Valley Falls, Rhode Island



Valley Falls is a village and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Cumberland, Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 12,094 at the 2020 census.

Warren Buffett's company Berkshire Hathaway was founded in 1839 by Oliver Chace in Valley Falls as a cotton-manufacturing company, called the Valley Falls Company. Valley Falls is also the home of the Ann & Hope Mill.

Geography
Valley Falls is located at 41.91737°N, -71.39235°W in the southern part of the town of Cumberland. It is bordered by the city of Central Falls, Rhode Island to the south, the city of Attleboro, Massachusetts to the east, and the town of Lincoln, Rhode Island to the west. The Blackstone River runs along the western and southern edge of the community.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 9.5 km2. 9.2 km2 of it is land and 0.3 km2 of it (3.01%) is water.

2020 census
The 2020 United States census counted 12,094 people, 4,818 households, and 3,053 families in Valley Falls. The population density was 3,408.7 /mi2. There were 5,027 housing units at an average density of 1,416.9 /mi2. The racial makeup was 80.24% (9,704) white or European American (77.54% non-Hispanic white), 2.98% (360) black or African-American, 0.35% (42) Native American or Alaska Native, 1.54% (186) Asian, 0.03% (4) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 7.0% (846) from other races, and 7.87% (952) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 12.72% (1,538) of the population.

Of the 4,818 households, 29.7% had children under the age of 18; 48.1% were married couples living together; 25.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 26.0% of households consisted of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 3.0. The percent of those with a bachelor's degree or higher was estimated to be 21.0% of the population.

20.4% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 105.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 109.5 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $88,927 (with a margin of error of +/- $8,183) and the median family income was $101,415 (+/- $9,974). Males had a median income of $47,752 (+/- $5,915) versus $45,116 (+/- $8,018) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $46,121 (+/- $3,101). Approximately, 4.8% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under the age of 18 and 10.0% of those ages 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,599 people, 4,494 households, and 3,258 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,261.5 /km2. There were 4,668 housing units at an average density of 507.7 /km2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.88% White, 0.83% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 1.42% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.94% of the population. Valley Falls has an extremely large Irish population.

There were 4,494 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 23.3% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $46,163, and the median income for a family was $52,414. Males had a median income of $35,334 versus $25,422 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $20,373. About 3.8% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.