Rhode Island

Rhode Island State Information

Official Name: State of Rhode Island (Changed in 2020 from "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations")
Capital: Providence
Entered Union (rank): May 29, 1790 (13th State)
Present constitution adopted: 1843

State abbreviation/Postal code: R.I./RI
State Area Code: 401
Nickname: The Ocean State
Origin of name: From the Greek island of Rhodes
Motto: “Hope”
Slogan: "Unwind"
State symbols:

Bird: Rhode Island red hen (1954)

Fish: Striped bass (2000)

Shell: Quahog (1987)

Flower: Violet (1968)

Fruit: Rhode Island greening (1991)

Tree: Red maple (1964)

Mineral: Bowenite (1966)

Stone: Cumberlandite (1966)

Colors: Blue, white, and gold (in state flag)

Drink: Coffee Milk (1993)

Song: "Rhode Island, It's for Me" (1996)

Government

Capital: Providence
Governor: Dan McKee (to Jan. 2023)
Lieut. Governor: Sabina Matos (to Jan. 2023)​​​​​​​
Secy. of State: Nellie Gorbea, D (to Jan. 2019)
General Treasurer: Seth Maganizer (to Jan. 2023)​​​​​​​
Atty. General: Peter Neronha (to Jan. 2023)
U.S. Representatives: 75
Senators: Jack Reed, D (to Jan. 2021); Sheldon Whitehouse, D (to Jan. 2023)
See Also: Historical biographies of Rhode Island Congress members

Population

Residents: Rhode Islander
Resident population: 1,098,163 (45th Largest State, 2020)
10 largest cities (2020): Providence, (190,934); Cranston,(82,934); Warwick,(82,823); Pawtucket,(75,604); East Providence,(47,169); Woonsocket, (43,240); Newport, (25,163); Central Falls, (23,546); Westerly, (18,423); Newport East, (12,508)
Race/Ethnicity (2021):White (83.1%); Black/African American (8.8%); American Indian (1.2%); Asian (3.7%); Other race (8.4%); Two or more races (3%); Hispanic/Latino (17.1%).​​​​​​​
Religion: Catholic (43%); Protestant (27%); No religion (23%); Jewish (1%); Orthodox (1%); Jehovah's Witness (1%); Buddhist (1%) Muslim (0.5%); Hindu (0.5%); Mormon (0.5%).
Sex: Male (49%); Female (51%).​​​​​​​
Age: Under 18 (19.1%); 18-64 (57.9%); 65 and over (18.1%). Median Age: 40
See Also: Additional Rhode Island Census Data

Economy

GDP: 12.36 billion dollars (46th in U.S., 2022)​​​​​​​
Unemployment: 2.9% (2023)​​​​​​​

Geography

Land area: 1,214 sq mi. (3,144 km²)
Geographic center: In Kent Co., 1 mi. SSW of Crompton
Number of counties: 5
Largest county by population and area: ​​​​​​​Providence, 658,221 (2021); Providence, 413 sq mi.
State parks/recreation areas: 14
Area codes
Tourism office

See more on Rhode Island:

Encyclopedia: Rhode Island
Encyclopedia: Geography
Encyclopedia: Economy
Encyclopedia: Government
Encyclopedia: History
Rhode Island Temperature Extremes

Printable Outline Maps

 

Rhode Island is the smallest US state but one which has played a giant role in American history and continues to be an important contributor to the country's economy and culture. As one of the original 13 colonies, the state has a rebellious past as the first colony to declare independence from England in 1776. Modern-day Rhode Island has grown into a highly-populated state with a strong service economy and a particular focus on tourism, education, and health services.

Rhode Island, officially The State of Rhode Island, is the smallest of the Union states, being around 44 miles (77 km) in length and 37 miles (60 km) wide. Despite its small size, is also one of the most densely populated with a population of 1,098,163 (2021).

It is one of six New England states with its ‘Ocean State’ nickname being a reference to a coast that covers more than 400 miles (640 km). While most of the state is mainland, it takes its name from Aquidneck Island, which is also known as Rhode Island.

The colony of Rhode Island began in 1636 when clergyman Roger Williams was exiled from Massachusetts Bay. The Puritans disagreed with Williams's religious views. He named his new settlement "Providence," claiming providence had brought him there. Williams was followed by other religious exiles who founded Pocasset, now Portsmouth, in 1638 and Newport in 1639. This religious plurality extended beyond the Christian faiths. Touro Synagogue (founded in 1763) is the oldest synagogue in the U.S.

Rhode Island grew despite setbacks in King Philip's War. Providence was attacked twice during the fighting. King Philip himself (Metacomet) was killed near modern-day Bristol.

Rhode Island prides itself on an open, independent attitude. Brown University, founded in 1764, was the first American college to accept students of all religions. Rhode Island saw the burning of the Gaspee and it declared independence two months before the colonies at large, in May 1776. Despite this, Rhode Island also has a complicated history with slavery; Rhode Island was the first state to outlaw slavery, but weak enforcement meant that Rhode Island was the largest slaveholding state in New England. Newport saw major growth as part of the Triangular Trade.

The state was at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution. The first textile mill of the Industrial Revolution, Samuel Slater's Mill, is in Rhode Island. The industrialization of the region led to growing class disputes. Traditionally, only property owners could vote, meaning that the working class had no influence in government. In the Ocean State, labor activists created their own rival government to the state legislature. In 1842 this culminated in Dorr's Rebellion. As a result of the rebellion, voting rights were eventually extended to non-property owners with a $1 poll tax.

After the Civil War the country at large hurtled toward its largest period of industrialization. The Gilded Age produced a wealthy class of industrialists unprecedented in American history. Many of these wealthy families made Rhode Island their summer destination of choice; millionaires from across the Northeast built extravagant estates in Newport. This was buoyed by a booming industrial sector, and an increase in tourism businesses.

After World War II, the once-major city of Providence hit a massive slump, with implications for the state at large. Its population decreased by nearly a third, it was rundown, and there were major issues with organized crime. Since the 1970s, Providence has refurbished many of its cultural sites; this has coincided with a larger blossoming of Rhode Island tourism heading into the 2000s. Rhode Island now has a strong arts community, a notable LGBT community, and it is again a popular tourist destination.

For the aspiring visitor, points of interest include the Roger Williams National Memorial in Providence, Samuel Slater's Mill in Pawtucket, the General Nathanael Greene Homestead in Coventry, the Newport mansions and Block Island.

Rhode Island Geography

Located on the east coast of the United States in the New England region, Rhode Island is geographically the smallest of the 50 US states. Despite the name, it is not an island but includes the eponymous island within its coastal territory. Rhode Island is more commonly known as Aquidneck Island.

The state has land borders with Massachusetts along the north and east and Connecticut on the west. To the south, the state is bounded by the straits of Rhode Island Sound and Block Island Sound. 

Rhode Island state consists of two general geographical regions with a Coastal Lowland in the south and east and the Eastern New England Upland that covers the northwestern area. The Coastal Lowland includes the islands of Narragansett Bay and a coastal region of sandy beaches, lagoons, and saltwater ponds.

Narragansett Bay cuts inland to Providence where it meets the Blackstone River. Aquidneck Island, also known as Rhode Island, is the largest and is home to the towns of Portsmouth, Middletown, and Newport. The other main islands are Conanicut Island, which features the resort of Jamestown; and Prudence Island.

Aquidneck Island connects to the mainland via the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge, the Mount Hope Bridge, and the Sakonnet River Bridge.

The upland area of Rhode Island is sometimes referred to as the Western Rocky Upland and covers around one-third of the state. This landscape features rolling hills with the highest point being Jerimoth Hill (812 ft, 247 m).

Despite the fact that more than half of Rhode Island is covered with forests, the region is heavily urbanized. Providence is the largest city and the state capital with other main cities being Warwick, Cranston, Pawtucket, and Newport.

The cost of Rhode Island has numerous resorts that are known for their swimming and boating facilities with Block Island a favorite vacation spot. Narragansett Bay is also known for its yachting connections and the America's Cup yacht race has been held in Newport several times.

Most of the state has a humid continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. Winter temperatures range from -6.1 to 2.2°C (21 to 36°F) with summer temperatures averaging between 17.2 and 27.2°C (63 to 81°F). Rainfall is generally evenly distributed throughout the year. Common extreme weather events include severe storms, flooding, and occasional hurricanes.

Rhode Island People & Population

It is estimated that around 140,000 Native Americans lived in the Narragansett Bay area before colonial explorers arrived in the 1620s. These numbers dropped significantly after contact with European settlers, largely due to diseases they brought.

While relations between Indian groups and the English settlers were generally amicable, the population losses caused Native American communities to rapidly decline. The majority of settlers arriving during the colonial period were English and Irish Protestants with some Jewish, French Huguenots, and enslaved Africans.

During the 1840s, the region experienced a large increase in the number of Irish settlers, caused by people escaping from the Irish Potato Famine. During the second half of the 19th century, immigration also increased from across Europe with groups including Russians, Armenians, and Italians.

By 1920, around a third of the Rhode Island population was foreign-born. The history of immigration helped to establish Providence as the main population center, along with the neighboring communities such as North Providence, Pawtucket, Johnston, Cranston, Warwick, and East Providence.

During the 20th century, immigration moved away from Europe with the majority of incomers being Hispanic or from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. By the 21st century, Hispanics represent the largest minority group in Rhode Island state, making up 18.1% of the population.

The U.S. Census Bureau of 2020 records a population of 1,098,163, making Rhode Island the 45th largest state. It has the second highest population density of any state with only New Jersey having a greater concentration of people.

The most populated area is around Providence in the northeast of the state which is more than twice the size of any other city. The majority of the population (81%, 2021) is white with Hispanic or Latino (17.1%, 2021) being the second largest group.

The dominant religion within the population is Roman Catholicism with the state having one of the highest proportions of Catholics across the Union. The connection with Catholicism largely comes from the history of immigration from Ireland and Italy.

Rhode Island Government

The Rhode Island General Assembly is bicameral with members of both houses elected on two-year terms. The Senate features 38 members with the House of Representatives having 75.

The state sends two senators and two representatives to the U.S. Congress and has four electoral votes. Rhode Island is solidly Democratic but has elected a number of Republicans, particularly during the 1990s.

The General Assembly meets in the State House which is on the border of Smith Hill and Downtown Providence. ‘Smith Hill’ is sometimes used as a figure of speech to refer to the Rhode Island General Assembly.

The government structure has evolved from a combination of sources including the Rhode Island Constitution, General Laws, and executive orders. The state has a Supreme Court, superior courts, district courts, and municipal and probate courts.

Rhode Island state does not have a county level of government but there are five counties within the area that act as geographic divisions. The 39 municipalities within the state each has its own local government with most cities having a mayor.

Since the 1920s, Rhode Island politics has been dominated by the Rode Island Democratic Party, and the state is regarded as being a part of the party’s ‘Blue Wall’.

A Board of Regents has responsibility for all public education with the state having a strong reputation for higher education. Brown University, founded in 1764, is an Ivy League institution.

Other educational institutions include the Rhode Island School of Design, at Providence, and the University of Rhode Island in Kingston.

Rhode Island Economy

The economy of Rhode Island has had to transition from reliance on industry to a largely service-based sector. Past industries that Rhode Island was known for included toolmaking, silverware, and cotton mills powered by the Blackstone River.

Rhode Island's traditional manufacturing economy has since diversified and is now also based on services, trade (retail and wholesale), and finance. In spite of this, many of the products for which Rhode Island is famous are still being manufactured.

This includes jewelry, silverware, textiles, primary and fabricated metals, machinery, electrical equipment, and rubber and plastic items. Tourism, data analytics, healthcare, and education are among the areas covered with the largest company in the state being CVS Health, which employ around 295,000 (2023).

Agriculture is relatively unimportant to the economy. Most of the farmland is used for dairying and poultry raising, and the state is known for its Rhode Island Red chickens. Principal crops are nursery and greenhouse items. Commercial fishing is an important but declining industry. Narragansett Bay has a variety of shellfish; flounder and porgy are also caught. Naval facilities at Newport also contribute to the state's income.

Rhode Island Culture and Interesting Facts

Despite its diminutive size, Rhode Island is a state with much to offer, from its picturesque landscapes and rich history to a vibrant cultural scene and world-class educational institutions. Here’s a look at some of the features that set Rhode Island apart:

Newport: City of Firsts

The city of Newport was the iconic summer haven of the country's rich and famous. As a result, Newport is a place of many firsts: the first gas-lit street in the United States; the first U.S. Open in tennis; the first U.S. Open in golf; and the first ever speeding ticket issued for an automobile. Newport is also home to multiple colonial buildings, and the country's oldest library building. Newport's greatest claim to fame, though, is its historic "summer cottages." Many of them are now museums, offering a glimpse of the Gilded Age and the country's infamous "robber barons." 

(Bonus trivia: John F. Kennedy married Jacqueline Bouvier in Newport in 1953.)

Newport Jazz Festival

Jazz may be a style of music most associated with Harlem and New Orleans, but the country's oldest annual jazz festival actually takes place in Newport. The introduction of a jazz festival to upper-class white Newport in 1954 was met with some skepticism and some issues (complaints from local residents and discrimination against black musicians). Unrest and concerns about the crowds led to the festival moving to New York in the 1970s. After Rhode Island began embracing tourism in the 1980s, the Newport Jazz Festival returned to roost. Today it is one of the country's most significant jazz events.

Block Island

Block Island is a small, lightly populated island off the southern coast of Rhode Island. This little island has a big reputation as a gorgeous nature destination. The oceanic climate is a geographic rarity, keeping the island much more temperate than the rest of the Northeast. The island offers plenty of hiking, swimming, biking, and nature walks. It is also a famous haven for pirates—or a pirate. The story goes that Captain Kidd came to the island shortly before his arrest. While there, Kidd gave a fortune of gold and jewels to Mercy Raymond, of the (soon-to-be) wealthy Raymond family.  

Beaches in the Ocean State

Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the country, but it has a lot of coastline. The many islands and bays of the Ocean State give it nearly 400 miles of coast. This abundance of beaches draws a lot of visitors in the summer months. The beaches also help support a network of related oceanic industries; local seafood and sailing are very important elements of the Rhode Island economy. 

History

Rhode Island is known for a background in religious freedom that dates back to the founding of the colony in 1636 by Roger Williams. Williams, a religious dissenter, was expelled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his beliefs and founded Rhode Island as a place of religious tolerance.

Despite this, Rhode Island also became an important center for the slave trade and later for the Industrial Revolution. The state's economy was heavily dependent on the textile industry, and by the mid-19th century, Rhode Island had become one of the most industrialized states in the country. The state also played an important role in the American Revolution, with the first naval battle of the war taking place off the coast of Rhode Island in 1775.

In the 20th century, Rhode Island's economy shifted towards manufacturing and service industries. The state is also home to several prestigious universities, including Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design. Rhode Island has a rich cultural heritage and is famous for its seafood, particularly its clams and quahogs. The state is also known for its sailing and sailing regattas, including America's Cup.

Pre-Colonial History

The first European explorers to arrive in Rhode Island encountered various Native American groups who spoke Algonquian languages. The two main groups were the Wampanoag tribes who were based to the east of Narragansett Bay and the Narragansett who were to the west of the bay. Other smaller groups included the Nipmuc in the northwest and the Pequot to the east.

The original name of the state came from Dutch explorer Adrian Block in the 17th century after visiting the region during an expedition in 1614. He named the area, "Roodt Eylandt", Dutch for "red island", in likely reference to the red clay that lines the shores of the coastal region.

Colonial History

The colony of Rhode Island began in 1636 when clergyman Roger Williams was exiled from Massachusetts Bay after the Puritans disagreed with Williams's religious views.

He named his new settlement "Providence," claiming providence had brought him there. Williams was followed by other religious exiles who founded Pocasset, now Portsmouth, in 1638 and Newport in 1639. This religious plurality extended beyond the Christian faiths. Touro Synagogue (founded in 1763) is the oldest synagogue in the U.S.

Rhode Island grew despite setbacks in King Philip's War. Providence was attacked twice during the fighting. King Philip himself (Metacomet) was killed near modern-day Bristol.

Pre-Civil War History

The association of Rhode Island with open and independent attitudes towards religion is rooted in the state’s history during the 18th century. Brown University, founded in 1764, was the first American college to accept students of all religions. Rhode Island saw the burning of the Gaspee and it declared independence two months before the colonies at large, in May 1776.

Despite this, Rhode Island also has a complicated history with slavery; Rhode Island was the first state to outlaw slavery, but weak enforcement meant that it would become the largest slaveholding state in New England. Newport saw major economic growth as a result of the part it played in the Triangular Trade.

The state was at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution. The first textile mill of the Industrial Revolution, Samuel Slater's Mill, is in Rhode Island. The industrialization of the region led to growing class disputes. Traditionally, only property owners could vote, meaning that the working class had no influence in government. In the Ocean State, labor activists created their own rival government to the state legislature. In 1842 this culminated in Dorr's Rebellion. As a result of the rebellion, voting rights were eventually extended to non-property owners with a $1 poll tax.

Civil War History

Rhode Island was one of the first states to respond to President Abraham Lincoln’s request for military support for the Union, with around 25,000 joining the Union Army. The state also played a crucial role in supporting the war effort through its industrial output.

In 1861, the United States Naval Academy was temporarily moved to the Atlantic House hotel in Newport and remained there until the end of the war. The following year, in 1862, Fort Adams was made the recruitment depot for the 15th U.S. Infantry Regiment.

Rhode Island units took part in most of the major battles throughout the war. The state also provided logistical support with textile manufacture of uniforms and the casting of swords and arms.

A notable figure during the civil war was Henry Anthony who served as editor of the Providence Journal and became known as a staunch supporter of Abraham Lincoln throughout the American Civil War.

Post-Civil War History

After the Civil War the country at large hurtled toward its largest period of industrialization. The Gilded Age during the second half of the 19th century produced a wealthy class of industrialists unprecedented in American history. Many of these wealthy families made Rhode Island their summer destination of choice; millionaires from across the Northeast built extravagant estates in Newport. This was buoyed by a booming industrial sector, and an increase in tourism businesses.

Modern History

After World War II, the once-major city of Providence hit a massive slump, with implications for the state at large. Its population decreased by nearly a third, it was rundown, and there were major issues with organized crime. Since the 1970s, Providence has refurbished many of its cultural sites; this has coincided with a larger blossoming of Rhode Island tourism heading into the 2000s. Rhode Island now has a strong arts community, a notable LGBT community, and it is again a popular tourist destination.

The state went into lockdown in 2020 as authorities tried to limit the impact of the worldwide coronavirus epidemic. Rhode Island residents faced significant risks because of the state’s high population density with 414,931 (2022) confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 3,636 reported deaths (2022).

How Well Do You Know Your U.S. States?

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