About Rhode Island

HISTORY

Located in the northwestern region of the United States, the territory known as Rhode Island originally belonged to the Narragansett Indians. Roger Williams, once persecuted and forced out of Massachusetts, purchased land from the tribe in 1636 and founded Providence, the first permanent white colony in RI. Williams settled this colony based on the tenets of freedom of politics and religion. Other founders advocating similar freedoms established their own communities on either shore of Narragansett Bay and united with Providence in 1663 when King Charles II of England granted them a royal charter.

Rhode Island residents, like many early American settlers, had strong, independent spirits and were progressive thinkers on many social issues. For instance, Rhode Island was the first to enact laws against slavery in May of 1652. On May 4, 1776, Rhode Island was the first of America's thirteen original colonies to declare independence from Britain, which signaled the beginning of the American Revolution. Although RI was not the site of any major Revolutionary War battles, the state's own soldiers participated in all the primary campaigns of the war. RI was the last colony to ratify the US Constitution and demanded the addition of the Bill of Rights.

Rhode Island also has a strong heritage in the American jewelry industry where Nehemiah and Seril Dodge helped establish Providence as one of New England's chief industrial cities in the early 1820's. In addition, Jabez Gorham was a local jeweler and silversmith who founded the world famous Gorham Manufacturing Company. RI's busy ports in Newport and Providence, along with a steady stream of international immigrants lead to a strong and diverse economy and generations of commercial and residential growth within the state.

DEMOGRAPHICS

Census 2000 data indicated Rhode Island's population as 1,048,319, of which 173,000 live in the capital city of Providence. Census Bureau estimates in 2005 projected the population as 1,076,189. This figure indicates a loss of 3,727 (0.3%) from the previous year and an increase of 27,870 (2.7%) since the last official census in 2000. This estimated data also includes a natural growth of 15,220 since the 2000 Census (66,973 births minus 51,753 deaths) and an additional 14,001 individuals that migrated into RI. Foreign immigration accounts for a net increase of 18,965 new citizens, while migration from within the US resulted in a net decrease of 4,964 people.

Rhode Island's five largest groups of ancestry are Italian (19%), Irish (18.4%), French-Canadian (17.3%), English (12%) and Portuguese (8.7%). Providence County is home to large concentrations of French-Canadians and Italian-Americans, while Irish-Americans tend to congregate in Kent and Newport counties. RI is home to a higher percentage of Cape Verdean-Americans, Italian-Americans and Americans of Portuguese descent than any other state in the nation. According to 2000 Census data, more than 8% of RI's population over the age of five speaks Spanish at home, while nearly 4% speak Portuguese, 1.96% speak French and 1.39% speak Italian.

GEOGRAPHY

Rhode Island, whose official title is The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, covers approximately 1,200 square miles and is the smallest state in the US. Nicknamed the Ocean State, RI claims more than 400 miles of coastline along New England's mainland shores. Rhode Island shares its borders with Rhode Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, with Connecticut in the west, Massachusetts in the north and east and Narragansett Bay to the east. Narragansett Bay is home to more than thirty islands, the largest of which is Aquidneck, where the communities of Middletown, Newport and Portsmouth reside. The largest urban areas in RI include Coventry, Cranston, Cumberland, East Providence, North Providence, Pawtucket, Providence, Warwick, West Warwick and Woonsocket. These cities spread throughout the five counties that encompass the state.

Rhode Island lies within New England's portion of the Appalachian region, which consists of two natural landscape distinctions. The New England Upland resides in the western sections of the state, while the eastern sections include the lowlands of the Narragansett Bay. The Bay forms the primary feature of RI's topography. The majority of RI's geography is flat and void of any real mountains. Jerimoth Hill, at 812 feet is RI's highest point, while the mean elevation of the state is approximately 200 feet above sea level. This scenic state features a humid continental climate with hot, wet summers and cold, snowy winters.

ECONOMY

Rhode Island boasts a healthy and diverse economy that resulted in a gross state product of $33 billion in 2000. Residents earn a personal per capita income of $29,685 (2000 Bureau of Economic Analysis data), which ranks RI as16th in the nation. Rhode Island's largest industries are health services, tourism and manufacturing, respectively. Several Fortune 500 companies, such as CVS and Textron base their operations in Rhode Island, while the state's Fortune 1000 companies include Amica Mutual Insurance, CVS, Hasbro and Nortek. Fashion jewelry production, one of RI's original industries, continues to contribute significantly to the economy. Other important industrial outputs include electric equipment, fabricated metal products, machinery, ships and boats.

Rhode Island's strategic location, sixty miles from Boston and 180 miles from New York City, affords the ideal setting for vacations. Tourism, RI's second largest and fastest growing industry, includes a wide range of historic sites, including stately old homes, charming village communities and numerous lighthouses. Visitors enjoy boating, fishing, scuba diving and swimming along the pristine beaches, while the cities and towns provide cultural activities, museums, shopping, theater and several sports venues.

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture plays a primary role in Rhode Island's bustling economy. Mainstays of the agricultural scene in RI include dairy products, eggs, nursery stock and vegetables.

TRANSPORTATION

Rhode Island features an extensive highway system with a wide range of additional transportation options. Interstate 95, which parallels the east coast from Maine to Florida, serves as the primary route through the state. I-95, when coupled with I-195, affords access to the majority of RI's major urban areas. Route 146 serves as the gateway to the historic Blackstone Valley area, while Interstate 295 winds around Providence and provides access points to Blackstone Valley and the capital city of Providence. Additional highways include Route 1, Scenic 1A, 114, 136, 138 and US Route 6.

Rhode Island's additional routes of transportation include several passenger ferries located throughout the state and commuter rail service via Amtrak and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. The T.F. Green Airport provides private and commercial air several to RI, while the state is also home to several bus service providers.

EDUCATION

Twelve institutes of higher learning serve the residents of Rhode Island. Providence boasts the majority of higher education facilities. These include Brown University, Johnson & Wales University, Providence College, Rhode Island College, Rhode Island School of Design and a campus of the University of Rhode Island. Facilities located elsewhere in RI include Bryant University, Roger Williams University, Salve Regina University and the U.S. Naval War College in Newport.

< Main Rhode Island Profile Page

City Information (Rhode Island State)
Central Falls | Cranston | East Providence | Newport | Pawtucket | Providence | Warwick | Woonsocket

Counties in Rhode Island State
Bristol | Kent | Newport | Providence | Washington

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