Kent County is a county located in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. As of the 2020 census, the population was 170,363, making it the second-most populous county in Rhode Island. The county was formed in 1750 from the southern third of Providence County. It was named after the county of Kent, England. Kent County, like other counties in Rhode Island, no longer has governmental functions (other than as court administrative and sheriff corrections boundaries). Its seat is East Greenwich. Kent County is included in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn constitutes a portion of the greater Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT Combined Statistical Area.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 188 square miles (490 km), of which 169 square miles (440 km) is land and 20 square miles (52 km) (10%) is water.

• Providence County - north
• Bristol County - east
• Washington County - south
• New London County, Connecticut - southwest
• Windham County, Connecticut - west
• Newport County - southeast

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1790	8,851		—
1800	8,487		−4.1%
1810	9,834		15.9%
1820	10,228		4.0%
1830	12,789		25.0%
1840	13,083		2.3%
1850	15,068		15.2%
1860	17,303		14.8%
1870	18,595		7.5%
1880	20,588		10.7%
1890	26,754		29.9%
1900	29,976		12.0%
1910	36,378		21.4%
1920	38,269		5.2%
1930	51,390		34.3%
1940	58,311		13.5%
1950	77,763		33.4%
1960	112,619		44.8%
1970	142,382		26.4%
1980	154,163		8.3%
1990	161,135		4.5%
2000	167,090		3.7%
2010	166,158		−0.6%
2020	170,363		2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2019

As of the census of 2000, there were 167,090 people, 67,320 households, and 44,969 families living in the county. The population density was 982 inhabitants per square mile (379/km). There were 70,365 housing units at an average density of 414 per square mile (160/km). The racial makeup of the county was 95.54% White, 0.93% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. 1.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.1% were of Italian, 18.9% Irish, 11.1% English, 10.1% French, 6.1% French Canadian and 6.1% Portuguese ancestry, 92.0% spoke English, 1.9% Spanish, 1.5% French, 1.4% Portuguese and 1.1% Italian as their first language.

There were 67,320 households, out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.20% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.20% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,617, and the median income for a family was $57,491. Males had a median income of $40,052 versus $29,130 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,833. About 4.80% of families and 6.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.90% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 166,158 people, 68,645 households, and 43,747 families living in the county. The population density was 985.9 inhabitants per square mile (380.7/km). There were 73,701 housing units at an average density of 437.3 per square mile (168.8/km). The racial makeup of the county was 93.4% white, 2.0% Asian, 1.4% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 1.0% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.2% of the population. The largest ancestry groups were:

26.7% Irish

23.2% Italian

17.3% English

16.3% French

8.9% Portuguese

7.6% German

4.8% Polish

4.4% French Canadian

3.3% American

2.9% Swedish

2.4% Scottish

1.7% Scotch-Irish

1.4% Russian

Of the 68,645 households, 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.3% were non-families, and 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 42.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $61,088 and the median income for a family was $77,100. Males had a median income of $53,458 versus $41,380 for females. The per capita income for the county was $31,221. About 4.9% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

• Warwick

• Coventry
• East Greenwich (traditional county seat)
• West Greenwich
• West Warwick

• Greene

Kent County, like most of Rhode Island, has been strongly Democratic for the last half century. In 2016, Donald Trump became the first Republican to win the county since Ronald Reagan in 1984, although Joe Biden was able to bring it back over to the Democratic side four years later in 2020.

United States presidential election results for Kent County, Rhode Island

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	44,526	47.80%	46,269	49.67%	2,353	2.53%
2020	42,001	45.12%	49,113	52.76%	1,979	2.13%
2016	38,336	46.72%	37,788	46.05%	5,929	7.23%
2012	31,567	40.00%	45,564	57.73%	1,792	2.27%
2008	33,780	40.18%	48,406	57.58%	1,888	2.25%
2004	33,699	43.19%	42,830	54.90%	1,489	1.91%
2000	25,291	34.42%	43,265	58.89%	4,914	6.69%
1996	19,992	27.95%	41,018	57.35%	10,516	14.70%
1992	25,217	30.59%	35,934	43.60%	21,274	25.81%
1988	34,314	47.79%	37,221	51.84%	266	0.37%
1984	40,427	56.15%	31,352	43.55%	214	0.30%
1980	28,331	39.90%	31,350	44.15%	11,324	15.95%
1976	34,131	48.61%	35,855	51.07%	227	0.32%
1972	40,534	58.19%	29,004	41.64%	115	0.17%
1968	22,493	37.07%	35,609	58.69%	2,576	4.25%
1964	12,297	21.66%	44,476	78.34%	0	0.00%
1960	24,344	44.26%	30,662	55.74%	0	0.00%
1956	31,548	65.94%	16,298	34.06%	0	0.00%
1952	27,745	60.85%	17,824	39.09%	24	0.05%
1948	16,299	51.28%	15,287	48.10%	199	0.63%
1944	13,710	49.27%	14,059	50.52%	57	0.20%
1940	14,790	50.74%	14,333	49.17%	28	0.10%
1936	13,550	48.36%	13,238	47.25%	1,231	4.39%
1932	11,096	50.95%	10,398	47.74%	286	1.31%
1928	11,487	60.44%	7,460	39.25%	58	0.31%
1924	11,100	65.84%	5,429	32.20%	331	1.96%
1920	8,474	69.98%	3,394	28.03%	242	2.00%
1916	4,038	59.39%	2,632	38.71%	129	1.90%
1912	2,170	38.90%	2,030	36.39%	1,379	24.72%
1908	3,617	65.42%	1,700	30.75%	212	3.83%
1904	2,981	60.30%	1,859	37.60%	104	2.10%
1900	2,613	66.19%	1,126	28.52%	209	5.29%
1896	2,817	77.37%	645	17.71%	179	4.92%
1892	2,244	58.81%	1,469	38.50%	103	2.70%
1888	1,988	59.99%	1,261	38.05%	65	1.96%
1884	1,602	62.17%	886	34.38%	89	3.45%
1880	1,759	59.99%	1,153	39.32%	20	0.68%

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Kent County, Rhode Island