Glocester, Rhode Island
| Glocester, Rhode Island | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
 Location in Providence County and the state of Rhode Island. |
|
| Coordinates: 41°53′27″N 71°41′26″W / 41.89083°N 71.69056°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Rhode Island |
| County | Providence |
| Incorporated | 20 February 1731 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town meeting |
| • Town Council | George O. Steere, Jr (R) Walter M.O. Steere, III (R) Edward C. Burlingame (R) Steven A. Sette (I) William E. Reichart (I) |
| • Town Moderator | Kevin P. Walsh (R) |
| • Town Clerk | Jean M. Fecteau (R) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 56.8 sq mi (147.2 km2) |
| • Land | 54.8 sq mi (142.0 km2) |
| • Water | 2.0 sq mi (5.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 456 ft (139 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 9,800 |
| • Density | 177.8/sq mi (68.6/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 02814 (Chepachet), 02829 (Harmony), 02857 (North Scituate) |
| Area code(s) | 401 |
| FIPS code | 44-30340 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1220070 |
| Website | Town of Glocester |
Glocester is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 9,746 as of the 2010 census. The villages of Chepachet and Harmony are in Glocester. Putnam Pike (U.S. Route 44) runs through the center of Glocester into Connecticut.
Glocester was originally named Gloucester for Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester. The Town of Gloucester was part of Providence until 1731 when it became an independent town. North Glocester was incorporated as the separate town of Burrillville in 1806. At the same time the residents of Gloucester voted to change the spelling of the town to Glocester to differentiate it from Gloucester, Massachusetts. Glocester is an ancient variant spelling of Gloucester.
During the American Revolution, Loyalists from Newport were exiled in Glocester to Stephen Keach's farm, including Thomas Vernon, a Tory from Newport, who described Glocester residents in 1776 as:
inclined much to talk of liberty...It is amazing what false and erroneous opinions and ideas these people have entertained...The religion of the people of this town consists entirely of New Light Baptists. The custom of Dipping is much in vogue in this and the neighboring towns.
Samuel Willard (physician) made rounds on Smallpox victims in North Glocester, during the late 18th century.
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