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Rhode Island
State
Map
CountryUnited States
Admitted to the UnionMay 29, 1790 (13th)
CapitalProvidence
Largest cityProvidence
Government
 • GovernorDonald Carcieri (R)
 • Upper house{{{Upperhouse}}}
 • Lower house{{{Lowerhouse}}}
U.S. senatorsJack Reed (D) Lincoln Chafee (R)
Population
 • Total1,048,319
 • Density1,003.2/sq mi (387.35/km2)
Language
 • Official languageNone
Latitude41°18'N to 42°1'N
Longitude71°8'W to 71°53'W
"RI" redirects here. For alternate uses, see RI (disambiguation)

The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (commonly known as Rhode Island) is the smallest state in the United States, and the state with the longest official name. Rhode (pronounced "Road") Island is part of the New England region, and was the first of the thirteen original American colonies to declare independence from British rule, signaling the start of the American Revolution.

The state's common name, Rhode Island, actually refers to the largest island in Narragansett Bay, also known as Aquidneck Island, on which the city of Newport is located. The origin of the name is unclear. Some historians think that Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, upon discovering Block Island, just southwest in the Atlantic Ocean, named it Rhode Island because of its similarity in shape to the Greek island of Rhodes. Later settlers, mistaking which island Verrazzano was referring to, gave the name to Aquidneck Island instead. Other historians believe that the name is derived from Roodt Eylandt, Dutch for "red island," given to the island by Dutch explorer Adriaen Block due to the red clay on the island's shore.

Despite most of the state being part of the mainland, the name Rhode Island leads some out-of-staters to believe that the entire state is an island. Nicknamed "The Ocean State," every point in the state is within 30 miles of sea water.

Geography

Bluffs-Block island, Rhode Island
Main article: Geography of Rhode Island
Further information: List of Rhode Island counties

Rhode Island covers an area of approximately 1550 sq. mi (4,000  km) and is bordered on the north and east by Massachusetts, on the west by Connecticut, and on the south by Rhode Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. The mean elevation of the state is 200 ft. (60 m). Located within the New England province of the Appalachian Region, Rhode Island has two distict natural regions. Eastern Rhode Island contain the lowlands of the Narragansett Bay, while Western Rhode Island forms part of the New England Upland. It shares a water border with New York. Narragansett Bay is a major feature of the state's topography. Block Island, known for its beaches, lies approximately 12 miles (19 km) off the southern coast of the mainland. Within the Bay, there are over 30 islands. The largest is Aquidneck Island, shared by the municipalities of Newport, Middletown, and Portsmouth. Among the other islands in the Bay are Hope, Prudence, and Despair.

Rhode Island is mostly flat with no real mountains. Rhode Island's highest natural point is Jerimoth Hill, only 812 feet (247 m) above sea level.

Climate

The highest temperature recorded in Rhode Island was 104° Fahrenheit, recorded on August 2, 1975 at Providence. The lowest temperature in Rhode Island, -25°, was recorded on February 6, 1996 at Greene. Monthly average temperatures range from a high of 1181.7 degrees to a low of 20.0 degrees. [1] Average yearly precipitation for Rhode Island, from 1961 to 1990, is shown on [5] from Oregon State University.

Average Precipitation Graphic:[6]

History

Main article: History of Rhode Island

Colonial Era

In 1614 the Dutch explorer Adriaen Block visited the island that is now called Block Island. Native American inhabitants included the Narragansett tribe, occupying most of the area, and the closely related Niantic tribe. Most of the Native Americans were decimated by introduced diseases, intertribal warfare, and the disastrous King Philip's War, but remnants of the Niantic merged into the Naragansett tribe, where they remain on a federally recognized reservation.

In 1636 Roger Williams, after being banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his religious views, settled at the tip of Narragansett Bay. He called the site Providence and declared it a place of religious freedom. This is the article of agreement Roger Williams and others made, and every person who decided to live in Providence had to sign it: “We, whose names are hereunder written, being desirous to inhabit the town of Providence, do promise to submit ourselves, in active or passive obedience, to all such orders or agreements as shall be made for public good by the body in an orderly way by the major consent of the inhabitance, masters of families, incorporated together into a township, and such others as they shall admit into the same only in civil things.” Rhode Island was a charter colony, Roger Williams received a charter to build the colony.

In 1637, Anne Hutchinson was banished from Massachusetts for expressing her beliefs that people could talk to God by themselves, not necessarily through a minister. She and some others, including William Coddington and John Clarke, founded the town of Portsmouth on Aquidneck Island. In 1639, Coddington left Portsmouth and founded Newport on Aquidneck Island.

In that same year a formal government was established for the island. William Coddington was the first governor and Philip Sherman was the first Secretary. In 1643 Samuel Gorton founded Shawomet, which is now called Warwick. In 1644 the name of Aquidneck Island was changed to Rhode Island.

John Clarke was granted a Charter in 1663 for Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, which effectively united the two colonies into one. Under the terms of the charter, only landowners could vote. Before the Industrial Revolution, when most people were employed as farmers, this was considered democratic. The original charter was used as the state constitution until 1842.

In 1664, the seal of the colony was adopted. It pictured an anchor and the word HOPE.

The relationship between the New Englanders and the Native Americans was at first strained, but did not result in much bloodshed. The largest tribes that lived near Rhode island were the Wampanoag, Pequots, Narragansett, and Nimpuc. One native named Squanto, from the Wampanoag tribe, stayed with the pilgrims and taught them many valuable skills needed to survive in the area. He also helped greatly with the eventual peace between the colonists and the natives.

Roger Williams had won the respect of his colonial neighbors for his skill in keeping the powerful Narragansett on friendly terms with local white settlers. In 1637, the Narragansett were even persuaded to form an alliance with the English in carrying out an attack that nearly extinguished the warlike Pequots. However, this peace did not last long. By 1670 even the friendly tribes who had greeted Williams and the Pilgrims became estranged from the colonists, and smell of war began to cover the New England countryside.

The most important and traumatic event in 17th century Rhode Island was King Philip's War,which occurred during 1675–1676. King Philip (his British nickname, his real name was Metacomet) was the chief of the Wampanoag Indians. The settlers of Portsmouth had purchased their land from his father, Massasoit. King Philip rebelled against the English. The first attacks were around Narrangansett Bay but spread throughout New England.

Revolution and Industrialization: 1770-1860

Rhode Island was the first of the British colonies in America to declare its independence on May 4, 1776. However, Rhode Island was the last of the original 13 states to ratify the United States Constitution (May 29, 1790) - doing so after being threatened of having its exports taxed as a foreign nation.

As the Industrial Revolution moved large numbers of workers into the cities, a permanently landless, and therefore voteless class developed. By 1829, 60% of the state's free white males were ineligible to vote.

Several attempts had been made to address this problem, but none passed. In 1842 Thomas Dorr drafted a liberal constitution which was passed by popular referendum. However the conservative sitting governor, Samuel Ward King, opposed the people's wishes, leading to the Dorr Rebellion. Although this collapsed, a modified version of the constitution was passed in November, which allowed any white male to vote that owned land or could pay a $1 poll tax.

In addition to industrialization, Rhode Island was heavily involved in the slave trade during the post-revolution era. Slavery was extant in RI as early as 1652, and by 1774, the slave population of RI was 6.3%, nearly twice as high as any other New England Colony. In the late Eighteenth century, several Rhode Island merchant families began actively engaging in the triangle slave trade. Notable among these was the Brown family, for whom Brown University is named, although some important Browns became prominent abolitionists. In the years after the Revolution, Rhode Island merchants controlled between 60 and 90 percent of the American trade in African slaves. [2][3]

Civil War to Progressive Era: 1860-1929

Since the Civil War, Rhode Island became one of the 7 Union States & 6 of them are Confederate States as the North & the South. Rhode Island Senators & Governor were fighting for the right of the Divided Nation and put to stop the majority of The United States to take over by Confederates including Rhode Island. In 1865 The Civil War was over & slavery of Negroes goes to the North away from the South. In 1870, Rhode Island was going to a Segregation State and the New Governor signed the unity treaty and accepted for Negroes (Blacks) & Bleaches (Whites) to avoid the U.S. state to get segregated. 63% are Whites lived in the Neighborhoods of Providence & 25% are Blacks lived in the other communities in Rhode Island. These Jobs and Career goals to all colored people by the end of the 1870s. In the 1880s & 1890s Negroes are working responsibilites in Rhode Island as well as Bleaches (Whites) to became a unity of the State to amongst all other states in the U.S. exception in the South. As The 20th Century began, Rhode Island has amassed seafood & Sailing Tours to the docks of Narragansett Bay in the body of the State as in 1900, Rhode Island rise up to over 400,000 people. The Whig Party of Rhode Island are ceased to exist and in the 1910s & 1920s , Politics are the Democratic & Republican Parties of Rhode Island will vote for the gubernational governor races & jobs & schools for children & teenagers.

Great Depression to Present: 1929-2006

Since the Great Depression, the Rhode Island Democratic Party has dominated local politics. For years, the Speaker of the House, always a Democrat, has been one of the most powerful figures in government. The Democratic Party represented a coalition of labor unions, working class immigrants, intellectuals, college students, and the rising ethnic middle class. The Republican Party has been restricted to the rural and suburban parts of the state, and occasional "good government" reform candidates, who criticize the state's high taxes and the excesses of Democratic domination. Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey, Governor Donald Carcieri of East Greenwich, and former Mayor Vincent A. "Buddy" Cianci of Providence ran as Republican reform candidates.

Although enormously well-liked, Cianci has had his share of legal problems. In 1984 he pleaded no contest to assault and received a five-year suspended sentence. He spent the rest of the 80's hosting a radio talk show. In 1991 he ran for mayor and was reelected. In 2002, however, he was indicted for racketeering, conspiracy, and extortion and is serving a five-year sentence.

Despite a perceived culture of corruption, Rhode Islanders overwhelmingly support and re-elect Democrats to positions of authority, where issues involving education, health care, and liberal causes are promoted.

Law and government

Main article: Law and government of Rhode Island

The capital of Rhode Island is Providence and its current governor is Donald Carcieri (Republican). Its two U.S. Senators are John "Jack" Reed (Democrat) and Lincoln Chafee (Republican). Its two U.S. Congressmen are Patrick J. Kennedy (Democrat, district one) and Jim Langevin (Democrat, district two).

Further information: List of Rhode Island Governors

Rhode Island tends to vote Democratic in presidential elections and has done so consistently from 1988 through 2004. The state supported Republicans until 1908, in 1916–1924, 1952 and 1956, in 1972, and in 1984. In 2004, Rhode Island gave John Kerry a greater than 20 percentage point margin of victory (the third highest of any state) with 59.4% of its vote. All but two of Rhode Island's 39 cities and towns voted for the Democratic candidate. The only exceptions were East and West Greenwich.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Rhode Island

Rhode Island is known as the "birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution". It was in Pawtucket, Rhode Island that Samuel Slater set up his first mill in 1790, using the waterpower of the Blackstone River to power his mill. For a while, Rhode Island was one of the leaders in textiles. However, with the Depression, most textile factories relocated to the American South. Textiles still constitute a part of the Rhode Island economy, but does not have the same power that it once had. An interesting by-product of the textile industry is the amount of abandoned factories - many of them now are used for low-income or elderly housing or have been converted into offices. In Pawtucket, these abandoned mills are used as housing for artists.

Rhode Island's 2000 total gross state product was $33 billion, placing it 45th in the nation. Its 2000 per capita Personal Income was $29,685, 16th in the nation.

Health services is Rhode Islands largest industry. Second is tourism, supporting 39,000 jobs, with tourism related sales at $3.26 billion in the year 2000. The third largest industry is manufacturing. Its industrial outputs are fashion jewelry, fabricated metal products, electric equipment, machinery, shipbuilding and boatbuilding. Rhode Island's agricultural outputs are nursery stock, vegetables, dairy products, and eggs.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Rhode Island
Historical populations
Census
year		 Population
1790 68,825
1800 69,122
1810 76,931
1820 83,059
1830 97,199
1840 108,830
1850 147,545
1860 174,620
1870 217,353
1880 276,531
1890 345,506
1900 428,556
1910 542,610
1920 604,397
1930 687,497
1940 713,346
1950 791,896
1960 859,488
1970 946,725
1980 947,154
1990 1,003,464
2000 1,048,319

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2005, Rhode Island has an estimated population of 1,076,189, which is a decrease of 3,727, or 0.3%, from the prior year and an increase of 27,870, or 2.7%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 15,220 people (that is 66,973 births minus 51,753 deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 14,001 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 18,965 people, and migration within the country produced a net decrease of 4,964 people.

Rhode Island Population Density Map

The racial makeup of the state is:

The five largest ancestry groups in Rhode Island are: Italian (19%), Irish (18.4%), English (12%), French (10.9%), Portuguese (8.7%).

6.1% of Rhode Island's population were reported as under 5, 23.6% under 18, and 14.5% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 52% of the population.

Rhode Island has a higher percentage of Italian-Americans (concentrated in the city of Providence) and a higher percentage of Americans of Portuguese ancestry (who dominate Bristol county) than any other state in the nation. French Canadians form a large part of Northern Providence county whereas Irish-Americans have a strong presence in Newport and Kent counties. Yankees of English ancestry still have a presence in the state as well, especially in Washington county.

Religion

The religious affiliations of the people of Rhode Island are:

Rhode Island has the highest percentage of Catholics in the nation due to large Irish, Italian, French Canadian, Portuguese, Puerto Rican, and Cape Verdean communities in the state.

Culture

File:Wiki rhodeisland.jpg
Greetings from Rhode Island.

Rhode Island has a unique and fascinating culture that distinguishes its people not only from other regions, but even from neighboring New England states.

Rhode Islanders speak with a distinct accent that many compare to a "Brooklyn" or a cross between a New York and Boston accent. The residents of this state also speak with a unique vernacular that many have dubbed "Rhode Islandese." The letter 'r' is often dropped at the end of a word, ("water" becomes "wata"). The letter 'r' is also added in to the ending of words ("soda" becomes "soder").

Perhaps due to its large percentage of Italian and Portuguese residents, cooking and food are very important to Rhode Islanders. In fact, there are several foods and dishes unique to Rhode Island including "weiners," which are hot dogs covered in a meat sauce and chopped onions, and "dynamites," which is a sandwich made with ground hamburger and spices found in the French-Canadian areas of the state. "Calamari," or fried squid rings, is also a favorite and found on the menu of most retaurants, as are "grinders," which are a hero or hoagie sandwich made with Italian specialty cold cuts. Excellent Italian and seafood dishes are prepared in hundreds of restaurants throughout the state.

Rhode Islanders have a particular fascination with coffee. There are coffee shops on almost every corner and more coffee ice cream is sold here per-capita than any other state. The Official State Drink of Rhode Island is coffee milk, a beverage created by mixing milk with coffee syrup. This unique syrup was invented in the state and is bottled and sold in most Rhode Island supermarkets. Frozen Lemonade, a mixture of ice-slush, lemons and sugar is also immensely popular here in the summer, especially Del's Frozen Lemonade, a company based in Cranston.

Rhode Islanders are notoriously poor drivers, with a penchant for low number license plates as a symbol of political connections. The state's residents had the lowest score in the nation in a recent survey which tested drivers' knowledge of basic rules. The use of turn signals is almost non-existent. The state also led the nation with the highest percentage of alcohol-related auto fatalities in 2004.

Rhode Islanders are also known to be very superstitious. The belief in vampires, especially in the rural parts of the state, was widespread up until the late 19th century. There are several well-documented cases in which families disenterred deceased relatives, then removed and burned their hearts in the belief that the deceased was a vampire who was responsible for illness and misfortune that the family had been suffering. The most famous of these cases is that of 19-year-old Mercy Brown who died in Exeter, Rhode Island in 1892. It is believed that this widely-reported event inspired much of Bram Stoker's novel Dracula.

The state was notorious for organized crime activity from the 1950s into the 1990s when the Patriarca crime family held sway over most of New England from their Providence headquarters. Although the power of organized crime has greatly diminished in Rhode Island over the last 20 years, its residents are still stigmatized by popular perceptions of rampant graft and corruption that have haunted the state for decades.

Landmarks

File:Big Blue Bug Congradulates Graduates.jpg
Nibbles Woodaway, the Big Blue Bug

The state capitol building is made of white Georgian marble. On top is what is thought to be the world's fourth largest self-supported marble dome. [4] It houses the Rhode Island Charter of 1663 and other state treasures.

Providence is home to the First Baptist Church in America, the oldest Baptist church in the Americas, which was founded by Roger Williams in 1638.

The seaside city of Newport is home to many famous mansions, including The Breakers, Marble House and Belcourt Castle. It is also home to the Touro Synagogue, the oldest lasting synagogue within the United States. The synagogue showcases the religious freedoms that were established by Roger Williams as well as impressive architecture in a mix of the classic colonial and Sephardic style.

Rhode Island is home to the famous roadside attraction Nibbles Woodaway, the Big Blue Bug, the world's largest termite.

Cities and Towns

There are 39 cities and towns in Rhode Island.

The cities are Providence, East Providence, Newport, Warwick, Cranston, Central Falls, Pawtucket and Woonsocket.

The towns are Barrington, Bristol, Burrillville, Charlestown, Coventry, Cumberland, East Greenwich, Exeter, Foster, Glocester, Hopkinton, Jamestown, Johnston, Lincoln, Little Compton, Middletown, Narragansett, New Shoreham (Block Island), North Kingstown, North Providence, North Smithfield, Portsmouth, Richmond, Scituate, Smithfield, South Kingstown, Tiverton, Warren, West Greenwich, West Warwick, Westerly

See also: Rhode Island locations by per capita income

Education

Providence is home to a number of schools including Brown University, the Rhode Island School of Design, and Providence College.

Rhode Island has several state colleges and universities, the University of Rhode Island, located in Kingston in the southern part of the state and Rhode Island College in Providence.

Colleges and universities

Primary and secondary schools

Further information: Rhode Island schools

Arts

Professional sports teams

Pop-Culture References

  • The animated sitcom Family Guy (1999 – 2002; 2005 – present) is set in the fictional town of Quohog, Rhode Island.
  • "Outside Providence" (Movie, 1999), Directed by Michael Corrente, starring Alec Baldwin.
  • "Providence" (TV Series)
  • "Dumb and Dumber" (Movie)
  • "Me, Myself & Irene" (Movie, 2000), Directed by the Farrelly brothers, starring Jim Carey
  • "Doctor Doctor" (TV-Series set in Providence, 1989-1991)
  • "The Last Shot" (Movie, 2004) , starring Alec Baldwin and Mathew Broderick
  • "Getting Out of Rhode Island" (Movie, 2003)
  • "The Witches of Eastwick" (Movie, 1987) Directed by George Miller, starring Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer. Set in the fictional town of Eastwick, Rhode Island.

Miscellaneous information

File:Riuds.jpg
A sample version of the current Rhode Island license plate.

Local Newspapers

Local TV Stations

Other stations from Massachusetts are part of the Providence-New Bedford TV market. They are: 6/WLNE-TV-New Bedford (ABC) and 28/WLWC-New Bedford (UPN/WB, will be CW in September 2006.)

Local Radio Stations

  • 550/WDDZ-Pawtucket: Radio Disney
  • 630/WPRO-Providence: News/Talk
  • 790/WSKO-Providence: Sports
  • 920/WHJJ-Providence: Liberal News/Talk
  • 990/WALE-Greenville: Spanish
  • 1110/WPMZ-East Providence: Spanish (Daytime only)
  • 1180/WCNX-Hope Valley: News
  • 1220/WRIB-Providence: Brokered Religion/Spanish
  • 1230/WXNI-Westerly: simulcast of WRNI-Providence
  • 1240/WOON-Woonsocket: Full service
  • 1290/WRNI-Providence: satellite of WBUR-FM-Boston
  • 1380/WNRI-Woonsocket: News/Talk
  • 1450/WLKW-West Warwick: Adult Standards
  • 1540/WADK-Newport: Full service
  • 1590/WARV-Warwick: Religion
  • 88.1/WELH-Providence: Spanish, Classic Soul, Student radio (Wheeler School)
  • 88.3/WQRI-Bristol: Rock (Roger Williams University)
  • 88.7/WJMF-Smithfield: College (Bryant College)
  • 90.3/WRIU-Kingston: College (U.R.I.)
  • 90.7/WJHD-Portsmouth: High school (Portsmouth Abbey)
  • 91.3/WDOM-Providence: College (Providence College)
  • 91.5/WCVY-Coventry: High school (Coventry H.S.). On air M-F 1400-2200 only.
  • 92.3/WPRO-FM: Top 40
  • 94.1/WHJY: Rock
  • 95.5/WBRU: Modern Rock
  • 95.9/WCRI-Block Island: Classical
  • 96.5/W243AI-Newport: translator for WMVY-Martha's Vineyard, Ma..
  • 96.9/WBLQ-LP-Ashaway: Varied
  • 99.3/WJZS-Block Island: Swing, Jazz
  • 99.7/WSKO-FM-Wakefield-Peacedale: Sports (mostly simulcasts WSKO)
  • 100.3/WKKB-Middletown: Spanish
  • 101.5/WWBB-Providence: Oldies
  • 102.7/WAKX-Narragansett Pier: Jazz
  • 103.7/WEEI-FM-Westerly: Sports (simulcasts WEEI-Boston, Ma.)
  • 105.1/WWLI-Providence: Adult Contemporary
  • 105.9/WXHQ-LP-Newport: Jazz
  • 106.3/WWKX-Woonsocket: Rhythmic Top 40

Other radio stations from Connecticut & Massachusetts can be heard in parts of or all of Rhode Island. These include, but not limited to: 980/WSUB, 1320/WARL, 1350/WINY, 1400/WHTB, 1480/WSAR, 91.1/WSMU, 93.3/WSNE-FM, 97.3/WJFD-FM, 98.1/WCTK, 99.1/WPLM-FM, 101.9/WCIB, 102.3/WXLM, 107.1/WFHN & 107.7/WWRX. Some of these stations even operate from Rhode Island, BUT ARE LICENSED TO STATES OTHER THAN RHODE ISLAND AND ARE THEREFORE NOT RHODE ISLAND STATIONS.

Famous Rhode Islanders

See also

Notes

References

Primary sources

Secondary sources

  • Adams, James Truslow. The Founding of New England (1921)
  • Adams, James Truslow. Revolutionary New England, 1691-1776 (1923)
  • Adams, James Truslow. New England in the Republic, 1776-1850 (1926)
  • Andrews, Charles M. The Fathers of New England: A Chronicle of the Puritan Commonwealths (1919). short survey by leading scholar.
  • Axtell, James, ed. The American People in Colonial New England (1973), new social history
  • Brewer, Daniel Chauncey. Conquest of New England by the Immigrant (1926).
  • Coleman, Peter J. The Transformation of Rhode Island, 1790-1860 (1963)
  • Conforti, Joseph A. Imagining New England: Explorations of Regional Identity from the Pilgrims to the Mid-Twentieth Century (2001)
  • Dennison, George M. The Dorr War: Republicanism on Trial, 1831-1861 (1976)
  • Hall, Donald, ed. Encyclopedia of New England (2005)
  • Karlsen, Carol F. The Devil in the Shape of a Woman: Witchcraft in Colonial New England (1998)
  • Lovejoy, David S. Rhode Island Politics and the American Revolution, 1760- 1776 (1969)]
  • McLaughlin, William. Rhode Island: A Bicentennial History (1976)
  • Palfrey, John Gorham. History of New England (5 vol 1859-90)
  • Slavery in the North - Slavery in Rhode Island [7]
  • Stephenson, Nathaniel Wright. Nelson W. Aldrich, a Leader in American Politics (1930)
  • WPA. Guide to Rhode Island (1939).
  • Zimmerman, Joseph F. The New England Town Meeting: Democracy in Action (1999)
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