1625History
Cities in the Wilderness: The First Century of Urban Life in America 1625–1742 (registration required).
1639Government
== History ==
=== Colonial period ===
Newport was founded in 1639 on Rhode Island, which is now called Aquidneck Island.
1640Infrastructure
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.
1658Infrastructure
In 1658, a group of Jews was welcomed to settle in Newport, fleeing the Inquisition in Spain and Portugal.
1663Government
The Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations received its royal charter in 1663.
1673Architecture
The White Horse Tavern was built prior to 1673 and is one of the oldest taverns in the US.
1699Infrastructure
The Great Friends Meeting House in Newport (1699) is the oldest existing structure of worship in Rhode Island.
1727Infrastructure
In 1727, James Franklin (brother of Benjamin Franklin) printed the Rhode-Island Almanack in Newport.
1732History
In 1732, he published the first newspaper, the Rhode Island Gazette.
1741Infrastructure
The Old Colony House at the head of Washington Square in Newport served as the seat of Rhode Island's government from 1741 until the current Rhode Island State House was complet...
1743History
Cities in Revolt: Urban Life in America, 1743–1776 (registration required).
1745History
Most prominent among them was Jacob Rodrigues Rivera, who arrived in 1745 (died 1789).
1758Government
In 1758, his son James founded the weekly newspaper Mercury.
1760Infrastructure
"'The First Wheel of Commerce': Newport, Rhode Island and the Slave Trade, 1760–1776".
1764Infrastructure
In 1764, Rhode Island had about 30 rum distilleries, 22 in Newport alone.
1776History
On December 8, 1776, the British occupied the city without opposition.
1779History
In 1779, the British abandoned the location.
1780Government
This community of freemen, including Newport Gardner, founded the Free African Union Society in 1780, the first African mutual aid society in America.
1781Civil Rights
In July 1781, Rochambeau was finally able to leave Newport for Providence to begin the decisive march to Yorktown, Virginia, along with General George Washington.
1787History
Slaves were trafficked illegally into Rhode Island, breaking a 1787 law prohibiting residents of the state from trading in slaves.
1790Infrastructure
It was in Newport that the Rhode Island General Assembly voted to ratify the Constitution in 1790 and become the 13th state, acting under pressure from the merchant community of...
1794Infrastructure
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 1807 Congressional a...
1834Architecture
The theater was built as a church in 1834, and was converted into a movie theater in 1922.
1839Economy
=== Summer mansions ===
Beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, wealthy southern planters seeking to escape the heat began to build summer cottages on Bellevue Avenue, such as...
1852Architecture
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.
1854Infrastructure
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 ...
1861Military
Naval Academy during the American Civil War (1861–65) when the undergraduate officer training school was temporarily moved north from Annapolis, Maryland.
1880Infrastructure
The League of American Wheelmen was formed in Newport in 1880.
1881Infrastructure
national tennis championships were held in 1881 on grass courts at the Newport Casino.
1895Architecture
By the turn of the 20th century, many of the nation's wealthiest families were summering in Newport, including the Vanderbilts, Astors, and the Widener family, who constructed t...
1919History
Since its formation in 1919, the amateur George Donnelly Sunset League has played at Cardines Field.
1930History
Open tournaments in both tennis and golf, as well as every challenge for the America's Cup between 1930 and 1983.
1941Education
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.
1952History
From 1952 to 1973, it hosted the Cruiser-Destroyer Force of the U.S.
1953History
Mary's Church and were married there on September 12, 1953.
1954Government
The Jazz Festival was established in 1954 by local socialite Elaine Lorillard and music promoter George Wein.
1956Infrastructure
Newport has been a filming location for several motion pictures, including High Society (1956), The Great Gatsby (1974), Mr.
1957Architecture
Joseph of Cluny opened in September 1957 as a kindergarten and added grades until 1965, when the first eighth-grade graduation was held.
1959Government
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.
1964History
Bridenbaugh, Carl (1964) [1900].
1965Culture
The Folk Festival was the venue for a controversial performance by singer-songwriter Bob Dylan in July 1965 that proved influential on the folk rock genre.
1967History
Downing, Antoinette Forrester, and Vincent Joseph Scully (1967).
1968Government
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.
1969Military
It was held in Newport through 1969, returned to the city in 1985, and has been held annually at Fort Adams since.
1971Government
It was held annually until 1971, and was re-established in Newport in 1981.
1973Disaster
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.
1974Culture
The theater was renamed after singer Jane Pickens in 1974.
1976History
The Hall of Fame Open has been held every July since 1976, during the week following Wimbledon.
1985History
Crane, Elaine Forman (1985) [1955].
1988History
North (1988), Wind (1992), True Lies (1994), Amistad (1997), Me, Myself & Irene (2000), Dan in Real Life (2007), Moonrise Kingdom (2012), Irrational Man (2015) and Hocus Pocus 2...
1995Infrastructure
More recently, the Newport Country Club hosted the 1995 Men's US Amateurs and the 2006 U.S.
2001Infrastructure
Since 2001, the venue has played host to the Newport Gulls, a collegiate summer baseball team.
2005Sports
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.
2006Culture
"The Unrightious Traffick: Rhode Island's Slave History", a seven-part 2006 Providence Journal series
Withey, Lynne (1984).
2009History
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.
2010History
The USS Forrestal (CV-59) shared the pier until June 2010.
2013History
=== 2013 update ===
As of 2013, there were 24,027 people, 10,616 households, and 4,933 families residing in the city.
2014History
The 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 Brown...
2016History
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 wa...
2018History
Crane, Elaine Forman (2018).
2019History
The city was chosen as the new home of the National Sailing Hall of Fame which moved from Annapolis, Maryland in 2019.
2023History
Save the Bay had previously operated an aquarium at Easton's Beach until October 2023.
2024Culture
The Jane Pickens Theater became the only movie theater on Aquidneck Island after a multiplex theater in Middletown closed in January 2024.