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Located in northwestern Rhode Island along the Connecticut border, Glocester is a rural community that is gaining a suburban character. Route 44 is the artery that sustains the town and the key to increased commercial and residential growth. Much of its northern sections are lakes and state-owned forest and park lands that serve as summer and winter recreation retreats. The commute down Rte 44 to Providence is a good 40-minute drive.
In 1730, the Town of Providence was divided into four towns-Providence, Smithfield, Scituate and Glocester. The Town of Glocester was named after Frederick Lewis, Duke of Glocester, who was the son of King George II of England.
The proud history of the quaint Town of Glocester is filled with numerous notable and fascinating events.
Early industry in the town consisted of farming, coal mining, lumber manufacturing, the manufacture of potash, forging, and the manufacture of cotton seed oil. Diverse industries such as cigar making, granite and marble quarrying, distilling, box making, hat manufacturing, and tin smithing have also been conducted in Glocester.
The Ancients and Horribles Parade held every Independence Day, July 45, boasts a crowd of over 10,000 spectators.
Two hundred years have passed since the signing of the Declaration of Independence from the British Crown. Glocester's own founding fathers were very much a part of this great and noble struggle for independence.
The town of Glocester was immortalized by Rhode Island's renown writer, H.P. Lovecraft. Entranced by the town in 1923, he expressed its picturesque essence in verse, SELECTED LETTERS, LOVECRAFT, H.P., 4 NOVEMBER, 1923.
BROWN & HOPKINS COUNTRY STORE. (1799) 1179 Putnam Pike, Rte. 44. In the quaint village of Chepachet is the nation's oldest continuously operating general store, dating from 1809. Antiques, country furnishings, gourmet food, and penny candy available. Lunch served daily in the deli/cafe. OPEN: Year-round, Thurs-Sat, 11-5 p.m., Sun 12-5 p.m. Closed Mon-Wed. 568-4830.
CHEPACHET VILLAGE. Along Route 44. Quaint, rural Rhode Island village. Numerous antique and collectible shops.
JOB ARMSTRONG STORE (1827). 1181 Main Street, Rte. 44, Chepachet. The largest of the 13 dry goods stores in the village in the early 1800's. It is now a Living Museum with artisans demonstrating crafts of ancestors - spinning, weaving, quilting, and rug hooking. Crafts on sale in restored Country Store. Headquarters of Glocester Heritage Society and a Visitor Center. OPEN: Sat, 12 noon-4 p.m. 568-4077.
Population: The population count for the Town of Glocester as of April 1, 2000, was 9,948. This represented a 7.8% change (721) from the 1990 population of 9,227.
Population Density: Glocester contains 141.990 square kilometers of land area (54.822 Sq. Miles) and 5.223 square kilometers of water area (2.017 Sq. Miles). Total area is 147.213 square kilometers or 56.839 square miles.
The 2000 population density of Glocester is 181.6 persons per square mile of land area.
Age Distribution: In 2000, 7,284 persons residing in Glocester were 18 years of age or older.
| Population: | 1990 | 2000 | Change |
| Total | 9,227 | 9,948 | 721 |
More Census 2000 data on Glocester and the State of Rhode Island is available at the Statewide Planning Program Website.
Town Hall
1145 Putnam Pike
Chepachet 02814
FAX: 568-5850
Hours: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
| Location: | Providence County |
| Form of Government: | Five-member Town Council. |
| Council Meetings: | The third Thursday of each month at 7:30
pm. Financial Town Meeting held the first Saturday after May 1. |
| Fiscal year begins: | July 1 |
**Information above provided by the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation
