Wakefield-Peacedale, Rhode Island

Wakefield-Peacedale is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of South Kingstown in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States that includes the villages of Peace Dale and Wakefield. The population was 8,468 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Wakefield-Peacedale is located at 41°26′28″N 71°29′57″W / 41.44111°N 71.49917°W / 41.44111; -71.49917 (41.441234, -71.499290).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.1 mi² (13.2 km²). 4.9 mi² (12.6 km²) of it is land and 0.2 mi² (0.6 ²) (4.70%) is water.

Demographics

At the 2000 census, there were 8,468 people, 3,221 households and 2,174 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 671.4/km² (1,739.4/mi²). There were 3,385 housing units at an average density of 268.4/km² (695.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.34% White, 2.01% African American, 3.08% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 0.56% from other races, and 2.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.56% of the population.

Wakefield

Coordinates: 53°40′48″N 1°29′31″W / 53.6801°N 1.4920°W / 53.6801; -1.4920

Wakefield is a city in West Yorkshire, England, on the River Calder and the eastern edge of the Pennines, which had a population of 76,886 in 2001.

Wakefield was dubbed the "Merrie City" in the Middle Ages and in 1538 John Leland described it as, "a very quick market town and meately large; well served of fish and flesh both from sea and by rivers ... so that all vitaile is very good and chepe there. A right honest man shall fare well for 2d. a meal. ... There be plenti of se coal in the quarters about Wakefield".

The Battle of Wakefield took place in the Wars of the Roses and it was a Royalist stronghold in the Civil War. Wakefield became an important market town and centre for wool, exploiting its position on the navigable River Calder to become an inland port.

In the 18th century, Wakefield traded in corn, coal mining and textiles and in 1888 its parish church acquired cathedral status. It became the county town and seat of the West Riding County Council in 1889 and the West Yorkshire Metropolitan Council from 1974 until it was dissolved in 1986.

Norman Arthur Wakefield

Norman Arthur Wakefield (28 November 1918 – 23 September 1972) was an Australian teacher, naturalist, paleontologist and botanist, notable as an expert on ferns. He described many new species of plants.

Wakefield was born in Romsey, Victoria, and educated at state schools in Orbost and at Scotch College, Melbourne with a BSc in biology. He joined the Victorian Education Department in 1934 and served as a teacher in various parts of East Gippsland.

During the Second World War Wakefield served with the Australian Army in Papua and New Guinea (1943–1944) and on Bougainville (1944–1945). He returned from his war service with a collection of ferns now housed in the British Museum and the National Herbarium of Victoria.

From 1955 to 1965 he lectured in natural history and science at the Melbourne Teachers’ College. In 1960 he graduated as a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne, and in 1969 completed a MSc in paleontology at Monash University, as well as lecturing in biology at Monash Teachers’ College.

Wakefield (MBTA station)

Wakefield is a station on the Haverhill Line commuter rail line of the MBTA. This station services nearby Wakefield Square. It is officially located at 225 North Avenue, according to the MBTA. However the actual location is across the tracks, which run parallel to North Avenue. The station is also described by some as being located at 27-29 Tuttle Street, which runs behind the station between Albion and Chestnut Streets.

Wakefield Station was originally built in 1889 by the Boston and Maine Railroad, as Wakefield Upper Depot. Another former B&M station built in the 1950s is located to the north on the corner of Tuttle and Chestnut Streets, and a former freight house built by B&M sometime around 1845 can be found south of Wakefield Square along North Avenue. The 1950s station house is now a law office, and the station operates from sheltered platforms in front of the B&M Depot, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

Bus connections