Most People Don’t Know The Meaning Behind These 9 Rhode Island Village Names

Rhode Island is divided up into a network of towns and villages. Many of these places got their names from the original settlers who brought industry to the community. However, some village names have their roots in other areas. From Native American words to other inspirations, you might not know the meanings behind these locations' names.

1. Usquepaug

Usquepaug is a village divided between the towns of towns of Richmond and South Kingstown. The word Usquepaug has Native American roots meaning water of life or whiskey.

2. Waterford

Waterford is a village located on St. Paul Street in North Smithfield. Waterford was created in 1824 by Welcome Farnum who constructed a textile mill on Branch River. He named the village for Waterford, Ireland where many of his Irish workers originated from.

3. Chepachet

Originally inhabited by Pequot and Nipmuc natives in its earliest days, Chepachet means where rivers meet.

4. Quonochontaug

Quonochontaug is a coastal village in the town of Charlestown. The Native American word means black fish.

5. Hope Valley

Hope Valley is a village in Hopkinton and was originally named Carpenter's Mills. The name was changed by textile mill owner, Gardner Nichols, who is said to have pinned all his hopes on the success of the village.

6. Galilee

Found on Point Judith in the town of Narragansett, Galilee takes its name from the biblical fishing village with the same name.

7. Quidnick

Located in the town of Coventry, Quidnick is a village that was first named Greeneville for a family that opened an iron-forge in the mid-18th century. Later renamed Taftville for a local cotton manufacturer, the village acquired its present name in 1840. Quidnick is the Native American word meaning at the end of the hill.

8. Matunuck

Found in South Kingstown, Matunuck is another village with a Native American term. The word means lookout.

9. Adamsville

The historic village of Adamsville in Little Compton was settled in 1675. It was named after our second president, John Adams.

Did you know the meaning behind all of these village names? Did you at least know half of them? Continue on with your lesson in lingo and learn about the meaning behind these popular beach names here.