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City in Rhode Island, United States

Before the arrival of European settlers in northern Rhode Island during the 17th century, today's Woonsocket region was inhabited by three Native American tribes: the Nipmuc (Cowesett), Wampanoag, and Narragansett. In 1661, the English theologian Roger Williams purchased the area from the "Coweset and Nipmucks", and in a letter referred to modern day Woonsocket as Niswosakit. Other possible derivations of the name include several Nipmuc geographic names from nearby Massachusetts. These include Woonksechocksett, from Worcester County meaning "fox country", and Wannashowatuckqut, also from Worcester County, meaning "at the fork of the river". Another theory proposes that the city was named after Woonsocket Hill in neighboring North Smithfield. Woonsocket Falls Village was founded in the 1820s. Its fortunes expanded as the Industrial Revolution developed in nearby Pawtucket. With the Blackstone River providing ample water power, the region became a prime location for textile mills. In 1831 Edward Harris built his first textile mill in Woonsocket. The town of Woonsocket was not established until 1867, when three villages in the town of Cumberland, namely Woonsocket Falls, Social and Jenckesville, officially became the town of Woonsocket. In 1871, three additional industrial villages from Smithfield– Hamlet, Bernon, and Globe, were added to the town, establishing its present boundaries. Woonsocket was incorporated as city in 1888. The growth of industries and associated jobs attracted numerous immigrants, predominantly Québecois and French Canadians from other provinces. When the Société Saint Jean Baptiste d'Holyoke organized a national cultural and benefit society in 1899, the Union Saint Jean Baptiste d’Amérique, Woonsocket, with its proximity to several industrial areas having large French Canadian populations, was chosen for the organization's headquarters. By 1913, a survey by the American Association of Foreign Language Newspapers found the city had to have the 6th largest population of French or French Canadian foreign nationals in the country. In the decades that followed this population grew, and by time the local textile industry shuttered during the Great Depression, ethnic French Canadians comprised 75 percent of the population. French language newspapers were published; radio programs, movies, and most public conversations were conducted in French. As recently as 1980, 70% of Woonsocket's population was of French Canadian descent. The New England French language their ancestors spoke gradually vanished from public discourse. Throughout the 20th century the city's fortunes ebbed and flowed with national trends. During the Great Depression the textile economy of Woonsocket came to an effective standstill; however, it was revived during World War II. The city became a major center of fabric manufacturing for the war effort, including production of military uniforms. In the postwar years, the Woonsocket economy diversified as manufacturing declined, and other commercial sectors, such as retail, technology and financial services took hold.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.0 square miles (21 km2), of which 7.7 square miles (20 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (1 km2) (3.14%) is water. Woonsocket is drained by the Blackstone River. Adjacent communities include Blackstone and Bellingham, Massachusetts, along with Cumberland and North Smithfield, Rhode Island.

Woonsocket has a strong humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) with four distinct seasons. Being influenced by both the sea and the interior during winter, diurnal temperature variation is relatively high, with days most often being above freezing before severe frosts hit at night.

The 2020 United States census counted 43,240 people, 18,287 households, and 9,497 families in Woonsocket. The population density was 5,582.2 per square mile (2,155.3/km). There were 19,754 housing units at an average density of 2,550.2 per square mile (984.6/km). The racial makeup was 64.41% (27,850) white or European American (59.68% non Hispanic white), 7.86% (3,399) black or African American, 0.62% (267) Native American or Alaska Native, 5.79% (2,502) Asian, 0.06% (28) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 9.64% (4,167) from other races, and 11.63% (5,027) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 21.01% (9,086) of the population. Of the 18,287 households, 27.8% had children under the age of 18; 30.2% were married couples living together; 33.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 34.6% of households consisted of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 12.4% of the population. 21.9% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 104.9 males. The median income for those above 16 years old was $33,424 (+/ $2,183). Approximately, 15.0% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.8% of those under the age of 18 and 15.1% of those ages 65 or over.

At the 2010 census Woonsocket had a population of 41,186. The population was 71.3% non Hispanic white, 14.2% Hispanic or Latino, 6.4% African American, 5.4% Asian, 0.4% Native American and 4.3% reporting two or more races.

Woonsocket has served as a filming location for several movies, including Lost in Woonsocket (2007), Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009), and The Purge: Election Year (2016).