Woonsocket, city, Providence County, northern Rhode Island, at falls on the Blackstone River; incorporated as a city 1888. From about 1840 to the 1950s, it was a great textile center, and some textiles are still produced; other manufactures include electronic equipment, machinery, and jewelry. Notable structures here include the John Arnold House (1712) and several 19th-century mansions built by textile magnates. The community was settled in the late 17th century; its name is derived from a Native American term. Many of the inhabitants are of French-Canadian background. Population 45,914 (1980); 43,877 (1990); 43,224 (2000).
