The massive demographic shift fueled by the mills, drawing large numbers of new immigrant groups, particularly the Irish and French Canadians, to the villages like Arctic and Natick.
The Arctic Mill Historic District in West Warwick is a powerful monument to Rhode Island’s industrial past. Developed since 1834, the site hosted the largest single mill in the state after the A. & W. Sprague Manufacturing Company rebuilt the granite structure in 1865. Later owned by the powerful B. B. & R. Knight firm in 1884, the complex supported Arctic Village, which became central Rhode Island’s main commercial hub, driven by large immigrant populations, including French Canadians. This mill was also a flashpoint during the devastating 1922 Textile Strike. Unusually, it remained in industrial use until the mid-1980s, and this National Register-listed site was recently converted into 136 units of housing, preserving its industrial legacy.
