Primrose is a village in North Smithfield, Rhode Island, United States. The village is located in the area around Greenville Rhode and the Providence Pike. The village takes its name from the Primrose railroad station which existed on Greenville Road for the Providence and Springfield Railroad which began service in 1873. The Primrose Fire Department is located in the area.
Primrose Station at the turn of the twentieth century
Geography
The geography of Primrose was drastically changed by the Wisconsin glaciation between 70,000 and 10,000 years ago. This glacation or "Ice Age" created a more rugged terrain, and deposited granite throughout the landscape. As a result of this rugged terrain, this area has many peaks and valleys, which leads to many wetlands. This area is less built up than the other villages in North Smithfield, partly because of the geography, and partly because the area is not part of the mill village of Slatersville.
Further reading
Walter Nebiker, The History of North Smithfield (Somersworth, NH: New England History Press, 1976).
