density of {{convert|564.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?q=Weekapaug%20CDP,%20Rhode%20Island%20dp1 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}}{{Cite web |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/2020/geo/gazetter-file.html |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Census.gov}} 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.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P1?q=Weekapaug%20CDP,%20Rhode%20Island%20p1&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}} Hispanic or Latino of any race was 1.28% (6) of the population.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P2?q=Weekapaug%20CDP,%20Rhode%20Island%20p2&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}}
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 average household size was 2.1 and the average family size was 3.0.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1101?q=Weekapaug%20CDP,%20Rhode%20Island%20s1101%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}} The percent of those with a bachelor's degree or higher was estimated to be 31.3% of the population.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1501?q=Weekapaug%20CDP,%20Rhode%20Island%20s1501%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}}
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.{{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=Weekapaug%20CDP,%20Rhode%20Island%20s1903%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}} The median income for those above 16 years old was $33,250 (+/- $12,323).{{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=Weekapaug%20CDP,%20Rhode%20Island%20s2001%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}} 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.{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1701?q=Weekapaug%20CDP,%20Rhode%20Island%20s1701%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}}{{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=Weekapaug%20CDP,%20Rhode%20Island%20s1702&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Weekapaug Groove History - Phish.net |url=https://phish.net/song/weekapaug-groove/history |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=phish.net}}
References
{{reflist}}
- 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.
External links
- [http://www.weekapaugfoundation.com/ Weekapaug Foundation]
- [http://espo.gso.uri.edu/~kford/habitat/history/timeline.html espo.gso.uri.edu timeline]
- [http://phish.net/song/weekapaug-groove/history Phish History]
{{Washington County, Rhode Island}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Census-designated places in Washington County, Rhode Island
Category:Westerly, Rhode Island
Category:Providence metropolitan area