Since the establishment of the separate parish formed by
Newman Congregational Church in 1643, Rumford has had a community identity. Rumford has been part of three towns and two states:
Rehoboth then
Seekonk in
Massachusetts, then East Providence in Rhode Island.
Eben Norton Horsford, a Harvard chemist who received the
Rumford Chair of Physics in 1847, developed the first practical calcium phosphate baking powder. He co-founded Rumford Chemical Works in 1859, named in honor of Sir
Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford, his benefactor. Rumford Baking Powder was made in the town at the
Rumford Chemical Works, which led to Rumford's current name. Rumford became part of Rhode Island in 1862.
Wannamoisett Country Club was established in Rumford in 1898 on land rented from Rumford Chemical Works and it hosts the Northeast Amateur Invitational Golf Tournament each year. The
1931 PGA Championship was played here. About of the Rumford area was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places in 1980, encompassing the historic heart of old Seekonk and the 19th-century center of East Providence. Bridgham Memorial Library Rumford hist dist.jpg|Bridgham Memorial Library First Baptist Church, Rumford RI 1879.jpg|First Baptist Church, designed by
William Walker Persy's Place diner Rumford (East Providence) Rhode Island.jpg|Persy's Place diner, on Newport Avenue ==See also==