View source for Newport, Rhode Island

{{Short description|City in Rhode Island, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                   = Newport
| established_title2              = Incorporated (town)
| established_date2               = 1639
| established_title1              = Incorporated (city)
| established_date1               = 1784
| settlement_type                 = City
| nickname                        = {{Plain list|
* City by the Sea
* Sailing Capital of the World
* Queen of Summer Resort
* America's Society Capital
}}
| imagesize                       = 300px
| image_flag                      = Ri-newport.gif
| image_skyline                   = {{multiple image
| border                   = infobox
| total_width              = 300
| image_style              = border:1;
| perrow                   = 2/2/2/1
| image1                   = Newport Rhode Island Aerial View.jpg
| image2                   = The Breakers, exterior.jpg
| image3                   = The White Horse Tavern Newport Rhode Island est. 1673.jpg
| image4                   = Cliff Walk - Newport, Rhode Island, USA - August 15, 2015 02.jpg
| image5                   = Old Colony House Newport Rhode Island.jpg
| image6                   = Touro Park, Newport, Rhode Island.jpg
}}
| image_seal                      = Seal of Newport, Rhode Island.svg
| image_caption                   = From top, left to right: Newport Harbor, [[The Breakers]], [[White Horse Tavern (Newport, Rhode Island)|White Horse Tavern]], [[Newport Cliff Walk|Cliff Walk]], [[Old Colony House]], [[Newport Tower (Rhode Island)|Newport Tower]]
| image_map                       = Newport, RI locator map.svg
| mapsize                         = 250px
| map_caption                     = Location of Newport in Newport County, Rhode Island
| image_map1                      = 
| mapsize1                        = 
| map_caption1                    = 
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_type1               = State
| subdivision_type2               = County
| subdivision_name                = United States
| subdivision_name1               = [[Rhode Island]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Newport County, Rhode Island|Newport]]
| government_type                 = 
| leader_title                    = Mayor
| leader_name                     = [[Charlie Holder]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Belmore |first1=Ryan |title=Charlie Holder unanimously chosen as Newport's Next Mayor |url=https://whatsupnewp.com/2024/11/charlie-holder-has-the-support-of-the-city-council-elect-to-become-newports-next-mayor/ |website=Whats Up Newp |access-date=November 12, 2024}}</ref>
| established_date                = 
| area_total_sq_mi                = 11.37
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 7.66
| area_water_sq_mi                = 3.72
| area_total_km2                  = 29.46
| area_land_km2                   = 19.83
| area_water_km2                  = 9.63
| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_note                 = 
| population_total                = 25163
| population_density_km2          = 1269.03
| metro pop                       = 
| timezone                        = EST
| utc_offset                      = −5
| timezone_DST                    = EDT
| utc_offset_DST                  = −4
| elevation_footnotes             = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft                    = 26
| coordinates                     = {{Coord|41.49|-71.31|type:city(24000)_region:US-RI|display=title,inline}}
| website                         = {{URL|www.cityofnewport.com}}
| postal_code_type                = ZIP Codes
| postal_code                     = 02840–02841
| area_code                       = 401
| blank_name                      = FIPS code
| blank_info                      = 44-49960
| blank1_name                     = GNIS feature ID
| blank1_info                     = 1217986<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1217986}}</ref>
| footnotes                       = 
| pop_est_as_of                   = 
| pop_est_footnotes               = 
| population_est                  = 
| unit_pref                       = Imperial
| area_footnotes                  = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='44'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 12, 2022}}</ref>
| population_density_sq_mi        = 3286.70
|population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:44&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref>
}}

'''Newport''' is a seaside city on [[Aquidneck Island]] in [[Rhode Island]], United States. It is located in [[Narragansett Bay]], approximately {{convert|33|mi|km}} southeast of [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]], {{convert|20|mi|km}} south of [[Fall River, Massachusetts]], {{convert|74|mi|km}} south of [[Boston]], and {{convert|180|mi|km}} northeast of [[New York City]]. It is known as a [[New England]] summer resort and is famous for its historic [[Newport Mansions|mansions]] and its rich [[sailing]] history. The city has a population of about 25,000 residents.<ref name="USCensusEst2019"/>

Newport hosted the first U.S. Open tournaments in both [[US Open (tennis)|tennis]] and [[US Open (golf)|golf]], as well as every challenge for the [[America's Cup]] between 1930 and 1983. It is also the home of [[Salve Regina University]] and [[Naval Station Newport]], which houses the United States [[Naval War College]], the [[Naval Undersea Warfare Center]], and an important Navy training center. It was a major 18th-century port city and has many buildings from the [[Colonial history of the United States|colonial era]].<ref>James D. Kornwolf, Georgiana Wallis Kornwolf, ''Architecture and town planning in colonial North America'', Volume 1 (JHU Press, 2002), p. 1021 https://books.google.com/books?id=DA9_v6Ma1a8C {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324203258/http://books.google.com/books?id=DA9_v6Ma1a8C&source=gbs_navlinks_s |date=March 24, 2015 }}</ref>

Newport is the county seat of [[Newport County, Rhode Island|Newport County]], which has no governmental functions other than court administrative and sheriff corrections boundaries. It was the location of "[[Summer White Houses]]" of presidents [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] and [[John F. Kennedy]].

==History==
{{For timeline|Timeline of Newport, Rhode Island}}

===Colonial period===

[[File:Washington_Square,_1818.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|An 1818 painting of Newport reportedly painted by a [[Hessian (soldier)|Hessian]] artist]]
Newport was founded in 1639 on [[Aquidneck Island|Rhode Island]], which is now called Aquidneck Island. Its eight founders and first officers were [[Nicholas Easton]], [[William Coddington]], [[John Clarke (Baptist minister)|John Clarke]], [[John Coggeshall]], [[William Brenton]], [[Jeremy Clarke (Governor)|Jeremy Clark]], [[Thomas Hazard]], and [[Henry Bull (Governor)|Henry Bull]]. Many of these people were part of the settlement at [[Portsmouth, Rhode Island|Portsmouth]], along with [[Anne Hutchinson]] and her followers. They separated within a year of settling Portsmouth and began the settlement of Newport on the southern side of the island.

Newport grew to be the largest of the four original settlements that became the [[Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations]], including [[Providence Plantations]] and [[Warwick, Rhode Island|Shawomett]]. Many of the first colonists in Newport became [[Baptists]], and the second Baptist congregation in Rhode Island was formed in 1640 under the leadership of John Clarke.

In 1658, a group of Jews were welcomed to settle in Newport, fleeing the [[Inquisition]] in Spain and Portugal. They were not allowed to settle elsewhere. This group eventually came to be known as Congregation Jeshuat Israel, and is the second-oldest Jewish congregation in the United States. They meet in [[Touro Synagogue]], the oldest synagogue in America.

The Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations received its royal charter in 1663. [[Benedict Arnold (governor)|Benedict Arnold]] was elected as the first governor. The [[Old Colony House]] at the head of [[Washington Square (Newport, Rhode Island)|Washington Square]] in Newport served as the seat of Rhode Island's government from 1741 until the current [[Rhode Island State House]] was completed in [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]] in 1904. At that time, Providence became the state's sole capital city.

Newport was the most important port in colonial Rhode Island, and a public school was established in 1640. The commercial activity that raised Newport to its fame as a rich port began with the immigration of a second wave of [[Spanish and Portuguese Jews|Portuguese Jews]], who settled there around the middle of the 18th century. The new settlers had been practicing Judaism secretly for 300 years in Portugal, and they were attracted to Rhode Island because of its freedom of worship. They brought with them commercial experience, connections, capital, and a spirit of enterprise.

Most prominent among them was Jacob Rodrigues Rivera, who arrived in 1745 (died 1789). Rivera introduced the manufacture of [[sperm oil]], derived from sperm whales. This became one of Newport's leading industries and made the town a wealthy, prominent whaling community.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singer |first=Saul Jay |date=2023-02-15 |title=Jacob Rivera, Aaron Lopez, And Isaac Hart: Three Leading Jewish Merchants In Colonial America |url=https://www.jewishpress.com/sections/features/features-on-jewish-world/jacob-rivera-aaron-lopez-and-isaac-hart-three-leading-jewish-merchants-in-colonial-america/2023/02/15/ |access-date=2024-06-01 |language=en-US}}</ref> Newport developed 17 manufacturers of oil and candles, and enjoyed a practical monopoly of this trade until the [[American Revolution]].

[[Aaron Lopez]] is also credited with making Newport an important center of trade.<ref>''Settlement of the Jews in North America''. Charles P. Daly, Ll.D., President of the American Geographical Society; P. Cowen, 1893, Digitized March 17, 2008></ref> He encouraged 40 Portuguese Jewish families to settle there, and Newport had 150 vessels engaged in trade within 14 years.<ref>Wiernik, Peter. ''History of the Jews in America: From the Period of the Discovery of the New World to the Present Time''. The Jewish Press Publishing Company, 1912, p. 73.</ref> Lopez was involved in the slave trade, as were other shipping magnates, and the manufacture of [[spermaceti]] candles, ships, barrels, rum, chocolate, textiles, clothes, shoes, hats, and bottles.<ref>Kaplan, Marilyn (2004), "The Jewish Merchants of Newport, 1749–1790", in George M. Goodwin and Ellen Smith (eds.), ''The Jews of Rhode Island'', Waltham, MA: Brandeis University Press {{ISBN|1-58465-424-4}}</ref> Lopez became the wealthiest man in Newport, but he was denied citizenship on religious grounds, even though British law protected the rights of Jews to become citizens in England.<ref>Feldberg, Michael (ed.) (2002). "Aaron Lopez's Struggle for Citizenship". ''Blessings of Freedom: Chapters in American Jewish History.'' New York: American Jewish Historical Society. {{ISBN|0-88125-756-7}}.</ref>

Lopez appealed to the Rhode Island colonial legislature for redress and was refused with this ruling:<ref>[http://www.ajhs.org/scholarship/chapters/chapter.cfm?documentID=187] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301010522/http://www.ajhs.org/scholarship/chapters/chapter.cfm?documentID=187|date=March 1, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?letter=N&artid=257 |title=Newport |publisher=JewishEncyclopedia.com |access-date=June 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906230417/http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=257&letter=N |archive-date=September 6, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Blockquote|text=Inasmuch as the said Aaron Lopez hath declared himself by religion a Jew, this Assembly doth not admit himself nor any other of that religion to the full freedom of this Colony. So that the said Aaron Lopez nor any other of said religion is not liable to be chosen into any office in this colony nor allowed to give vote as a free man in choosing others.}}

Lopez persisted by applying for citizenship in [[Massachusetts Bay Colony]], where it was granted.

From the mid-17th century, the religious tolerance in Newport attracted numbers of [[Quakers]], known also as the ''Society of Friends''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Great Friends Meeting House|url=http://newporthistory.org/properties/great-friends-meeting-house/|website=www.newporthistory.org|access-date=May 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326013635/http://newporthistory.org/properties/great-friends-meeting-house/|archive-date=March 26, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Great Friends Meeting House]] in Newport (1699) is the oldest existing structure of worship in Rhode Island.

In 1727, [[James Franklin (printer)|James Franklin]] (brother of [[Benjamin Franklin]]) printed the ''Rhode-Island Almanack'' in Newport. In 1732, he published the first newspaper, the ''Rhode Island Gazette''. In 1758, his son James founded the weekly newspaper ''Mercury''. The famous 18th-century [[Goddard and Townsend]] furniture was also made in Newport.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Landrigan |first=Leslie |date=2016-11-09 |title=The Hidden Treasures of Newport Cabinetmaker John Goddard |url=https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/desk-sold-12-million-john-goddard-died-broke/ |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=New England Historical Society |language=en-us}}</ref>

Throughout the 18th-century, Newport suffered from an imbalance of trade with the largest colonial ports. As a result, Newport merchants were forced to develop alternatives to conventional exports.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Tunnell |first=Daniel L. |author2=Hechtlinger, Adelaide |title=Life in Newport Part II: The Eighteenth Century |journal=Early American Life |pages=26–31 |date=April 1975}}</ref> In the 1720s, Colonial leaders arrested many pirates, acting under pressure from the British government. Many were hanged in Newport and buried on [[Goat Island, Rhode Island|Goat Island]].

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Spring and Mary streets, Newport, RI edit.jpg|Colonial buildings in the [[Newport Historic District (Rhode Island)|Newport Historic District]]
File:Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry by William Green Turner, 1885 - Eisenhower Park - Newport, Rhode Island - DSC03984.jpg|[[Oliver Perry Monument]] in Eisenhower Park
File:Touro Synagogue, Newport, Rhode Island.jpg|[[Touro Synagogue]], the oldest existing synagogue in the United States
</gallery>

===Slave trade===
Newport was a major center of the slave trade in colonial and early America, active in the [[Atlantic slave trade#Triangular trade|"triangle trade"]] in which slave-produced sugar and molasses from the Caribbean were carried to Rhode Island and distilled into [[rum]] that was then carried to West Africa and exchanged for captives. In 1764, Rhode Island had about 30 rum distilleries, 22 in Newport alone.

Slaves were trafficked illegally into Rhode Island, breaking a 1787 law prohibiting residents of the state from trading in slaves. Slave traders were also breaking federal statutes of 1794 and 1800 barring Americans from carrying slaves to ports outside the United States, as well as the [[Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves|1807 Congressional act]] abolishing the transatlantic slave trade.

A few Rhode Island families made substantial fortunes in the trade. [[William Vernon|William]] and Samuel Vernon were Newport merchants who later played an important role in financing the creation of the United States Navy; they sponsored 30 African slaving ventures. However, it was the DeWolfs of [[Bristol, Rhode Island]], and most notably [[James De Wolf]], who were the largest slave-trading family in America, mounting more than 80 transatlantic voyages, most of them illegal. The Rhode Island slave trade was broadly based. Seven hundred Rhode Islanders owned or captained slave ships, most of whom were substantial merchants, though many were ordinary shopkeepers and tradesmen who purchased shares in slaving voyages.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=Slavery and Justice|url=https://www.brown.edu/Research/Slavery_Justice/documents/SlaveryAndJustice.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330161220/http://www.brown.edu/Research/Slavery_Justice/documents/SlaveryAndJustice.pdf|archive-date=March 30, 2016|access-date=June 29, 2019|website=www.brown.edu}}</ref>

Newport was inhabited by a small group of abolitionists and free blacks. Reverend [[Samuel Hopkins (theologian)|Samuel Hopkins]], minister at Newport's [[United Congregational Church (Newport, Rhode Island)|First Congregational Church]], has been called "America's first abolitionist".<ref name="ProJo20171219">{{cite news|last1=Stokes|first1=Keith|title=R.I.'s former slaves achieved great things|url=http://www.providencejournal.com/opinion/20171219/my-turn-keith-stokes-ris-former-slaves-achieved-great-things|access-date=December 20, 2017|newspaper=The Providence Journal|date=December 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051536/http://www.providencejournal.com/opinion/20171219/my-turn-keith-stokes-ris-former-slaves-achieved-great-things|archive-date=December 22, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Among subscribers to Hopkins' writings were 17 free black citizens, most of whom lived in Newport.<ref name="ProJo20171219" /> This community of freemen, including [[Newport Gardner]], founded the [[Free African Union Society]] in 1780, the first African mutual aid society in America.<ref name="1696Heritage">{{cite web|last1=Stokes|first1=Keith|title=The Black Origins of the Back to Africa Movement|url=http://www.1696heritage.com/the-black-origins-of-the-back-to-africa-movement/|website=1696 Heritage Group|access-date=December 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222104827/http://www.1696heritage.com/the-black-origins-of-the-back-to-africa-movement/|archive-date=December 22, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

===American Revolutionary era===
{{Multiple image
| image1 = W-RSimpleMap.gif
| image2 = Rochambeau statue, Newport, Rhode Island, USA.JPG
| total_width = 300
| caption1 = Map of the [[Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route]]
| caption2 = A statue of [[Comte de Rochambeau]] in Newport's King Park
}}

Newport was the scene of much activity during the [[American Revolution]]. [[William Ellery]] was a Newport native and one of the signers of the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]].

In the winter of 1775, and 1776, the [[Rhode Island Legislature]] placed militia general [[William West (Rhode Island politician)|William West]] in charge of rooting out [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|loyalists]] in Newport, which resulted in several individuals being exiled to the northern part of the state, including [[Joseph Wanton]] and Thomas Vernon.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Diary of Thomas Vernon |url= https://archive.org/details/diarythomasvern00ridegoog |page= [https://archive.org/details/diarythomasvern00ridegoog/page/n7 1] |quote= thomas vernon. |publisher= S.S. Rider |author1= Vernon, Thomas |author2= Rider, Sidney Smith |author3= Ellery, Harrison |author4= Greene, George Sears |year= 1879 }}</ref>

On December 8, 1776, the British occupied the city without opposition. [[Sir Peter Parker, 1st Baronet|Sir Peter Parker]] led 50-gun British ships, while Lieutenant-General [[Henry Clinton (British Army officer, born 1730)|Henry Clinton]] led 7,000 troops. According to [[Alfred Thayer Mahan]], "The immediate effect was to close a haven of [[privateer]]s, which flanked the route of all vessels bound from Europe to New York."<ref name="atm">{{cite book |last1=Mahan |first1=A.T. |title=Major Operations of the Navies in the War of American Independence |date=1969 |publisher=Greenwood Press |location=New York |pages=47–48,115}}</ref>

In the summer of 1778, the Americans began the campaign known as the [[Battle of Rhode Island]]. This was the first joint operation between the Americans and the French after the signing of the [[Treaty of Alliance (1778)|Treaty of Alliance]]. The Americans based in [[Tiverton, Rhode Island|Tiverton]] planned a formal siege of the town, but the French refused to take part, instead preferring a frontal assault. This weakened the American position, and the British were able to expel the Americans from the island.

In 1779, the British abandoned the location. [[George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney|Rodney]] lamented, "The evacuating Rhode Island was the most fatal measure that could possibly have been adopted. It gave up the best and noblest harbor in America, capable of containing the whole Navy of Britain, and where they could in all seasons lie in perfect security; and from whence squadrons, in forty-eight hours, could blockade the three capital cities of America; namely, Boston, New York, and Philadelphia."<ref name=atm/>

On July 10, 1780, [[Expédition Particulière|a French expedition]] arrived in [[Narragansett Bay]] off Newport with an army of 450 officers and 5,300 men, sent by [[King Louis XVI]] and commanded by [[Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau]]. For the rest of the war, Newport served as the base of the French forces in the United States. In July 1781, Rochambeau was finally able to leave Newport for [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]] to begin the [[Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route|decisive march]] to [[Yorktown, Virginia]], along with General [[George Washington]]. The [[Rochambeau Monument (Newport, RI)|Rochambeau Monument]] in King Park on Wellington Avenue commemorates Rochambeau's contributions to the Revolutionary War and to Newport's history.

Newport's population fell from over 9,000 (according to the census of 1774) to fewer than 4,000 by the time that the war ended (1783). Over 200 abandoned buildings were torn down in the 1780s. The war destroyed Newport's economic wealth, because years of military occupation closed the city to any form of trade.

It was in Newport that the [[Rhode Island General Assembly]] voted to ratify the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]] in 1790 and become the 13th state, acting under pressure from the merchant community of Providence. The city was the last residence of Commodore [[Oliver Hazard Perry]] and the birthplace of Commodore [[Matthew C. Perry]] and Unitarian [[William Ellery Channing]].

===Summer mansions===
{{further|Bellevue Avenue Historic District|Ocean Drive Historic District}}
Beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, wealthy southern planters seeking to escape the heat began to build summer cottages on Bellevue Avenue, such as [[Kingscote (mansion)|Kingscote]] (1839).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://tickets.newportmansions.org/mansion.aspx?id=1009 |title= Kingscote |publisher= The Preservation Society of Newport County |access-date= February 19, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070204234952/http://tickets.newportmansions.org/mansion.aspx?id=1009 |archive-date= February 4, 2007 |url-status= live }}</ref> Around the middle of the century, wealthy northerners, such as the Wetmore family, began construction on larger mansions, such as [[Chateau-sur-Mer]] (1852) nearby.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://tickets.newportmansions.org/mansion.aspx?id=1005 |title= Chateau-sur-Mer |publisher= The Preservation Society of Newport County |access-date= February 19, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070204235050/http://tickets.newportmansions.org/mansion.aspx?id=1005 |archive-date= February 4, 2007 |url-status= live }}</ref> Most of these early families made a substantial part of their fortunes in the [[Old China Trade]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-16998520.html |title= Newport and the Far East. (Newport, Rhode Island) |publisher= The Magazine Antiques |date= April 1, 1995 |author= Michie, Thomas |access-date= February 19, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070713014727/http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-16998520.html |archive-date= July 13, 2007 |url-status= live }}</ref>

By the turn of the 20th century, many of the nation's wealthiest families were summering in Newport, including the [[Vanderbilt family|Vanderbilts]], [[Astor family|Astors]], and the [[Widener family]], who constructed the largest "cottages", such as [[The Breakers]] (1895) and [[Miramar (mansion)|Miramar]] (1915).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://tickets.newportmansions.org/mansion.aspx?id=1000 |title= The Breakers |publisher= The Preservation Society of Newport County |access-date= February 19, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070204004501/http://tickets.newportmansions.org/mansion.aspx?id=1000 |archive-date= February 4, 2007 |url-status= dead }}</ref> They resided for a brief summer social season in grand mansions with elaborate receiving rooms, dining rooms, music rooms, and ballrooms—but with few bedrooms, since the guests were expected to have "cottages" of their own. Many of the homes were designed by New York architect [[Richard Morris Hunt]], who kept a house in Newport himself.

The social scene at Newport is described in [[Edith Wharton]]'s novel ''[[The Age of Innocence]]''. Wharton's own Newport "cottage" was called Land's End''.'' Today, many mansions continue in private use. [[Hammersmith Farm]] is the mansion where [[John F. Kennedy]] and [[Jackie Kennedy]] held their wedding reception; it was open to tourists as a "house museum", but has since been purchased and reconverted into a private residence. Many of the other mansions are open to tourists, and others were converted into academic buildings for [[Salve Regina College]] in the 1930s, when the owners could no longer afford their tax bills.

In the mid-19th century, a large number of [[Irish immigrants]] settled in Newport. The Fifth Ward of Newport in the southern part of the city became a staunch Irish neighborhood for many generations. To this day, St. Patrick's Day is an important day of pride and celebration in Newport, with a large parade down Thames Street.

The oldest Catholic parish in Rhode Island is [[St. Mary's Church Complex (Newport, Rhode Island)|St. Mary's]], located on Spring Street, though the current building is not original.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="145px">
File:The_Breakers_interior_05.jpg|[[The Breakers]] (1895)
File:The_Elms_-_Rhode_Island.jpg|[[The Elms (Newport, Rhode Island)|The Elms]] (1901)
File:The President's vacation - on Bellevue Avenue, Newport - drawn by W.P. Snyder. LCCN98511692 (cropped).jpg|President [[Chester A. Arthur]] vacationed in Newport in 1884
</gallery>

===20th century and beyond===
Rhode Island did not have a fixed capital during and after the colonial era, but rotated its legislative sessions among Providence, Newport, Bristol, East Greenwich, and South Kingstown. In 1854, the sessions were eliminated in cities other than Providence and Newport, and Newport was ultimately dropped in 1900 as a constitutional amendment that year restricted the meetings of the legislature to Providence.<ref>Taylor, William Harrison. Legislative History and Souvenir of Rhode Island, 1899–1900. p. 211.</ref>

===The Kennedys and Newport===
[[File:Jackie Kennedy Wedding Dress from LOC-Master-pnp-cph-3c20000-3c22000-3c22000-3c22085u (cropped).tif|thumb|left|upright=.5|The Kennedys were married at [[St. Mary's Church (Newport, Rhode Island)|St. Mary's Church]]]]

First Lady [[Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis]] had many ties to Newport.<ref name=7Places>{{cite web |last1=McClutchy |first1=Sarah |title=7 Places in Newport Tied to Jackie Kennedy |url=https://whatsupnewp.com/2017/01/7-places-newport-tied-jackie-kennedy/ |website=WhatsUpNewp |access-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128021759/https://whatsupnewp.com/2017/01/7-places-newport-tied-jackie-kennedy/ |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |date=January 12, 2017}}</ref> She spent her childhood summers at Newport's [[Hammersmith Farm]].<ref name=7Places /> She and [[John Fitzgerald Kennedy]] attended nearby [[St. Mary's Church (Newport, Rhode Island)|St. Mary's Church]] and were married there on September 12, 1953.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Catherine|first1=Martha|last2=Anderson|first2=Cosgrove|title=John F. Kennedy|date=2005|publisher=Learner Publishing Group|isbn=9780822526438|pages=43–44}}</ref><ref name=7Places /> The Kennedys sailed their yacht ''Honey Fitz'' in [[Narragansett Bay]], golfed at [[Newport Country Club]], dined at [[White Horse Tavern (Newport, Rhode Island)|The White Horse Tavern]], and attended social events at [[The Breakers]].<ref name=7Places />

Presidents [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedy]] and [[Dwight Eisenhower|Eisenhower]] both made Newport the sites of their "[[Summer White Houses]]" during their years in office. Eisenhower stayed at Quarters A at the [[Naval War College]] and at what became known as the [[Eisenhower House]],<ref>{{cite web|title=The Eisenhower House|url=http://www.eisenhowerhouse.com/|access-date=September 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711142436/http://www.eisenhowerhouse.com/|archive-date=July 11, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> while Kennedy used [[Hammersmith Farm]].

=== U.S. Navy ===
[[File:Founders_Hall_(NWC).jpg|thumb|Founders Hall at the [[Naval War College]]]]

The city has long been entwined with the [[United States Navy]]. It held the campus of the [[U.S. Naval Academy]] during the [[American Civil War]] (1861–65) when the undergraduate officer training school was temporarily moved north from [[Annapolis, Maryland]]. From 1952 to 1973, it hosted the Cruiser-Destroyer Force of the [[United States Fleet Forces Command|U.S. Atlantic Fleet]], and subsequently, it has hosted smaller numbers of warships from time to time. Today it hosts [[Naval Station Newport]] (NAVSTA Newport) and remains home to the U.S. [[Naval War College]], the center for [[Surface Warfare Officer]] training, the [[Navy Supply Corps School]] and other schools, and the headquarters of the [[Naval Undersea Warfare Center]]. The [[Ship decommissioning|decommissioned]] aircraft carrier {{USS|Saratoga|CV-60}} was moored in an inactive status at the docks previously used by the Cruiser-Destroyer Force until it was towed to Brownsville, Texas in August–September 2014 to be dismantled. The {{USS|Forrestal|CV-59}} shared the pier until June 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |title=100615-N-1256M-064: USS Forrestal (ATV-59), 2010 |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/ships-us/ships-usn-f/uss-forrestal-cva-59-cv-59-avt-59/100615-n-1256m-064.html |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=NHHC |language=en-US}}</ref>

The departure of the Cruiser-Destroyer fleet from Newport, and the closure of nearby [[Naval Air Station Quonset Point]] in 1973 were devastating to the local economy. The population of Newport decreased, businesses closed, and property values plummeted. However, in the late 1960s, the city began revitalizing the downtown area with the construction of America's Cup Avenue, malls of stores and condominiums, and upscale hotels. Construction was also completed on the [[Claiborne Pell Bridge]]. The [[Preservation Society of Newport County]] began opening Newport's historic mansions to the public, and the tourist industry has become Newport's primary commercial enterprise over the subsequent years.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/studteaguide/rhodeislandhistory/chapt8.html |title= Rhode Island History |publisher= Rhode Island General Assembly |access-date= May 10, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070829045227/http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/studteaguide/RhodeIslandHistory/chapt8.html |archive-date= August 29, 2007 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

==Geography and climate==
[[File:Newport shoreline of Easton Bay looking south from cliffside overlook at east end of Narragansett Ave.JPG|right|thumb|Shoreline of the [[Easton Bay]] looking south from the cliff side at east end of Narragansett Avenue]]

Newport is located at {{Coord|41|29|17|N|71|18|45|W|}}. It is the most populous municipality on [[Aquidneck Island]] in [[Narragansett Bay]]. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|29.5|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|19.9|km2|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|9.6|km2|order=flip}}, or 32.64%, is water.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4449960| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200210221923/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4449960| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 10, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Newport city, Rhode Island| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=March 6, 2013}}</ref> The [[Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge|Newport Bridge]], the longest suspension bridge in New England, connects Newport to neighboring [[Conanicut Island]] across the East Passage of the Narragansett.

Newport has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dfa/Dfb''), bordering on a [[humid subtropical climate]] (Köppen ''Cfa'') and [[oceanic climate]] (Köppen ''Cfb''). Being surrounded by ocean water, Newport is often cooler in the summer than some coastal cities further north, such as [[Boston#Climate|Boston]]. According to the USDA, Newport is located in plant hardiness zone 7a.

{{Weather box
| location = Newport, Rhode Island ([[Rose Island Light]]), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1957–2003
| single line = Y
| Jan record high F = 65
| Feb record high F = 65
| Mar record high F = 74
| Apr record high F = 86
| May record high F = 89
| Jun record high F = 93
| Jul record high F = 96
| Aug record high F = 98
| Sep record high F = 93
| Oct record high F = 81
| Nov record high F = 73
| Dec record high F = 69
| year record high F = 98
| Jan high F = 38.6
| Feb high F = 40.0
| Mar high F = 45.9
| Apr high F = 55.2
| May high F = 64.8
| Jun high F = 71.6
| Jul high F = 77.4
| Aug high F = 78.0
| Sep high F = 72.9
| Oct high F = 62.7
| Nov high F = 53.0
| Dec high F = 44.2
| year high F = 58.7
| Jan mean F = 31.3
| Feb mean F = 32.6
| Mar mean F = 38.8
| Apr mean F = 47.5
| May mean F = 56.7
| Jun mean F = 64.7
| Jul mean F = 70.8
| Aug mean F = 71.1
| Sep mean F = 66.1
| Oct mean F = 55.9
| Nov mean F = 46.2
| Dec mean F = 37.7
| year mean F = 51.6
| Jan low F = 23.9
| Feb low F = 25.1
| Mar low F = 31.7
| Apr low F = 39.7
| May low F = 48.6
| Jun low F = 57.7
| Jul low F = 64.3
| Aug low F = 64.1
| Sep low F = 59.2
| Oct low F = 49.1
| Nov low F = 39.5
| Dec low F = 31.3
| year low F = 44.5
| Jan record low F = −9
| Feb record low F = −3
| Mar record low F = 3
| Apr record low F = 10
| May record low F = 21
| Jun record low F = 37
| Jul record low F = 41
| Aug record low F = 41
| Sep record low F = 35
| Oct record low F = 26
| Nov record low F = 11
| Dec record low F = −5
| year record low F = −9
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 4.03
| Feb precipitation inch = 3.57
| Mar precipitation inch = 4.61
| Apr precipitation inch = 4.73
| May precipitation inch = 3.91
| Jun precipitation inch = 3.17
| Jul precipitation inch = 3.21
| Aug precipitation inch = 3.29
| Sep precipitation inch = 3.82
| Oct precipitation inch = 4.72
| Nov precipitation inch = 3.94
| Dec precipitation inch = 4.45
| year precipitation inch = 47.45
| Jan snow inch = 5.5
| Feb snow inch = 9.1
| Mar snow inch = 4.8
| Apr snow inch = 1.3
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.0
| Nov snow inch = 0.1
| Dec snow inch = 5.2
| year snow inch = 26.0
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 11.5
| Feb precipitation days = 9.2
| Mar precipitation days = 11.5
| Apr precipitation days = 11.5
| May precipitation days = 11.9
| Jun precipitation days = 10.3
| Jul precipitation days = 9.3
| Aug precipitation days = 10.6
| Sep precipitation days = 10.8
| Oct precipitation days = 8.8
| Nov precipitation days = 9.7
| Dec precipitation days = 10.7
| year precipitation days = 125.8
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 3.0
| Feb snow days = 3.4
| Mar snow days = 1.7
| Apr snow days = 0.5
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 0.2
| Dec snow days = 1.6
| year snow days = 10.4
| source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name=nws>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=box
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = May 30, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00375215&format=pdf
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
| title = Station: Newport Rose, RI
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| access-date = May 30, 2021}}</ref><ref name=extremes>
{{cite web 
| url = http://scacis.rcc-acis.org/ 
| publisher = Applied Climate Information System 
| title = Monthly highest max temperature and monthly lowest min temperature for Newport Rose, RI
| access-date = May 30, 2021}}</ref>
}}
{{Weather box
|location = [[Newport State Airport (Rhode Island)|Newport State Airport]], Rhode Island (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1996–present)
|single line = Y
|collapsed = Y

|Jan record high F = 67
|Feb record high F = 69
|Mar record high F = 74
|Apr record high F = 88
|May record high F = 91
|Jun record high F = 93
|Jul record high F = 98
|Aug record high F = 93
|Sep record high F = 91
|Oct record high F = 84
|Nov record high F = 75
|Dec record high F = 70
|year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 55.9
|Feb avg record high F = 54.2
|Mar avg record high F = 62.6
|Apr avg record high F = 72.8
|May avg record high F = 81.9
|Jun avg record high F = 85.7
|Jul avg record high F = 90.0
|Aug avg record high F = 87.9
|Sep avg record high F = 84.0
|Oct avg record high F = 76.5
|Nov avg record high F = 66.6
|Dec avg record high F = 60.4
|year avg record high F = 91.9

|Jan high F = 38.1
|Feb high F = 39.7
|Mar high F = 45.7
|Apr high F = 55.5
|May high F = 65.0
|Jun high F = 73.9
|Jul high F = 79.6
|Aug high F = 78.8
|Sep high F = 72.3
|Oct high F = 62.3
|Nov high F = 52.5
|Dec high F = 43.8
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 31.1
|Feb mean F = 32.4
|Mar mean F = 38.3
|Apr mean F = 47.4
|May mean F = 56.8
|Jun mean F = 65.8
|Jul mean F = 71.8
|Aug mean F = 71.2
|Sep mean F = 64.7
|Oct mean F = 54.5
|Nov mean F = 45.2
|Dec mean F = 36.8
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 24.1
|Feb low F = 25.1
|Mar low F = 30.8
|Apr low F = 39.3
|May low F = 48.5
|Jun low F = 57.8
|Jul low F = 64.1
|Aug low F = 63.6
|Sep low F = 57.1
|Oct low F = 46.8
|Nov low F = 37.9
|Dec low F = 29.9
|year low F = 43.8

|Jan avg record low F = 5.7
|Feb avg record low F = 9.7
|Mar avg record low F = 16.2
|Apr avg record low F = 28.6
|May avg record low F = 38.2
|Jun avg record low F = 47.4
|Jul avg record low F = 56.5
|Aug avg record low F = 53.9
|Sep avg record low F = 45.2
|Oct avg record low F = 34.1
|Nov avg record low F = 24.1
|Dec avg record low F = 15.9
|year avg record low F = 3.7

|Jan record low F = −6
|Feb record low F = −8
|Mar record low F = 3
|Apr record low F = 22
|May record low F = 32
|Jun record low F = 42
|Jul record low F = 50
|Aug record low F = 49
|Sep record low F = 39
|Oct record low F = 28
|Nov record low F = 15
|Dec record low F = 5
|year record low F = −8

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.21
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.81
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.57
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.81
|May precipitation inch = 3.03
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.41
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.93
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.41
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.44
|Oct precipitation inch = 4.06
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.76
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.74
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 10.0
|Feb precipitation days = 9.2
|Mar precipitation days = 10.2
|Apr precipitation days = 11.3
|May precipitation days = 12.6
|Jun precipitation days = 11.8
|Jul precipitation days = 10.3
|Aug precipitation days = 10.1
|Sep precipitation days = 10.2
|Oct precipitation days = 11.7
|Nov precipitation days = 9.3
|Dec precipitation days = 11.1
|year precipitation days =

| source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name=nws/><ref>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00014787&format=pdf
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
| title = Station: Newport State AP, RI
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| access-date = May 30, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==

{{Historical populations
|type= USA
|1708|2203
|1730|4640
|1748|6508
|1755|6753
|1774|9209
|1782|5530
|1790|6716
|1800|6739
|1810|7907
|1820|7319
|1830|8010
|1840|8333
|1850|9563
|1860|10508
|1870|12521
|1880|15693
|1890|19457
|1900|22441
|1910|27149
|1920|30255
|1930|27612
|1940|30532
|1950|37564
|1960|47049
|1970|34562
|1980|29259
|1990|28227
|2000|26475
|2010|24672
|2020|25163
|source=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br />2019 estimate<ref name="USCensusEst2019">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|date=May 24, 2020|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref><br />1708–1782<ref name="ColonialPop">{{cite book|author=United States Census Bureau|date=1909|title=A Century of Population Growth|url=https://archive.org/details/centuryofpopulat00unit/page/162/mode/2up|page=163}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
The [[2020 United States census]] counted 25,163 people, 10,898 households, and 4,982 families in Newport. The population density was 3,286.7 per square mile (1,269.0/km{{sup|2}}). There were 13,466 housing units at an average density of 1,758.9 per square mile (679.1/km{{sup|2}}).<ref name=:0>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?q=Newport%20city,%20Rhode%20Island%20dp1 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web   |title=Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/2020/geo/gazetter-file.html |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Census.gov}}</ref> The racial makeup was 75.91% (19,102) [[White (U.S. Census)|white]] or [[European American]] (73.62% [[Non-Hispanic White|non-Hispanic white]]), 5.93% (1,492) [[African American (U.S. census)|black]] or [[African American|African-American]], 0.86% (217) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]], 1.76% (444) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.06% (16) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]], 6.08% (1,530) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 9.39% (2,362) from [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P1?q=Newport%20city,%20Rhode%20Island%20p1&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race was 11.82% (2,975) of the population.<ref>{{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=Newport%20city,%20Rhode%20Island%20p2&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

Of the 10,898 households, 18.9% had children under the age of 18; 31.0% were married couples living together; 37.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. Of households, 41.8% consisted of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name=:0 /> The average household size was 2.1 and the average family size was 2.8.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1101?q=Newport%20city,%20Rhode%20Island%20s1101%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> The percent of those with a bachelor's degree or higher was estimated to be 41.0% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1501?q=Newport%20city,%20Rhode%20Island%20s1501%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

Of the population, 14.5% was under the age of 18, 15.5% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 106.4 males.<ref name=:0 /> For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 108.3 males.<ref name=:0 />

The 2016-2020 5-year [[American Community Survey]] estimates show that the median household income was $68,201 (with a margin of error of +/- $4,880) and the median family income was $96,161 (+/- $10,800). Males had a median income of $40,018 (+/- $3,361) versus $29,535 (+/- $3,288) for females.<ref>{{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=Newport%20city,%20Rhode%20Island%20s1903%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> The median income for those above 16 years old was $34,315 (+/- $2,816).<ref>{{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=Newport%20city,%20Rhode%20Island%20s2001%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Approximately, 12.4% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 25.0% of those under the age of 18 and 7.7% of those ages 65 or over.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1701?q=Newport%20city,%20Rhode%20Island%20s1701%20&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref>{{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=Newport%20city,%20Rhode%20Island%20s1702&y=2020 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

===2013 update===
As of 2013, there were 24,027 people, 10,616 households, and 4,933 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|3,204.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 13,069 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,697.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 82.5% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 6.9% [[African American (U.S. census)|African American]], 0.8% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.1% [[Race (United States Census)|some other race]], and 5.2% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 8.4% of the population (3.3% [[Puerto Rican American|Puerto Rican]], 1.2% [[Guatemalan American|Guatemalan]], 1.1% [[Mexican American|Mexican]]<ref>{{cite web|title=QT-P10 Hispanic or Latino by Type: 2010|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_SF1_QTP10&prodType=table|access-date=May 28, 2014}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>).<ref name="Census 2010 DP">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US4449960| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212161511/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US4449960| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Newport city, Rhode Island| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=March 6, 2013}}</ref>

There were 10,616 households, out of which: 21.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.9% were headed by married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 53.5% were non-families. Of all households, 41.4% were made up of individuals, and 12.7% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05, and the average family size was 2.82.<ref name="Census 2010 DP"/>

The age distribution was 16.5% under the age of 18, 16.3% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.<ref name="Census 2010 DP"/>

For the period 2009–2011, the estimated median annual income for a household in the city was $59,388, and the median income for a family was $83,880. Male full-time workers had a median income of $52,221 versus $41,679 for females. The per capita income for the city was $35,644. About 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_3YR/DP03/1600000US4449960| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212082525/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_3YR/DP03/1600000US4449960| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Selected Economic Characteristics: 2009–2011 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates (DP03): Newport city, Rhode Island| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=March 6, 2013}}</ref>

==Culture==
===Colonial era architecture===
The [[Newport Historic District (Rhode Island)|Newport Historic District]] — one of the city's three [[National Historic Landmark District]]s — boasts one of the highest concentrations of colonial homes in the nation. Doris Duke, heir to the tobacco fortune of her father, James B. Duke, founded the Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) in 1968, and for the next 25 years, until her death in 1993, saved much of Newport's colonial architectural heritage. Under Duke's leadership, the NRF restored more than 80 18th- and early 19th-century buildings in Newport and neighboring Middletown, Rhode Island, most of which are still owned by the Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Doris Duke |url=https://www.newportrestoration.org/doris-duke/ |access-date=April 27, 2021 |publisher=Newport Restoration Foundation |language=en}}</ref>

The [[White Horse Tavern (Rhode Island)|White Horse Tavern]] was built prior to 1673 and is one of the oldest taverns in the US.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whitehorsetavern.com/history.htm |title=History—The White Horse Tavern |access-date=January 16, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070115001206/http://www.whitehorsetavern.com/history.htm |archive-date=January 15, 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> Newport is also home to the [[Touro Synagogue]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mailing Address: 85 Touro Street, Newport, RI 02840 Phone: 401 847-4794 |department=Touro Synagogue National Historic Site |url=https://www.nps.gov/tosy/index.htm |access-date=2022-12-15 |publisher=U.S. National Park Service |language=en}}</ref> one of the oldest Jewish houses of worship in the Western hemisphere. Newport also has the nation's oldest lending libraries, the [[Redwood Library and Athenaeum]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Oldest Lending Library |language=en |work=NPR.org |url=https://www.npr.org/2000/08/23/1081044/the-oldest-lending-library |access-date=2022-12-15}}</ref>

===Gilded Age mansions===
In addition to colonial architecture, the city is known for its many [[Gilded Age]] mansions — summer "cottages" built in varying styles copied from the royal palaces of Europe—mostly built between 1870 through 1915 by wealthy American families. Many of these mansions, including [[The Breakers]] ([[Vanderbilt family]]), [[Marble House]] ([[William Kissam Vanderbilt]]), [[Chateau-sur-Mer]] ([[William Shepard Wetmore]]), [[Rosecliff]] ([[Theresa Fair Oelrichs]]), and [[Rough Point]] ([[Doris Duke]]) are open to the public as museums.

===Music===
{{Multiple image
| header = Newport Music Festivals
| align = right
| direction = 
| total_width = 350
| perrow = 2
| image1= Newport_Jazz_Festival_2010.jpg
| caption1 = [[Newport Jazz Festival|Jazz Festival]]
| image2= My Morning Jacket, 2015.jpg
| caption2 = [[Newport Folk Festival|Folk Festival]]
}}

Newport is the hometown of [[The Cowsills]], a pop group formed by the members of the Cowsill family, which had success in the late 1960s.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gorman |first1=Mark |title=How Newport Launched the Cowsills - Newport This Week |url=https://www.newportthisweek.com/articles/how-newport-launched-the-cowsills/ |website=Newport This Week - |access-date=29 March 2024 |date=25 March 2021}}</ref> The [[alternative rock]] band [[Throwing Muses]] was founded in Newport in the 1980s by step-sisters [[Kristin Hersh]] and [[Tanya Donelly]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Andy |title=More volume at the Hall of Fame |url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/entertainment/music/2017/04/27/throwing-muses-among-inductees-into-ri-music-hall-of-fame-video/21289548007/ |website=The Providence Journal |access-date=29 March 2024}}</ref> [[Belly (band)|Belly]], an alternative band formed by Donnelly in the 1990s, was also based in Newport.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Castro |first1=Alexander |title=Reunited and it felt so good |url=https://www.newportri.com/story/entertainment/2016/07/12/reunited-it-felt-so-good/12738724007/ |website=Newport Daily News |access-date=29 March 2024}}</ref>

[[Fort Adams State Park]] hosts both the [[Newport Folk Festival]] and the [[Newport Jazz Festival]]. The Jazz Festival was established in 1954 by local socialite [[Elaine Lorillard]] and music promoter [[George Wein]]. It was held annually until 1971, and was re-established in Newport in 1981.<ref name="Ref_2007">{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2007/12/03/elaine_lorillard_helped_start_newport_jazz_festival/ |title=Elaine Lorillard; helped start Newport Jazz Festival |work=The Boston Globe |date=December 3, 2007 |access-date=December 10, 2007}}</ref><ref name="Clendinen1981">{{cite news | last=Clendinen | first=Dudley | title=After a decade, prospering Newport celebrates the jazz festival's return | work=The New York Times | date=August 24, 1981 | url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01E3DB123BF937A1575BC0A967948260 | access-date=January 4, 2009}}</ref> In 1959, George Wein, folk singer [[Pete Seeger]], and music manager [[Albert Grossman]] established the Newport Folk Festival as a counterpart to the Jazz Festival.<ref name="ndnfolk1">{{cite web |last1=Gillis |first1=James |title=LOOKING BACK: Newport festival and folk music have come a long way since '59 |url=https://www.newportri.com/news/20180725/looking-back-newport-festival-and-folk-music-have-come-long-way-since-59 |website=The Newport Daily News |access-date=February 9, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> It was held in Newport through 1969, returned to the city in 1985, and has been held annually at Fort Adams since.<ref name="ndnfolk1"/> The Folk Festival was the venue for a [[Electric Dylan controversy|controversial performance]] by singer-songwriter [[Bob Dylan]] in July 1965 that proved influential on the [[folk rock]] genre.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Night Bob Dylan Went Electric |url=https://time.com/3968092/bob-dylan-electric-newport/ |magazine=Time |access-date=February 9, 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Righthand |first1=Jess |title=July 25, 1965: Dylan Goes Electric at the Newport Folk Festival |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/july-25-1965-dylan-goes-electric-at-the-newport-folk-festival-114743/ |website=Smithsonian Magazine |access-date=February 9, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Both festivals were held at other venues in Newport before moving to Fort Adams when they were revived in the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web |title=America's first jazz festival comes home |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/08/21/Americas-first-jazz-festival-comes-home/6812367214400/ |website=UPI |access-date=February 9, 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="ndnfolk1"/>

===Film===
The Jane Pickens Theater, a single-screen [[Independent movie theater|arthouse movie theater]], is located on Touro Street in downtown Newport.<ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Donnell |first1=Kerry |title=Pass the Popcorn: The evolution of the movie-watching experience |url=https://motifri.com/pass-the-popcorn/ |website=Motif Magazine |access-date=29 March 2024 |date=31 July 2019}}</ref> The theater was built as a church in 1834, and was converted into a movie theater in 1922.<ref name="jpt1">{{cite web |title=About the JPT |url=https://janepickens.com/about |website=The JPT Film + Event Center |language=en}}</ref> The theater was renamed after singer [[Jane Pickens]] in 1974.<ref name="jpt1"/> The Jane Pickens Theater became the only movie theater on Aquidneck Island after a multiplex theater in Middletown closed in January 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dunning |first1=Savanna |title=Island Cinemas announces closure. See what's taking over the location. |url=https://www.newportri.com/story/news/local/2024/01/02/island-cinemas-in-middletown-ri-announces-plans-to-close-on-jan-21/72088627007/ |website=Newport Daily News |access-date=29 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Wagner |first1=Jeffrey D. |title=Aquidneck Island lost its movie theater. Is Jane Pickens Theater trying to fill the void? |url=https://www.newportri.com/story/entertainment/movies/2024/03/05/dune-2-oscar-nominated-films-help-jane-pickens-fill-theater-void/72839479007/ |website=Newport Daily News |access-date=29 March 2024}}</ref>

Newport has been a filming location for several motion pictures, including ''[[High Society (1956 film)|High Society]]'' (1956), ''[[The Great Gatsby (1974 film)|The Great Gatsby]]'' (1974), ''[[Mr. North]]'' (1988), [[Wind (1992 film)|''Wind'']] (1992), ''[[True Lies]]'' (1994), ''[[Amistad (film)|Amistad]]'' (1997), ''[[Me, Myself & Irene]]'' (2000), ''[[Dan in Real Life]]'' (2007), ''[[Moonrise Kingdom]]'' (2012), and ''[[Hocus Pocus 2]]'' (2022).<ref>Barth, Jack (1991). ''Roadside Hollywood: The Movie Lover's State-By-State Guide to Film Locations, Celebrity Hangouts, Celluloid Tourist Attractions, and More''. Contemporary Books. Pages 256–257. {{ISBN|9780809243266}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Barrett |first1=Scott |title=Lights, camera, action: Check out these movies shot in Newport, Rhode Island |url=https://www.newportri.com/story/entertainment/movies/2021/11/15/newport-ri-movies-hocus-pocus-2-amistad-moonrise-kingdom-evening-true-lies-reversal-of-fortune/8586110002/ |website=Newport Daily News |access-date=29 March 2024}}</ref>

===Aquarium===
The Hamilton Family Aquarium, operated by the non-profit [[Save the Bay]], opened at the Gateway Center on America's Cup Avenue in March 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boardman |first1=Christopher |title=Save the Bay's Hamilton Family Aquarium to open its doors in Newport |url=https://www.abc6.com/save-the-bays-hamilton-family-aquarium-to-open-its-doors-in-newport/ |website=ABC6 |access-date=29 March 2024 |date=28 March 2024}}</ref> Save the Bay had previously operated an aquarium at Easton's Beach until October 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Belmore |first1=Ryan |title=It's the final weekend to visit Save The Bay's Exploration Center and Aquarium at Easton's Beach |url=https://whatsupnewp.com/2023/10/its-the-final-weekend-to-visit-save-the-bays-exploration-center-and-aquarium-at-eastons-beach/ |website=What's Up Newp |access-date=15 January 2024 |date=6 October 2023}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Newport Rhode Island Public Library.jpg|[[Newport Public Library]]
File:Redwood Library and Athenaeum - Newport, RI (51487895396).jpg|[[Redwood Library and Athenaeum]]
File:Marble House, Newport.jpg|[[Marble House]], owned and operated by the [[Preservation Society of Newport County|Preservation Society]]
File:Jane Pickens Theater Newport RI.jpg|Jane Pickens Theater
File:Save_the_Bay_Exploration_Center_and_Aquarium.jpg|Former location of the Save The Bay Exploration Center and Aquarium at Easton's Beach
</gallery>

==Sports and recreation==
Because of its history as a summer playground for the wealthy, Newport has played a major role in the history and development of several sports. The [[League of American Bicyclists|League of American Wheelmen]] was formed in Newport in 1880.<ref name="NYT-LAW" /> The first [[US Open (tennis)#1881–1914: Newport Casino|U.S. national tennis championships]] were held in 1881 on grass courts at the Newport Casino.  The first [[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]] golf tournament was played in 1895 at the [[Newport Country Club]]. The [[America's Cup]] sailing races were held in Newport from 1930 to 1983.

===Sailing===
[[File:President Kennedy and wife watching Americas Cup, 1962.png|thumb|upright=.8|right|[[John F. Kennedy|John. F. Kennedy]] and [[Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis]] watch the [[1962 America's Cup]] races off Newport]]
Newport is sometimes referred to as the "Sailing Capital of the World".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bessinger |first1=Tony |title=Is San Diego the Sailing Capital of the World? |url=https://www.sailingworld.com/racing/san-diego-sailing-capital-world/ |website=Sailing World |date=March 20, 2007 |access-date=January 14, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=October 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016070935/https://www.sailingworld.com/racing/san-diego-sailing-capital-world/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sailing Capital of the World |url=https://www.windcheckmagazine.com/article/sailing_capital_of_the_world/ |website=WindCheck Magazine |access-date=January 14, 2020}}</ref> The city was chosen as the new home of the [[National Sailing Hall of Fame]] which moved from [[Annapolis, Maryland]] in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Duca |first1=Rob |title=National Sailing Hall Projects 2021 Opening |url=https://www.newportthisweek.com/articles/national-sailing-hall-projects-2021-opening/ |website=Newport This Week |access-date=January 14, 2020 |date=September 12, 2019}}</ref> Several sailing clubs are based in the city, including the [[New York Yacht Club]] and the [[Ida Lewis Yacht Club]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Harbour Court – New York Yacht Club |url=https://nyyc.org/harbour-court |website=nyyc.org |access-date=January 14, 2020}}</ref>

Newport was the site of the [[America's Cup]] sailing races from 1930 to 1983, and it remains the starting point of the biannual 635 nautical-mile [[Newport Bermuda Race]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.americascup.com/en/history |title=History of the America's Cup |website=www.americascup.com |access-date=January 14, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About |url=https://bermudarace.com/race |website=Newport Bermuda Race |access-date=January 14, 2020}}</ref>

===Tennis===
[[Newport Casino]] was the site of the earliest [[U.S. Open (tennis)|American lawn tennis championships]]. Since 1954 it has housed the [[International Tennis Hall of Fame]]. The Newport Casino also hosted the first [[Newport Jazz Festival]] in 1954. The [[Hall of Fame Open]] has been held every July since 1976, during the week following [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]]. The week also includes annual inductions into the Hall of Fame.

===Golf===
Newport is home to the [[Newport Country Club]], which hosted both the first U.S. Amateur Championship and the first U.S. Open in 1895. More recently, the Newport Country Club hosted the 1995 Men's [[United States Amateur Championship (golf)|US Amateurs]] and the [[2006 U.S. Women's Open]].

===Bicycling===
[[File:League of American Bicyclists memorial in Newport, Rhode Island.jpg|thumb|right|upright=.50|A memorial in Newport's [[Touro Park]] commemorates the centennial of the founding of the [[League of American Wheelmen]]]]
In the late nineteenth century, Newport became the center of an emerging pastime for young, athletic, upper-class men: bicycling.<ref name="Allen" /> On May 29, 1880, representatives of 31 cycling clubs convened in Newport to hold a parade and meeting, and formed the [[League of American Bicyclists|League of American Wheelmen]], the first national bicycling organization.<ref name="NYT-LAW">{{cite news |title=Bicycle Riders at Newport |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1880/05/31/issue.html |access-date=May 4, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=May 31, 1880 |page=1}}</ref><ref name="Allen">{{cite web |last1=Allen |first1=John S. |title=THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN WHEELMEN AND THE GOOD ROADS MOVEMENT 1880 – 1912 |url=http://john-s-allen.com/LAW_1939-1955/history/quinn-good-roads.pdf |year=1968|website=John S. Allen |access-date=May 4, 2021 |quote=The desire of Frank Weston and Charles Pratt for a national bicycle organization rallied a bicycle meet at Newport, Rhode Island on May 29, 1880. Previous to the parade, a meeting called by Pratt was held in the skating rink. It was at this meeting that the League of American Wheelmen came into being, in response to this new and rapidly emerging cycling craze.}}</ref> The League was instrumental in establishing the [[Good Roads Movement]].<ref name="Allen" />

In fall 2013, Newport was designated a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community by the [[League of American Bicyclists]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bikeleague.org/sites/default/files/bfareportcards/BFC_Fall_2013_ReportCard_Newport_RI.pdf |title=Bicycle Friendly Community Building Blocks |access-date=June 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009211318/http://www.bikeleague.org/sites/default/files/bfareportcards/BFC_Fall_2013_ReportCard_Newport_RI.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Baseball===
Downtown Newport is home to [[Cardines Field]], one of the oldest [[ballpark]]s in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://athletamag.com/en/the-baseball-myth-of-cardines-field/|title=The Baseball Myth of Cardines Field|work=Athleta Mag|first=Francesco Costantino|last=Ciampa|date=|accessdate=December 20, 2024}}</ref> Since 2001, the venue has played host to the [[Newport Gulls]], a [[collegiate summer baseball]] team. Cardines Field has hosted the [[New England Collegiate Baseball League]]'s All-Star Game and Home Run Derby four times, in 2005, 2010, 2016, and 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://patriotleague.org/news/2005/7/19/Frawley_Named_NECBL_Summer_All_Star.aspx|title=Frawley Named NECBL Summer All-Star|work=[[Patriot League]]|first=|last=|date=July 19, 2005|accessdate=December 20, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2010/07/19/2010-necbl-all-star-game-recap/|title=2010 NECBL All-Star Game Recap|work=College Baseball Daily|first=Brian|last=Foley|date=July 19, 2010|accessdate=December 20, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://whatsupnewp.com/2016/01/newport-gulls-will-host-2016-necbl-all-star-game-in-july-at-cardines-field/|title=Newport Gulls Will Host 2016 NECBL All-Star Game in July at Cardines Field|work=What's Up Newp|first=Ryan|last=Belmore|date=January 9, 2016|accessdate=December 20, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newportri.com/picture-gallery/sports/college/2021/07/19/necbl-all-star-game-cardines-field-newport-ri/8012438002/|title=NECBL All-Star Game at Cardines Field|work=[[The Newport Daily News]]|first=Louis|last=Walker III|date=July 19, 2021|accessdate=December 20, 2024}}</ref>

Since its formation in 1919, the amateur George Donnelly Sunset League has played at Cardines Field. [[Salve Regina Seahawks|Salve Regina University]] also plays select baseball games at the park.

===Other sports===
[[Brenton Point State Park]] is the site of the annual Brenton Point Kite Festival.

The annual Citizens Bank Pell Bridge Run is held every Fall to raise money for local charities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pellbridgerun.com|title=Pell Bridge Run|work=pellbridgerun.com|access-date=December 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216095844/http://www.pellbridgerun.com/|archive-date=December 16, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Further|Ruggles Avenue Surf Break}}

==Beaches and parks==
{{Multiple image
| header = Newport Parks
| align = right
| direction = 
| total_width = 250
| perrow = 1/2/1
| image1= Brenton Point State Park, Newport Rhode Island-panorama.jpg
| caption1 = Brenton Point State Park
| image2= Easton's Beach aka First Beach, Newport Rhode Island.jpg
| caption2 = Easton's Beach
| image3 = King Park, Newport, Rhode Island.jpg
| caption3 = King Park
| image4 = Touro Park, Newport, Rhode Island (cropped).jpg
| caption4 = Touro Park
}}
Aquidneck Island has several beaches, both public and private. The largest public beach is Easton's beach or First Beach, which has a view of the [[Newport Cliff Walk]]. The Cliff Walk is one of the most popular attractions in the city. It is a {{convert|3.5|mi|km|adj=on}} public access walkway bordering the shoreline and has been designated a [[National Recreation Trail]]. Sachuest Beach or Second Beach in Middletown is the second-largest beach in the area. [[Gooseberry Beach]] is private but is open to the public on certain days of the year. It is located on [[Ocean Drive Historic District|Ocean Drive]], along with the private beaches, [[Bailey's Beach]] and Hazard's Beach. In 2014 Maya Lin, the architect who designed the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C., completed a $3.5&nbsp;million renovation of Queen Anne Square Park, titled "The Meeting Room".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Maya Lin: Breaking Ground in Newport – Art New England|url=https://artnewengland.com/ed_columns/maya-lin-breaking-ground-in-newport/|access-date=April 27, 2021|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Education==
===Primary and secondary schools===
[[Newport Public Schools]] operates public schools for the area including [[Claiborne Pell]] Elementary School, Thompson Middle School, [[Rogers High School (Newport, Rhode Island)|Rogers High School]], Newport Area Career and Technical Center, and the Aquidneck Island Adult Learning Center. Prior to 2013, multiple small public elementary schools served the Newport community; the Pell School, a consolidation of those schools, opened in 2013.<ref name=Borgoverc>{{cite web|author=Borg, Linda|url=http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20180224/newports-newest-school-already-bursting-at-seams|title=Newport's newest school already bursting at the seams|work=[[Providence Journal]]|date=February 24, 2018|access-date=June 2, 2018}}</ref>

St. Michael's Country Day School is the only private elementary school in the city.<ref>[http://smcds.org/ Home]. St. Michael's Country Day School. Retrieved on June 4, 2018. "ST MICHAEL’S COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL 180 Rhode Island Avenue Newport, RI 02840"</ref> Nearby private primary schools include All Saints Academy in [[Middletown, Rhode Island|Middletown]], The Pennfield School in [[Portsmouth, Rhode Island|Portsmouth]], and St. Philomena School in Portsmouth.<ref name=WalkerCurveball>{{cite web|author=Walker, Betsy Sherman|url=http://www.newportthisweek.com/news/2017-03-09/Front_Page/Navigating_the_Curveball_of_Cluny_School_Closing.html|title=Navigating the Curveball of Cluny School Closing|work=[[Newport This Week]]|publisher=[[Island Communications]]|date=March 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604010358/http://www.newportthisweek.com/news/2017-03-09/Front_Page/Navigating_the_Curveball_of_Cluny_School_Closing.html|access-date=June 4, 2018|archive-date=June 4, 2018}}</ref> Nearby private secondary schools include [[Portsmouth Abbey School]] in Portsmouth and [[St. George's School (Rhode Island)|St. George's School]] in Middletown.

St. Joseph of Cluny School was formerly located in Newport, on property given by the estate of Arthur Curtiss James to the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence]] in 1941. Military families from [[Fort Adams]] requested a Catholic school, so St. Joseph of Cluny opened in September 1957 as a kindergarten and added grades until 1965, when the first eighth-grade graduation was held.<ref>{{cite web|author=Belmore, Ryan|url=http://whatsupnewp.com/cluny-school-close-may-60-years/|title=Cluny School to Close After 60 Years (Updated)|work=[[What's Up Newp]]|date=March 1, 2017|access-date=June 4, 2018}}</ref> Later on, the overall population of Newport declined along with the concentration of middle class families. Much of the housing became too expensive for families with young children, and there were relatively few houses sold to new residents. In addition, many families previously going to the school instead sent their children to the [[Portsmouth School Department]].<ref name=WalkerCurveball/> From 2014 to 2017, the enrollment decreased by a quarter. The school administration stated that this decline and the general competition among private schools in the Newport area meant the operation of the school was no longer viable. It closed in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|author=Glavin, Kirsten|url=http://www.abc6.com/story/34644208/newport-elementary-school-to-close-at-end-of-academic-year|title=Newport elementary school to close at end of academic year|publisher=[[WLNE-TV]] ABC 6|date=March 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604010218/http://www.abc6.com/story/34644208/newport-elementary-school-to-close-at-end-of-academic-year|access-date=June 4, 2018|archive-date=June 4, 2018}}</ref> Betsy Sherman Walker of ''[[Newport This Week]]'' described the closure as a "curveball", unexpected by the community.<ref name=WalkerCurveball/>

===Tertiary education===
Post-secondary schools include the Naval Academy Preparatory School, [[Salve Regina University]], [[Naval War College]], International Yacht Restoration School, and the [[Community College of Rhode Island]] Newport Campus.

==Economy==
[[File:Shopping on Thames Street, Newport, Rhode Island.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Shopping on Thames Street]]
While technology and defense are the largest employment sectors in the region, seasonal tourism is a major economic engine of the city of Newport, including hotels, restaurants, and retail. As of 2013, 89.64% of all private employment in the city of Newport was in the service sector.<ref name="Economy" /> Retail trade was the third largest sector, with 1,341 jobs.<ref name="Economy" /> Retail and restaurant employment can swell by as many as 1,500 jobs during the peak summer season.<ref name="Economy">{{cite web |title=Our Island Economy |url=https://www.cityofnewport.com/visiting-newport/around-the-city/economy |website=City of Newport, Rhode Island |access-date=May 8, 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508205541/https://www.cityofnewport.com/visiting-newport/around-the-city/economy|archivedate=May 8, 2021}}</ref>

===Principal employers===
According to Newport's 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cityofnewport.com/CityOfNewport/media/City-Hall/Departments/Finance/Actuarial%20Reports/City-of-Newport-063022-ACFR.pdf|title=City of Newport ACFR |access-date=October 28, 2025 |archive-url= |archive-date= |url-status= }}</ref> the principal employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
|1
| [[Naval Undersea Warfare Center]]
|4,200
|-
|2
| [[Salve Regina University]]
|981
|-
|3
| [[Newport Hospital|Lifespan Newport Hospital]]
|831
|-
|4
| City of Newport
|766
|-
|5
| Pangaea Logistics Solutions
|750
|-
|6
| Newport Restaurant Group
|513
|-
|7
| [[Gurney's Inn|Gurney's Newport]]
|231
|-
|8
| [[Marriott International]] 
|182
|-
|9
| East Bay Community Action Program
|137
|-
|10
| [[Preservation Society of Newport County]]
|105
|}

==Notable people==
{{Main|List of people from Newport, Rhode Island}}

==Sister cities==
Newport's [[Sister city|sister cities]] are:<ref>{{cite web |title=Sister Cities|url=https://www.discovernewport.org/about-us/sister-cities/|website=discovernewport.org|publisher=Discover Newport|access-date=May 11, 2021}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Imperia]], Italy
*{{flagicon|IRL}} [[Kinsale]], Ireland
*{{flagicon|POR}} [[Ponta Delgada]], Portugal
*{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Saint John, New Brunswick]], Canada
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Shimoda, Shizuoka|Shimoda]], Japan
*{{flagicon|GRC}} [[Skiathos]], Greece

==See also==
* [[:Category: Buildings and structures in Newport, Rhode Island|Buildings and structures in Newport, Rhode Island]]
* [[Common Burying Ground and Island Cemetery]] (includes "God's Little Acre")

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
{{See also|Timeline of Newport, Rhode Island#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Newport, Rhode Island}}

* Bridenbaugh, Carl (1964) [1938]. [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.59788 ''Cities in the Wilderness: The First Century of Urban Life in America 1625–1742''] {{registration required}}. New York: Capricorn Books.
* Bridenbaugh, Carl (1964) [1900]. [https://archive.org/details/citiesinrevolt0000unse ''Cities in Revolt: Urban Life in America, 1743–1776''] {{registration required}}. New York: Capricorn Books.
* Crane, Elaine Forman (1985) [1955]. [https://archive.org/details/dependentpeoplen00cran_0 ''A Dependent People: Newport, Rhode Island in the Revolutionary Era''] {{registration required}}. New York: Fordham University Press.
* Crane, Elaine Forman (2018). ''The Poison Plot: A Tale of Adultery and Murder in Colonial Newport''. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
* Crane, Elaine F. (1980). [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01440398008574813 {{"'}}The First Wheel of Commerce': Newport, Rhode Island and the Slave Trade, 1760–1776"]. ''Slavery and Abolition'' 1#2 pp.&nbsp;178–198. {{doi|10.1080/01440398008574813}}.
* Downing, Antoinette Forrester, and Vincent Joseph Scully (1967). ''The Architectural Heritage of Newport, Rhode Island: 1640–1915''. CN Potter.
* Jefferys, C. P. B. (1992). ''Newport: A Short History''.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061114014844/http://www.projo.com/extra/2006/slavery/nav.htm "The Unrightious Traffick: Rhode Island's Slave History"], a seven-part 2006 ''[[Providence Journal]]'' series
* Withey, Lynne (1984). ''Urban Growth in Colonial Rhode Island: Newport and Providence in the Eighteenth Century''. SUNY Press.

===Older titles===
* S. G. Arnold (1859–1860). ''History of the State of Rhode Island'' (two volumes). New York.
* G. C. Mason (1884). ''Reminiscences of Newport''. Newport.
* E. M. Stone (1884). ''[https://archive.org/details/ourfrenchallies00stongoog <!-- quote=Our French Allies. --> Our French Allies]''. Providence.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070206184531/http://www.newporthistorical.org/journals.htm ''Newport History''], the journal of the [[Newport Historical Society]]
* [http://www.drawrm.com/mansions3.htm ''Newport Mansions: Postcards of the Gilded Age''] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016063402/http://www.drawrm.com/mansions3.htm |date=October 16, 2008 }}), Schiffer Publishing

==External links==
{{Wikisource|National Geographic Magazine/Volume 31/Number 4/Naval Training Station of Newport, Rhode Island}}
{{Commons category|Newport, Rhode Island}}
{{Wikivoyage|Newport (Rhode Island)|Newport}}
* [http://www.cityofnewport.com/ City of Newport official website]
* [https://www.discovernewport.org/ Discover Newport, official tourism website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100216162301/http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ma01/davis/newport/home/home.html "Class and Leisure at America's First Resort: Newport 1870–1914"] from American Studies at the University of Virginia
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Newport (Rhode Island)|display=Newport, a city, a port of entry and the county-seat of Newport county, Rhode Island, U.S.A. |short=x}}

{{Newport, Rhode Island}}
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[[Category:Newport, Rhode Island| ]]
[[Category:1639 establishments in Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Cities in Newport County, Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Cities in Rhode Island]]
[[Category:County seats in Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Former state capitals in the United States|Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Historic Jewish communities in the United States]]
[[Category:Narragansett Bay]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1639]]
[[Category:Providence metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Seaside resorts in Rhode Island]]