It extends along South Main Street from its crossing of the South Branch of the Pawtuxet River in the north, to just below Wood Street in the south, and includes a few properties on immediately adjacent streets.

The area is almost entire residential, and was developed in the 19th century, providing housing for middle-class workers not directly affiliated with the mills that lined the river.

The principal non-residential structures are a VFW hall, which began as a mid-19th century residential structure associated with Rhode Island's prominent Whipple family, the Stillwater Company mill at the northern end of the district (1914), and the three-room Cady Street Schoolhouse (1844).

[2] The area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

This article about a Registered Historic Place in Kent County, Rhode Island is a stub.