Newport, Rhode Island, USA
1906

Newport, a city, port of entry, and fashionable watering-place of 11 node Island, capital of Newport co. and until 1900 one of the capitals of the state, on Narragansett Bay and on the W. shore of the island of Rhode Island, about 70 miles (direct) S. by W. of the centre of Boston, on the New York, New Haven and Hartford and the Newport and Wickford Rs. Lat 41° 29' N. ; Lon. 71° 19' W. It has a good harbor, which is capacious, safe, easy of access, and deep enough for the largest ships. The harbor is defended by Forts Greble and Adams, the latter a fortress of great size and strength, capable of accommodating a garrison of 3000 men, and located on Brenton's Point, about 2 miles SW. of the city. Fort Wolcott, with a United States torpedo-station, is on Goat Island. The climate of Newport is com mended for its mildness and equability. Its balmy atmosphere, varied scenery, and fine facilities for bathing and boating have rendered it the most fashionable watering- place in the United States. Many wealthy citizens of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and elsewhere have erected cottages and palatial villas here, some of which are almost unsurpassed for their luxurious appointments and magnificent lawns. The city contains a state-house, a city-hall (both dating back to about the middle of the eighteenth century), an academy of music, a synagogue (1762, said to be one of the oldest in the United States), public libraries, casino, the Newport Reading Room, Trinity Church, in which the eminent philosopher Berkeley preached about 1730, the Redwood Library, which has about 50,000 volumes and many paintings, and Touro Park, in which stands an old building called the Round Tower (or Old Stone Mill), formerly supposed by many to have been built by the North men. The famous Cliff Walk, on which are many of the stateliest private mansions, follows the brow of tho cliffs for about 3 miles. Another recreation course is the 10-mile Ocean Drive. Other places or points of interest in or about Newport are the U. S. Naval Training Station and War College, on Coaster Harbor Island ; Naval Hospital, Lime- Rock Lighthouse, Easton's Beach, and the rock-fissure known as " Purgatory." Newport has some manufactures. It was settled in 1639 by William Coddington, and was one of the chief commercial cities of New England before the Revolution. The population in 1774 was about 12,000. The war of independence ruined its commerce and nearly depopulated the town, which has never recovered its commercial importance. Pop. in 1870, 12,521 ; in 1880, 15,6113 ; in 1890, 19,457 ; in 1900, 22,034. Opposite Newport is Canonicut Island, with the popular resort called Jamestown.

Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906

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