📍 Location & Geography
Coventry is a town located in Kent County, in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It is the largest town in the state by land area, encompassing a total area of 62.3 square miles (161.5 km²), of which, 59.5 square miles (154.1 km²) of it is land and 2.8 square miles (7.4 km²) of it (4.63%) is water. The town is bordered by West Greenwich to the west, East Greenwich to the east, West Warwick to the southeast, and Foster to the north.
🌎 Coordinates
The geographical coordinates for Coventry are approximately 41.68 degrees north latitude and 71.57 degrees west longitude.
🗺️ Region & Area
Coventry is situated in the eastern region of Kent County. It is part of the Providence metropolitan area, which is the largest metropolitan area in Rhode Island and the 38th largest metropolitan area in the United States.
👥 Population & Demographics
As of the 2010 Census, the population of Coventry was 35,014, making it the third most populous town in Rhode Island. The racial makeup of the town was 96.1% White, 0.8% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. The town has a fairly even distribution of age groups, with a median age of 40 years.
🏛️ History
Coventry was first settled by English colonists in the early 18th century, when it was part of Warwick. In 1741, it was incorporated as a separate town by the Rhode Island General Assembly. The town was named after Coventry, England, the native land of a large share of its initial settlers. Coventry played an active role in the American Revolutionary War, with the most notable event being the capture of British General Richard Prescott in 1777.
🏞️ Nature & Environment
Coventry is known for its beautiful and diverse natural environment. The town is home to several parks and nature reserves, including the George B. Parker Woodland Wildlife Refuge, a 860-acre nature and wildlife preserve. Coventry also has several bodies of water, including the Flat River Reservoir (Johnson’s Pond), which is a popular spot for boating and fishing.
🏫 Education
Coventry Public Schools oversees the education of students in the town, running five elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. The town is also home to the regional career and technical center, the Coventry Regional Career and Technical Center, which offers vocational and technical education to students from Coventry and surrounding towns.
🚧 Transportation
Coventry is served by several state highways, including Rhode Island Route 3 (Tiogue Avenue), which is the main thoroughfare through the town. The town is also located near Interstate 95, providing easy access to Providence and other major cities in the region. Public transportation in Coventry is provided by the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA), which operates bus routes in the town.
📜 Trivia & Events
Coventry is home to the annual Coventry Farmers’ Market, one of the largest farmers’ markets in the state. The town also hosts the annual Coventry PTA Spring Arts Festival, which showcases the artistic talents of local students. A notable piece of trivia is that Nathanael Greene, a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War, was born in Coventry.