First District Communities - Jamestown

In 1656, Benedict Arnold, William Coddigan, and several other early Colonial leaders from Newport purchased the island of Conanicut, which had been named after the Narragansett Sacehm Canonicus. The Town was incorporated on November 4, 1678 and renamed in honor of Prince James, later James II, of England. Because of its location at the mouth of Narragansett Bay, it has been considered strategically important since the first white colonists settled in Rhode Island. The island has never really been developed as a commercial area or port, but rather has maintained a quiet residential personality through the years.

In 1940, the Jamestown Verrazano Bridge was completed, connecting Jamestown with the mainland. And then in 1969, The Newport Bridge gave Jamestown access to both sides of the Bay. The island itself is 9.5 square miles with a good highway system following most of its shoreline. The south end of Beaver Tail Light is a high rocky cliff projecting into the Atlantic Ocean. Some of the best surf casting in the world can be found right here at this point of land.

Have a suggestion for your community? Contact Anthony Gemma now!

[ Back to Communities ]