Portsmouth

Portsmouth is a coastal town in Newport County, Rhode Island. Located on Aquidneck Island with neighboring towns of Middletown and Newport, the only way to arrive in Portsmouth is by bridge. The town has a total area of 59.3 square miles with a population of approximately 17,000 residents. Portsmouth was settled in 1638 by a group of religious dissenters from Massachusetts Bay Colony, including Dr. John Clarke, William Coddington and Anne Hutchinson. It is named after Portsmouth in Hampshire, England. Roger Williams convinced the settlers that they should go there instead of settling in the Province of New Jersey where they had first planned on going. It was founded by the signers of the Portsmouth Compact. Its original Indian name was Pocasset, and it was officially named Portsmouth on May 12, 1639. It became part of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (Aquidneck Island) and eventually part of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Portsmouth is the second-oldest municipality in Rhode Island, after Providence; it was one of the four colonies which merged to form the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, the others being Providence, Newport, and Warwick. Portsmouth is home to family-friendly Sandy Point and McCorrie Beach where paddle boarding, swimming and boating await. Both rocky beaches are part of the Sakonnet River Passage. Portsmouth is home to many local farms where you can enjoy pick-your-own fruit during the summer and fall seasons. Ride your bike along the waterfront in the Island Park neighborhood or grab a fresh clam cake from the famous Flo’s Clam Shack. Many locally owned restaurants can be found throughout the town, boasting a wide selection of culinary cuisine. The Newport International Polo series is a popular event to attend every Saturday night in the summertime. We would recommend that you get there early! This relaxing, fun atmosphere is very well attended by people of all ages enjoying a night outdoors.