Charlestown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 7,827 at the 2010 census.HistoryCharlestown is named after King Charles II, and was incorporated in 1738. The area was formerly part of the town of Westerly. It was in turn divided and the part north of the Pawcatuck River became the town of Richmond in 1747.GeographyAccording to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 59.3sqmi, of which, 36.8sqmi of it is land and 22.5sqmi of it (37.86%) is water.The town is bordered by Westerly on the west; Richmond on the north; and Hopkinton on the northwest; and South Kingstown on the east.In 2011, Charlestown became the first municipality in the United States to pass a ban on any size or type of electricity-generating wind turbines. The sweeping prohibition applies to large commercial as well as smaller residential turbines. This temporary measure was in order to draft a new ordinance providing for small turbines but prohibiting commercial turbines.Residential Wind Energy Facilities.
