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48-569: South County may refer to the following: Counties in the United States [ edit ] South County (Rhode Island) , a vernacular name for Washington County, Rhode Island South County (Massachusetts) , a region of Massachusetts South County, a name for the southern part of St. Louis County, Missouri used by residents of the Greater St. Louis area of Missouri and Illinois South County,

96-633: A "Y-dialect", similar enough to the "N-dialects" of the Massachusett and Wampanoag to be mutually intelligible. Other Y-dialects include the Shinnecock and Pequot languages spoken historically by tribes on Long Island and in Connecticut, respectively. The Narragansett language became almost entirely extinct during the 20th century. The tribe has begun language revival efforts, based on early 20th-century books and manuscripts, and new teaching programs. In

144-601: A considerable part of the tribe emigrated to the State of New York, joining other Indians there who belonged to the same Algonquin language group. Nevertheless, in the 1740s during the First Great Awakening , colonists founded the Narragansett Indian Church to convert Indians to Christianity. In the ensuing years, the tribe retained control and ownership of the church and its surrounding 3 acres (12,000 m ),

192-410: A converted " Praying Indian ", was found bludgeoned to death in a pond. The facts were never settled concerning Sassamon's death, but historians accept that Wampanoag sachem Metacomet (known as Philip) may have ordered his execution because Sassamon cooperated with colonial authorities. Three Wampanoag men were arrested, convicted, and hanged for Sassamon's death. Metacomet subsequently declared war on

240-649: A cultural and geographical area of Orange County, California See also [ edit ] South County Airport , an airport in Santa Clara County, California South County Center , a shopping mall in Mehlville, Missouri South Dublin (UK Parliament constituency) , a county constituency in Ireland from 1885 to 1922 South County Secondary School , a school in Lorton, Virginia [REDACTED] Topics referred to by

288-461: A definitive study on it in 1643 entitled A Key Into the Language of America . He traced the source of the word Narragansett to a geographical location: Being inquisitive of what root the title or denomination Nahigonset should come I heard that Nahigonsset was so named from a little island, between Puttaquomscut and Mishquomacuk on the sea and fresh water side. I went on purpose to see it, and about

336-414: A fairly precise localization: He states that the place was "a little island, between Puttaquomscut and Mishquomacuk on the sea and fresh water side", and that it was near Sugar Loaf Hill. This means it was: This suggests that the original Narragansett homeland was identified by 17th-century natives as being a little island located near the northern edge of Point Judith Pond, possibly Harbor Island or one of

384-465: A threatening challenge, but Plymouth governor William Bradford sent the snakeskin back filled with gunpowder and bullets. The Narragansetts understood the message and did not attack them. European settlement in the Narragansett territory did not begin until 1635; in 1636, Roger Williams acquired land from Narragansett sachems Canonicus and Miantonomi and established Providence Plantations . During

432-439: A variety of different ways, perhaps attesting to different local pronunciations. The present spelling "Narragansett" was first used by Massachusetts governor John Winthrop in his History of New England (1646); but assistant governor Edward Winslow spelled it "Nanohigganset", while Rhode Island preacher Samuel Gorton preferred "Nanhyganset"; Roger Williams , who founded the city of Providence and came into closest contact with

480-695: Is designated in the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission inventory of recorded archaeological sites as site RI 110. Excavations revealed the remains of a coastal village from the Late Woodland period , inhabited by about 100 people for about four years, sometime in the tenth or eleventh centuries A.D. Evidence of houses and other structures was found, as well as food storage pits, and evidence of maize farming. The find turned out to be an important one, because no other Native American coastal village has ever been found in

528-427: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages South County (Rhode Island) Washington County , known locally as South County , is a county located in the U.S. state of Rhode Island . As of the 2020 census , the population was 129,839. Rhode Island counties have no governmental functions other than as court administrative boundaries, which are part of

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576-670: The Caribbean ; others became indentured servants in Rhode Island. The surviving Narragansetts merged with local tribes, particularly the Eastern Niantics. During colonial and later times, tribe members intermarried with colonists and Africans. Their spouses and children were taken into the tribe, enabling them to keep a tribal and cultural identity. Ninigret , the chief sachem of the Narragansetts during King Philip's War, died soon after

624-582: The English Restoration , in honor of King Charles II. Towns reflecting this history include the two Kingstowns and Charlestown, as well as the villages of Kingston and West Kingston . Washington County is also known in Rhode Island as "South County", though some definitions of South County include outside towns, such as East Greenwich in neighboring Kent County , and exclude towns within Washington County, such as New Shoreham . According to

672-752: The Pequot War of 1637, the Narragansetts allied with the New England colonists. However, the brutality of the colonists in the Mystic massacre shocked the Narragansetts, who returned home in disgust. After the Pequots were defeated, the colonists gave captives to their allies the Narragansetts and the Mohegans . The Narragansetts later had conflict with the Mohegans over control of the conquered Pequot land. In 1643, Miantonomi led

720-441: The U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 563 square miles (1,460 km ), of which 329 square miles (850 km ) is land and 234 square miles (610 km ) (41%) is water. It is the largest county in Rhode Island by total area. The county's topography ranges from flat along the shoreline to gently rolling hills farther inland. The highest point is a large area approximately 560 feet (170 m) above sea level in

768-705: The United States Supreme Court , as the state challenged the removal of new lands from state oversight by a tribe recognized by the US after the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act . Rhode Island was joined in its appeal by 21 other states. In 2009, the US Supreme Court ruled that the Department of the Interior could not take land into trust, removing it from state control, if a tribe had achieved federal recognition after

816-529: The 17th century, Roger Williams learned the tribe's language. He documented it in his 1643 work A Key into the Language of America . In that book Williams gave the tribe's name as Nanhigganeuck though later he used the spelling Nahigonset . American English has absorbed a number of loan words from Narragansett and other closely related languages, such as Wampanoag and Massachusett. Such words include quahog , moose , papoose , powwow , squash , and succotash . The Narragansetts were one of

864-1031: The 1934 Indian Reorganization Act , and if the land in question was acquired after that federal recognition. Their determination was based on wording in the act which defines "Indian" as "all persons of Indian descent who are members of any recognized tribe now under federal jurisdiction." The tribe is led by an elected tribal council, a chief sachem , a medicine man , and a Christian leader. The entire tribal population must approve major decisions. The administration in 2023 was: Tribal Council Cassius Spears, Jr., 1st Councilman Mike Monroe Sr, 2nd Councilman Councilman: John Pompey Councilman: Lonny Brown, Sr. Councilwoman: Yvonne Lamphere Councilman: Keith Sampson Councilman: Shawn Perry Councilman: John Mahoney Councilman, Raymond Lamphere Tribal Secretary, Monica Stanton Assistant Tribal Secretary: Betty Johnson Tribal Treasurer: Mary S. Brown Assistant Tribal Treasurer: Walter K. Babcock Some present-day Narragansett people believe that their name means "people of

912-587: The Exeter neighborhood of Black Plain; the lowest point is sea level along the coast. The northern boundary west of Davisville is approximately 41.60°N. The western boundary north of Westerly is approximately 71.79°W. As of the 2010 United States Census , there were 126,979 people, 49,177 households, and 32,297 families residing in the county. The population density was 385.7 inhabitants per square mile (148.9/km ). There were 62,206 housing units at an average density of 188.9 per square mile (72.9/km ). The racial makeup of

960-623: The Manisseans on Block Island gave that island to the Massachusetts Bay Colony for a number of years, before being transferred to the Rhode Island Colony under Newport County , and then finally to Washington County in 1959. The borders of the Narragansett country were disputed for nearly 100 years among the colonies of Rhode Island, Connecticut , and Massachusetts . The Narragansetts had pledged their fealty to King Charles, and

1008-507: The Mohegan fort at Shantok. The colonists then threatened to invade Narragansett territory, so Canonicus and his son Mixanno signed a peace treaty. The peace lasted for the next 30 years. Christian missionaries began to convert tribal members and many Indians feared that they would lose their traditions by assimilating into colonial culture, and the colonists' push for religious conversion collided with Indian resistance. In 1675, John Sassamon ,

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1056-409: The Mohegans for his demise. While travelling back in the forests of northern Connecticut, Uncas's brother slew Miantonomi by bludgeoning him on the head with a club. The following year, Narragansett war leader Pessicus renewed the war with the Mohegans, and the number of Narragansett allies grew. The Mohegans were on the verge of defeat when the colonists came and saved them, sending troops to defend

1104-459: The Narragansett people, used a host of different spellings including "Nanhiggonsick", "Nanhigonset", "Nanihiggonsicks", "Nanhiggonsicks", "Narriganset", "Narrogonset", and "Nahigonsicks". Underneath this diversity of spelling a common phonetic background can be discerned. Linguist James Hammond Trumbull explains that naiag or naiyag means a corner or angle in the Algonquian languages , so that

1152-420: The Narragansetts in an invasion of eastern Connecticut where they planned to subdue the Mohegans and their leader Uncas . Miantonomi had an estimated 1,000 men under his command. The Narragansett forces fell apart, and Miantonomi was captured. The Mohegans then took Miantonomi to Hartford to turn him in for his execution, to which they where in favor but did not want blood on their hands, so they returned him to

1200-713: The Northeastern United States. A documentary film about the site was sponsored by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, with support from the Federal Highway Administration, and aired on Rhode Island PBS in November 2015. Excerpts can be seen on Vimeo . Traditionally, the tribe spoke the Narragansett language , a member of the Algonquian languages family. The Narragansetts spoke

1248-535: The area was known as "The King's Province" and was placed under the authority of Rhode Island "until the King's pleasure was further known". In 1664, a royal commission under Charles II stepped in to adjudicate these conflicting claims. The commission extinguished the claims of Massachusetts, and Rhode Island was granted jurisdiction until the commission finished processing Connecticut's appeals, which were not ended until 1726. Settlements of King's Province were named to reflect

1296-615: The colonists and started King Philip's War . He escaped an attempt to trap him in the Plymouth Colony, and the uprising spread throughout Massachusetts as other bands joined the fight, such as the Nipmuc. The Indians wanted to expel the colonists from New England. They waged successful attacks on settlements in Massachusetts and Connecticut, but Rhode Island was spared at the beginning, as the Narragansetts remained officially neutral. However,

1344-547: The county was 93.8% white, 1.6% Asian, 1.2% black or African American, 0.9% American Indian, 0.7% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.4% of the population. The largest ancestry groups were: Of the 49,177 households, 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.3% were non-families, and 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size

1392-451: The county, and their owners became very wealthy. The labor for these farms came from enslaved people; it is estimated that about 15% and 25% of Washington County’s population was enslaved. Washington County was created as Kings County in 1729 within the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations . It was renamed Washington County on October 29, 1781, in honor of George Washington . At

1440-695: The earliest stage of colonial settlement, the area was called "The Narragansett Country", named after the Naragansett tribe and its tributary tribe the Niantics , both of whom lived in the area. Early land purchases in the Narragansett Country were effected by settlers after the establishment of Indian trading posts at Fort Neck in Charlestown , and at Smith's Castle in Wickford . A series of conflicts involving

1488-534: The leaders of the United Colonies (Massachusetts, Plymouth, and Connecticut) accused the Narragansetts of harboring Wampanoag refugees. They made a preemptive attack on the Narragansett palisade fortress on December 19, 1675 in a battle that became known as the Great Swamp Fight . Hundreds of Narragansett non-combatants died in the attack and burning of the fort, including women and children, but nearly all of

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1536-655: The leading tribes of New England, controlling the west of Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island and portions of Connecticut and eastern Massachusetts , from the Providence River on the northeast to the Pawcatuck River on the southwest. The first European contact was in 1524 when explorer Giovanni de Verrazzano visited Narragansett Bay. Between 1616 and 1619, infectious diseases killed thousands of Algonquians in coastal areas south of Rhode Island. The Narragansetts were

1584-464: The little points and bays". Pritzker's Native American Encyclopedia translates the name as "(People) of the Small Point". The Narragansett language died out in the 19th century, so modern attempts to understand its words have to make use of written sources. The earliest such sources are the writings of English colonists in the 1600s, and at that time the name of the Narragansett people was spelled in

1632-574: The most powerful tribe in the southern area of the region when the English colonists arrived in 1620, and they had not been affected by the epidemics. Chief Massasoit of the Wampanoags to the east allied with the colonists at Plymouth Colony as a way to protect the Wampanoags from Narragansett attacks. In the fall of 1621, the Narragansetts sent a sheaf of arrows wrapped in a snakeskin to Plymouth Colony as

1680-511: The now-weakened Narragansetts. A force of Mohegans and Connecticut militia captured Narragansett sachem Canonchet a few days after the destruction of Providence Plantations, while a force of Plymouth militia and Wampanoags hunted down Metacomet. He was shot and killed, ending the war in southern New England, although it dragged on for another two years in Maine. After the war, the colonists sold some surviving Narragansetts into slavery and shipped them to

1728-515: The only land that it could keep. This continuous ownership was critical evidence of tribal continuity when the tribe applied for federal recognition in 1983. In the 19th century, the tribe resisted repeated state efforts to declare that it was no longer an Indian tribe because its members were multiracial in ancestry. They contended that they absorbed other ethnicities into their tribe and continued to identify culturally as Narragansetts. The tribal leaders resisted increasing legislative pressure after

1776-483: The place called Sugar Loaf Hill I saw it and was within a pole of it [ i.e. a rod or 16 + 1 ⁄ 2 feet ], but could not learn why it was called Nahigonset. Berkeley anthropologist William Simmons (1938-2018), who specialized in the Narragansett people, gives Roger Williams's statement as the last word on the matter, indicating that the precise location of the place seen by Williams could not be determined. But in fact Roger Williams's statement does enable

1824-470: The prefix nai is found in the names of many points of land on the sea coast and rivers of New England (e.g. Nayatt Point in Barrington, RI, and Noyack on Long Island). The word nai-ig-an-set , according to Trumbull, signifies "the territory about the point", and nai-ig-an-eog means "the people of the point". Roger Williams spent much time learning and studying the Narragansett language, and he wrote

1872-558: The request in their lawsuit Carcieri v. Salazar , declaring that tribes which had achieved federal recognition since the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act did not have standing to have newly acquired lands taken into federal trust and removed from state control. The Narragansett tribe was recognized by the federal government in 1983 and controls the Narragansett Indian Reservation , 1,800 acres (7.3 km ) of trust lands in Charlestown, Rhode Island . A small portion of

1920-430: The same term This disambiguation page lists articles about distinct geographical locations with the same name. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=South_County&oldid=1251053799 " Category : Place name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description

1968-598: The smaller islands there. In 1987, while conducting a survey for a development company, archaeologists from Rhode Island College discovered the remains of an Indian village on a site northeast of Point Judith Pond, adjacent to the land where the Salt Pond Shopping Center was subsequently built. The archaeological site has since been purchased by the State of Rhode Island, and is known as the Salt Pond Archaeological Site or Salt Pond Preserve, and

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2016-484: The state government. The area today known as Washington County was part of the ancestral lands of the Narragansett Indian Tribe . During the second half of the 17th Century, about a dozen English colonists from Newport and Massachusetts colonies moved to the area to establish farms; the larger of these were known as "Narragansett Planters." By the mid-18th century, there were 25 to 30 large plantations in

2064-540: The tribe resides on or near the reservation, according to the 2000 U.S. Census . Additionally, they own several hundred acres in Westerly . In 1991, the Narragansetts purchased 31 acres (130,000 m ) in Charlestown for development of elderly housing. In 1998, they requested that the Department of the Interior take the property into trust on behalf of the tribe, to remove it from state and local control. The case went to

2112-402: The war. He left four children by two wives. His eldest child, a daughter, succeeded him, and upon her death her half-brother Ninigret succeeded her. He left a will dated 1716–17, and died about 1722. His sons Charles Augustus and George succeeded him as sachems. George's son Thomas, commonly known as King Tom, succeeded in 1746. While King Tom was sachem, much of the Narragansett land was sold, and

2160-588: The warriors escaped. In January 1676, colonist Joshua Tefft was hanged, drawn, and quartered by colonial forces at Smith's Castle in Wickford, Rhode Island for having fought on the side of the Narragansetts during the Great Swamp Fight. The Indians retaliated for the massacre in a widespread spring offensive beginning in February 1676 in which they destroyed all Colonial settlements on the western side of Narragansett Bay. The settlement of Providence Plantations

2208-644: Was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 42.3 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 70,285 and the median income for a family was $ 87,999. Males had a median income of $ 59,598 versus $ 44,851 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 34,737. About 3.4% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line , including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over. Similar to other counties in Rhode Island, Washington County votes Democratic in presidential elections, having last voted Republican in 1984 . Narragansett people The tribe

2256-502: Was burned on March 27, 1676, destroying Roger Williams's house, among others. Other Indian groups destroyed many towns throughout New England, and even raided outlying settlements near Boston. However, disease, starvation, battle losses, and the lack of gunpowder caused the Indian effort to collapse by the end of March. Troops from Connecticut composed of colonists and their Mohegan allies swept into Rhode Island and killed substantial numbers of

2304-464: Was nearly landless for most of the 20th century but acquired land in 1991 and petitioned the Department of the Interior to take the land into trust on their behalf. This would have made the newly acquired land to be officially recognized as part of the Narragansett Indian reservation , taking it out from under Rhode Island's legal authority. In 2009, the United States Supreme Court ruled against

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