Middletown was initially just a stop for traders about halfway along a cart road between the Appoquinimink Creek in Delaware and the Bohemia River in Maryland. A farming community rose among its rich soil in the 1600s, and settlers began to call the area home. The town was incorporated in 1861, and its limits stretched one-half mile in each direction from the crossroads at Main and Broad Streets. Middletown developed its own industry of trade and agriculture and became locally famous for crops such as peaches. The number of Middletown residents increased slowly until the town's vast stretches of farmland and proximity to four major cities began to attract residential and commercial developers in the 1980s. The population skyrocketed from 2,946 in 1981 to 18,995 in 2011, and the boundaries were extended multiple times. The community's charm and agricultural roots still remain, and thousands flock to the town annually to celebrate its heritage at the Middletown Historical Society's Olde-Tyme Peach Festival.
Middletown, founded in 1743, is one of Rhode Island's earliest settlements. Rich in history and natural beauty, its glacial soil has been farmed for at least 1,000 years. The farmers of Middletown were hardworking men and women who were interested in art, culture, and politics. Also passionate about horses, they produced the first American horse breed, the Narragansett Pacer. Although farming is no longer a major occupation, a farming renaissance is under way, generated by organic and local foods movements. Over the years, the Navy has become the largest employer on the island, having established facilities there during World War II. The scenic beauty of Middletown has caused a large section of it to be called "Paradise." This unique region, inspiration to generations of artists, has played an important part in the history of American art.
Middletown, founded in 1743, is one of Rhode Island's earliest settlements. Rich in history and natural beauty, its glacial soil has been farmed for at least 1,000 years. The farmers of Middletown were hardworking men and women who were interested in art, culture, and politics. Also passionate about horses, they produced the first American horse breed, the Narragansett Pacer. Although farming is no longer a major occupation, a farming renaissance is under way, generated by organic and local foods movements. Over the years, the Navy has become the largest employer on the island, having established facilities there during World War II. The scenic beauty of Middletown has caused a large section of it to be called "Paradise." This unique region, inspiration to generations of artists, has played an important part in the history of American art.
Middletown was initially just a stop for traders about halfway along a cart road between the Appoquinimink Creek in Delaware and the Bohemia River in Maryland. A farming community rose among its rich soil in the 1600s, and settlers began to call the area home. The town was incorporated in 1861, and its limits stretched one-half mile in each direction from the crossroads at Main and Broad Streets. Middletown developed its own industry of trade and agriculture and became locally famous for crops such as peaches. The number of Middletown residents increased slowly until the town's vast stretches of farmland and proximity to four major cities began to attract residential and commercial developers in the 1980s. The population skyrocketed from 2,946 in 1981 to 18,995 in 2011, and the boundaries were extended multiple times. The community's charm and agricultural roots still remain, and thousands flock to the town annually to celebrate its heritage at the Middletown Historical Society's Olde-Tyme Peach Festival.
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