SOUTH KINGS TOWN

town in Washington co., R. I., on the southeastern coast, served by the N. Y., N. H. and H. railroad. South Kings town was formerly a part of Kings town, but began a separate existence in 1723. In colonial times it was one of the richest towns in the state and had considerable political importance. It was a place of meeting at various times of the colonial a embly, and the convention, called to decide on accepting the U. S. Constitution, met there in 1790. Its chief industrial establishments are cotton mills and machine shops. Fishing is carried on extensively and the town is a shipping point for farm and dairy products from the immediate vicinity. Pop. 1920, 5,181.