The village of Greenville, Rhode Island, was named after Nathanael Greene, a general in the Revolutionary War. The Putnam Pike, a.k.a. US Route 44, runs along the northern section of Greenville, and the village is surrounded by apple orchards.\
Greenville is a census-designated place, or CDP, and also a village of the town of Smithfield, Rhode Island. The village boasts a population of 8,658 residents, according to the last census, and they're spread out on just over five square miles of land. Greenville is less than 20 minutes by car to Providence, the capital city of this tiny state.
Moving to Greenville
Greenville is an idyllic little village, made up mostly of single-family homes and containing few apartment complexes. On your search for apartment rentals in Greenville, you'll find that they come up infrequently. Finding a house rental will be easier, particularly if you count a Fido or a Fluffy among your household members; pet friendly apartments may be hard to come by, but landlords of private houses may be more accommodating of your furry friends!
If you're moving to New England for the first time, you might be in for some sticker shock: Greenville's rents tend to be on the high side when compared to other areas of the country, but they pale in comparison to other areas of the Northeast, so it really depends on your perspective. If you're coming from afar, you'll want to secure a job before looking for a home; landlords aren't going to want to take the chance on someone who is currently job-free! Bring along your paystubs to your showing appointment; this way, if you find the home of your dreams, you'll be ready to roll. If you're self-employed, bring your last tax return or profit and loss statement.
Neighborhoods in Greenville
Greenville is a village all on its own, so there isn't much by way of actual neighborhoods. Still, you can choose where you want to live by considering what is most important to you in terms of location. Living closer to Rt. 44, which is known locally as the Putnam Pike, will put you in closer proximity to a wide variety of shopping and dining options. The further north or south you go from there, the more likely you'll be to need to use your car to get around. With a Walkscore of 42, you'll be able to walk or bike to a few businesses if you do stick close to the Pike, but it will be difficult to get around if you don't own a vehicle at all. Remember, the winters in Rhode Island are cold and snowy, so a pleasant stroll in June might be pretty frigid come January!
Life in Greenville
Living in this area of Rhode Island will allow you to experience and enjoy four distinct seasons. Summers are hot, but not too hot. Winters are cold and you will probably get enough snow to make you sick of shoveling by mid-January or so. The spring is refreshing and pretty after the winter, and the fall is a pleasant reprieve from summer's heat. During the fall, you'll be able to go apple-picking, as the area is known for its apple orchards. Homemade pie, anyone?
Because most of the year will be pleasant for outdoor activities, you'll find the number of parks and outdoor spaces in Greenville to be a huge advantage! There's Burgess Field and the Slack Reservoir, and you won't want to miss visiting the Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge or strolling through the Georgiaville Historic District, just a couple of miles away. If you'd rather strut your stuff while carrying shopping bags, the Apple Valley Mall Shopping Center is just a mile down the Putnam Pike.
New Englanders sure love their coffee, and Greenville will not disappoint, offering several coffeehouses and places to grab a cuppa joe, including Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Smithfield Coffee Company and Marylou's Coffee.
Need some heartier fare? Indulge your sweet tooth at the Newport Creamery, enjoy home-cooked favorites at Kountry Kitchen, or bite into a slice of deliciousness at Athen's Pizza House. If you just need something quick, cheap and on-the-go, the usual fast food joints line the Pike: You'll find McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell and Subway.
When you want to get outta town for a little while, Providence is really just around the corner. You'll be there in under a half hour, traffic (and weather) permitting. If you're into art, check out the galleries at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art. WaterFire Providence offers free performances and is a great time to walk around, soaking up the history of the city. The Roger Williams Park Zoo is a fun way to spend the day monkeying around, too. Since Rhode Island is a tiny little state, you can also visit Newport, where you can do the cliff walk and ogle the mansions, or even take a drive over to the Nordic Lodge Buffet, where you can stuff yourself silly with New England lobster, clams, shrimp and other top-notch seafood.