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| Take a virtual tour of Bristol (RI) including local real estate, landmarks and schools | ||||||
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Bristol Rhode Island (RI) Real Estate & Homes for Sale
Let Bristol RI real estate assist you in finding the right property to meet your needs from local area homes for sale, foreclosure listings (bank-owned), country properties, land, condominiums and equine facilities -- all through the RI real estate Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Request relocation information, or school statistics and neighborhood demographics.
Bristol, Rhode Island is bounded by 15 miles of coastline on Narragansett Bay. The town provides facilities for boating, swimming, and fishing. Residents enjoy swimming at Beach Terrace, Bristol Highlands, Bristol Narrows, and the Town Beach. Colt State Park provides a pleasant recess on the west side of the town overlooking Narragansett Bay. Situated on a peninsula between Narragansett Bay and Mt. Hope Bay, the town enjoys a climate more moderate than most New England communities, warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
The first battle of King Philip's War took place here in 1735; while Philip was ultimately deafeated, "Metacom," a variant of his Indian name, is now the name of one of the town's main roads. Mount Hope, the site of Philip's offensive, is now home to Brown University's Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, with more than 376 acres wooded acres housing an extensive collection of Native American artifacts along with the geological formation known as King Philip's Seat. Mount Hope Farm, a National Historic Register site with over 200 acres of meadows, woodland, streams, ponds and ocean vistas, sits adjacent to the museum grounds.
Sailing and shipbuilding have played an important role in the life of the community since the 17th century, and the town remains a living testament to New England's rich cultural heritage.The historic downtown area contains many fine examples of Colonial and Federal architecture from Bristol's seafaring era. The annual 4th of July parade is the oldest, largest, and most colorful in the nation, drawing more than 200,000 visitors from Rhode Island and around the world. The main campus of Roger Williams College is located on Mount Hope Bay, and is one of the few seaside campuses in the northeast. The town offers a wide variety of shops and restaurants as well as the Colt Estate, once home to the nephew of the famous arms manufacturer and now a stunning 464-acre coastal park; the East Bay Bike Path, which winds from Independence Park on Bristol Harbor to the city of North Providence, with spectacular views of Narragansett Bay along the way; the Joseph Reynolds House, built in 1700 and now a National Historic Landmark; the Herreshoff Marine Museum, which details the history of yacht design and the America's Cup regatta; the Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum, with some of the finest gardens in New England; and a scenic waterfront.
Through this site you will find comprehensive facts about as well as extensive information on buying or selling real estate in Bristol, Rhode Island. If you are looking to invest in Bristol real estate you will find a variety of opportunities available to you. Bristol Rhode Island real estate offers relocation information, residential real estate, new home construction and development, condominiums (condos), adult living communities (55+ communities), retirement homes and facilities, land, waterfront properties and multi-family investment properties. Bristol, RI, and the surrounding areas offer vacation homes, farms, equine facilities, country properties. To search the statewide MLS (multiple listings service) also referred to as RI MLS, for properties in Bristol based on a keyword search, click on the following:
Bristol new construction - RI custom homes, executive home building and development
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Bristol real estate - RI landed property, Rhode Island homes
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RHODE ISLAND THE MOST -- "HOPE"
The state boasts so much history that it is practically a living museum. This tiny coastal state has one of the country's highest concentations of historic landmarks. While the Gilded Age mansions of Newport are probably the state's most famous historic attraction, remnants of a colorful past can be found in every corner of its 1200-square-mile expanse.
The state was founded by Roger Williams in 1636, who established the first permanent white settlement on land he had purchased from the local Narragansett Indians. Forced to flee Massachusetts due to persecution, Williams founded the colony as a haven for religious and political freedom, attracting settlers who would not be welcome amidst the strict religious climate of the Puritans at Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay.
On May 4, 1776, the state renounced its allegiance to Great Britain and declared independence; it was the first of the thirteen colonies to do so. At the close of the Revolutionary War, independed-minded Rhode Islanders demanded the addition of the Bill of Rights, which protects individual liberties, before the state would ratify the U.S. Constitution.
The Revolutionary War era was followed by a period of industrial expansion. Samuel Slater established the nation's first water-powered cotton mill at Pawtucket in 1793; it was this development that signaled the beginning of America's Industrial Revolution. Nehemiah and Seril Dodge established the American jewel industry in Providence in the early 1800's, placing the city at the forefront of the industrial age.
Today, the state remains a leader in American industry; Providence, the state's capital city, has emerged as a retail center and hotbed of international commerce. At the same time, the countryside offers escape for residents and seasonal visitors alike, with classic New England town squares and restored colonial-era villages. The state's 400-mile shoreline offers bountiful opportunities for sailing and fishing, while over 100 beaches feature clambakes, music festivals, picnic areas and much more. The historic city of Newport boasts a colorful history of nearly 400 years; one of America's oldest commercial seaports, Newport has become a major tourist attraction with numerous colonial landmarks, historic boatyards, village shops and the famed "summer cottages" of the early 20th century, which served as getaways for the country's most powerful families in the late Victorian era. A living shrine to America's fabled past, Newport embodies Rhode Island's historic pride, while bustling Providence and its surrounding communities supply a crucial progressive edge for the future.
State Facts:
1,214 square miles
Population: 1,067,610 (2006)
Largest cities (2005): Providence, 176,862; Warwick, 87,233; Cranston, 81,614; Pawtucket, 73,742; East Providence, 49,515
Nicknamed "The Ocean State"
400 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline
Per capita income: $27,217 (2005)
Highest point: Jerimoth Hill (812 ft)
Climate:
New England is famous for its four distinct seasons, with brisk, snowy winters giving way to colorful springs and hot, humid summers. The state's coastal location makes its climate more moderate than that of most New England states. Don't be too surprised at the occasional 60-degree day in January…or the odd snowflake in May!
Government:
The state capital is Providence, located at the head of Narragansett Bay in the north-central region of the state. The state government has three branches: Executive, headed by the governor; Legislative, comprised of the Rhode Island General Assembly; and Juducial, headed by the Supreme Court.
Taxes:
The state generally imposes an income tax on all individuals that have Rhode Island-source income. The state personal income tax is 26% of the federal income tax liability. Property taxes are determined by an annual State Valuation and vary from town to town.