It seemed appropriate this year to feature a theme that kept me close to home, so I give you my A to Z within the small acreage that is Rhode Island. I tried to be creative (you’ll see!) but I hope you learn something about Little Rhody, too. Whether you’ve lived here all your life, grew up within the boundaries, or have never set foot on one of our many beaches, come along for a virtual tour.
Kickemuit (sometimes spelled Kickamuit) (Kick-uh-MEW-et) is a Native word meaning ‘back river.’ The Kickemuit River, located in the north part of the town of Warren, flows nearly eight miles between Massachusetts and Rhode Island. During the Revolutionary War, the river was a major route, and supplies were transported on the river daily. By the 1800s, oyster beds were plentiful, and a major source of revenue, until pollution from the nearby Parker Mills, and general sewage, killed most of the oysters by 1920. Whatever was left of the oyster industry ended with the Hurricane of ’38.
The source of the Kickemuit River is in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, which sits right on the border of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. From Rehoboth, the river flows south to Swansea (also in Massachusetts) and into the Warren (RI) reservoir. From the reservoir, the river continues its journey, mostly southwest, until it lands in the Mount Hope Bay. The Kickemuit Reservoir dam forms the boundary between salt water and fresh water.
Martha Reynolds Writes 
Bike Trip! I like your interesting note about the Oyster industry. They are making a come back on Narragansett Bay!
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Bike Trip! Oyster farming might just save the industry.
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The pics are beautiful 😀 . Sad to know about oysters though.
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For our anniversary this year, we stayed close to home with COVID but did manage to take an Oyster & Wine Tasting Cruise on the Damariscotta River. It was so fun and we learned a lot about the current growth in oyster production in Maine. We also got to each lots of delicious oysters too. I love seeing industries make a comeback. Weekends In Maine
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What a wonderful series, I lived in Rhode Island in the 80s when attending college and am enjoying “revisiting” some of the places I visited through your posts!
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Thank you so much!
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Oh, now I have to go back to A and start. I am looking at a few blogs on the list daily, and yours was one for today. My son and his wife live in RI, so I’m interested in what’s going on there.
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Oh, fantastic, Lisa! I hope you enjoy the series. Mostly short posts.
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I’m fascinated by rivers, and this was a very informative post. Happy to be touring with you today.
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Thank you, Deborah!
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Sad about the river’s history of pollution but interesting that its dam marks the boundary between fresh and salt waters. The closest I’ve been to R.I. is Mass. so this virtual trip works well for me.
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Thank you, Gail!
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Great name for a river. Still enjoying the tour 🙂
https://iainkellywriting.com/2021/04/13/the-state-trilogy-a-z-guide-k/
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Thank you so much, Iain.
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Hari Om
Another informative post – and I couldn’t help but see that word in Scottish terms… “kick ’em oot”!!! (kick them out – not that I am in favour of kicking anyone, in or out.). YAM xx
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I’m finding this A to Z series very interesting and educational.
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And not even halfway through, Helen!
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