- Alternate uses: see RI (disambiguation)
The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (commonly known as Rhode Island) is geographically the smallest state in the United States. Rhode (pronounced "Road") Island is part of the New England region, and was one of the thirteen colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution. It originally consisted of the mainland Providence Plantations, which was originally all part of the town of Providence, and Rhode Island (also known as Aquidneck Island), on which the city of Newport, and the towns Middletown, and Portsmouth are located.
History
Rhode Island Colony was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams after being banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his religious views. He settled at the tip of Narragansett Bay near the Moshassuck River, calling the site Providence and declaring it as a place of religious freedom for Baptist settlers. Historically, the land of Rhode Island is unique because it was purchased twice, once from the King of England, and once from the Native American tribes which lived on the land.
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 founded the town of Portsmouth on Aquidneck Island in present-day Rhode Island.
In 1639 a formal government was established for Rhode Island. William Coddington was the first governor and Philip Sherman was the first Secretary.
In 1644 the name of Aquidneck Island was changed to the Isle of Rhodes. Eventually the colony came to be called Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
On May 18, 1652 Rhode Island passed the first law in North America making slavery illegal.
Charles II of England granted John Clarke a Royal Charter on July 8, 1663 to Rhode Island. Rhode Island was the only one of the thirteen colonies that had complete religious freedom. 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.
King Philip's War occurred during 1675-1676. King Philip was the chief of the Wampanoag Indians. The settlers of Portsmouth had purchased their land from his father, Marsosoit. King Philip rebelled against the English. The first attacks were around Narrangansett Bay but spread throughout New England.
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.
Law and Government
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). (See list of Rhode Island Governors.)
Rhode Island tends to vote Democratic in presidential elections.
Geography
See: List of Rhode Island counties
Rhode Island 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. It shares a water border with New York. Narragansett Bay is a major feature of the state's topography. Block Island lies off the southern coast.
Economy
Rhode Island's 1999 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.
Rhode Island's agricultural outputs are nursery stock, vegetables, dairy products, and eggs. Its industrial outputs are fashion jewelry, fabricated metal products, electric equipment, machinery, shipbuilding and boatbuilding, and tourism.
Demographics
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2003, Rhode Island's population was estimated at 1,076,164 people.
The racial makeup of the state is:
The 5 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.
Religion
The religious affiliations of the citizens of Rhode Island are:
- Roman Catholic – 62%
- Protestant – 25%
- Other Christian – 1%
- Other Religions – 2%
- Non-Religious – 7%
The three largest Protestant denominations in Rhode Island are: Baptist (6% of the total state population), Episcopalian (5%), Methodist (2%).
Important cities and towns
Rhode Island, showing major cities and roads. 25 Richest Places in Rhode Island
Ranked by per capita income
1 Jamestown, Rhode Island $38,664
2 East Greenwich, Rhode Island $38,593
3 Barrington, Rhode Island $35,881
4 Little Compton, Rhode Island $32,513
5 New Shoreham, Rhode Island $29,188
6 Cumberland Hill, Rhode Island $28,879
7 Narragansett, Rhode Island $28,194
8 Portsmouth, Rhode Island $28,161
9 North Kingstown, Rhode Island $28,139
10 Scituate, Rhode Island $28,092
11 Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island $26,811
12 Lincoln, Rhode Island $26,779
13 Middletown, Rhode Island $25,857
14 West Greenwich, Rhode Island $25,750
15 Charlestown, Rhode Island $25,642
16 Cumberland, Rhode Island $25,592
17 Exeter, Rhode Island $25,530
18 Newport, Rhode Island $25,441
19 Newport East, Rhode Island $25,193
20 North Smithfield, Rhode Island $25,031
21 Greenville, Rhode Island $24,770
22 Wakefield-Peacedale, Rhode Island $24,191
23 Westerly, Rhode Island $24,092
24 Hopkinton, Rhode Island $23,835
25 South Kingstown, Rhode Island $23,827
See complete list of Rhode Island places
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
See Rhode Island schools
Arts
- WaterFire Providence
- Convergence art festival
- First Night Providence
- Trinity Theater
Professional sports teams
Miscellaneous information
- Area: 1,545 mile² (4,002 km²)
- Population: 1,048,319 (2000)
- Capital: Providence
- Counties: 5 (see: List of Rhode Island counties)
- State bird: Rhode Island Red (A hen)
- State flower: Violet
- State tree: Red Maple
- State nicknames: The Ocean State, Little Rhody, The Little Speck On The Fast Road From New York To Boston, The Littlest State, America's First Tourist Trap
- State rock: Cumberlandite
- State drink: Coffee Milk
External links
|
