Geography and Climate of Rhode Island
Rhode Island, or the “Ocean State,” borders Massachusetts to the north and east, the Rhode Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and Connecticut to the west. The state also shares a border with New York between Long Island and Block Island.
Surrounded by water and beaches, Rhode Island is the smallest U.S. state in terms of landmass, covering 1,545 square miles. The eastern part of the state consists of lowlands, while the western region forming the New England upland. Narragansett Bay shapes the coastline, cutting inland into Providence and meeting with the Blackstone River.
Aquidneck Island, or Rhode Island, is the largest island and location of Newport and Portsmouth. Conanicut Island and Prudence Island are offshore to the north, whereas Block Island is about 12 miles off the southern coast of the mainland.
The coastline of Rhode Island has barrier beaches and protected lagoons. Toward the mainland, there are several small lakes with streams and numerous waterfalls. Most of the island is urban, despite the abundant forestation. The surface of the land is mostly flat, without any mountains, although the highest point is Jerimoth Hill at 812 ft.
Rhode Island has a humid continental climate, featuring warm to hot summers with lots of rain and cold, snowy winters. Annual precipitation averages at 46 inches, while snowfall is around 37 inches a year. Hurricanes are a possibility, given Rhode Island’s location, but most hurricanes traveling northward turn into tropical storms. Blizzards and snowstorms are another possibility, but not extremely likely.
History of Rhode Island
The Wampanoag, Pequots, Niantic and Narragansett Native American tribes inhabited the Rhode Island area before Dutch explorer Adriaen Block arrived in 1614 on present-day Block Island. In 1635, William Blackstone became the first European settler in Rhode Island. The following year, Roger Williams settled in Providence after the Massachusetts Bay Colony banished him for his views on religion.
Other outspoken “heretics,” including Anne Hutchinson, John Clark and William Coddington, soon found a home in Rhode Island. By 1644, Aquidneck Island has officially become Rhode Island, although it was not until 1663 that it became a colonial government under British control with a proper charter. It was a haven for persecuted religions such as Quakers, Jews and Baptists.
Although some Native American tribes were open with the European newcomers, other relationships were not so friendly. By 1675, King Philip’s War broke out between settlers and tribes, resulting in the Battle of the Great Swamp, which ended in the death of around 350 Narragansetts.
By the American Revolutionary War, Rhode Island continued its reputation as a rebel by being the first to declare independence from England. However, it became a state in 1790 because it was the last to ratify the new U.S. Constitution.
The invention of the water-powered textile mill by Samuel Slater kicked off the Industrial Revolution in Rhode Island, as textile factories sprouted up across the state. The slave trade remained active in Rhode Island, controlling over two-thirds of the industry. However, abolitionist laws ended the state’s involvement by the mid-1800s.
Since much of the state’s population moved to larger cities, Rhode Island was left with technically ineligible voters. Dorr’s Rebellion in 1842, in which Thomas Wilson Dorr established an illegal state government, helped change the state’s constitution.
Along with other Union states, Rhode Island helped support the American Civil War by supplying the Union Army with troops and materials. After the war, European immigrants boosted the state’s population to work in textile factories and created a boom in the small state’s economy. By the 20th century, the state continued growing, even though industry declined. Mill owners dominated the state economy.
During the 1920s, the state experienced severe damage by the spread of Spanish Influenza. At the same time, rural parts of Rhode Island saw a massive increase in Ku Klux Klan members. Since World War II, Rhode Island’s population has grown, especially in the suburbs. The economy has shifted from manufacturing to service-based industries.
Demographics of Rhode Island
As of 2005, the estimated population of Rhode Island is 1,076,189. Second only to New Jersey, Rhode Island is the most densely populated state in the country.
Irish, Italian, French-Canadian and English are the largest ancestry groups in the state. Around 11 percent of the population is Hispanic, namely Dominican, Puerto Rican and various Central American countries. Rhode Island has the highest percentage of Portuguese and Cape Verdeans, making up over eight percent of the population.
Catholicism dominates the religious landscape of Rhode Island at 63 percent. It is the highest percentage of Catholics in the nation, mainly because of Irish, French-Canadian and Italian immigration. Protestants comprise 21 percent of the religious makeup, while Jews and Muslims have sizeable populations. Only six percent of the state identifies as non-religious.
Economy of Rhode Island
In 2000, Rhode Island’s gross state product was $33 billion, with a per capita income of $29,685.
Known as the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, Rhode Island was the first to set up manufacturing in textile mills in the Blackstone River valley. Today, the textile industry is still a major part of the state’s economy.
Fashion jewelry, electrical equipment, machinery and fabricated metal products are some of the state’s other manufacturing industries. Shipbuilding and boatbuilding are also important industries, both historically and today.
Health care and education are the largest economic contributors. Citizens Financial Group, CVS, Textron, Hasbro, FM Global and GTECH are all headquartered in Rhode Island.
Tourism is also a huge part of the economy. In 2000, Rhode Island’s scenic beaches drew in over $3 billion. Agricultural outputs include nursery stock, dairy products, eggs and vegetables.
Rhode Island Law and Government
Republican Donald L. Carcieri is currently serving as governor of Rhode Island. Democrats Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse serve in the U.S. Senate, while there are two congressional representatives for the state. Providence is the state capital.
Before the Great Depression, Rhode Island mainly supported Republicans. Since then, the state has solidly voted for the Democratic Party, especially in local politics. Overall, the state has liberal social views, including legalized prostitution and abolishment of the death penalty.
Rhode Island Transportation
T.F. Green Airport is Rhode Island’s primary airport, but many residents use Logan International Airport in Boston.
I-95 goes across the state diagonally, connecting major cities together. I-295 is a bypass around Providence, while I-195 connects the state to Massachusetts.
Several other well-traveled U.S. Routes pass through Rhode Island. There are quite a few suspension bridges across the Narragansett Bay that allow cars to travel from mainland Rhode Island to Conanicut Island, such as the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge.
The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, or RIPTA, runs bus service for the whole state, along with two tourist trolley lines and a seasonal ferry to Newport. There is also a commuter rail that takes passengers from Providence to nearby Boston. Ferry services go to from the mainland to Block Island, Hog Island and Prudence Island.
Major Cities and Towns of Rhode Island
Providence is Rhode Island’s most populous city and represents Rhode Island culture very well. Federal Hill, North End, Fox Point and Smith Hill are various ethnic enclaves. WaterFire is an environmental art installation held in downtown during the summer. Historic colonial buildings pepper the city’s neighborhoods, like the First Baptist Church, the oldest Baptist church in America.
Rhode Island Educational System
The state is home to 14 colleges and universities, including Brown University, an Ivy League and one of the best universities in the country. The Rhode Island School of Design is affiliated with the Brown campus and is one of the most prestigious fine arts schools in the country. The Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education runs the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College and Community College of Rhode Island.
Learn more from the Rhode Island Department of Education.
Rhode Island Sports Teams and Recreational Activities
While there are no major professional sports teams in Rhode Island, there are a number of minor league teams playing baseball, ice hockey and soccer. The University of Rhode Island Rams and Brown University Bears are NCAA Division I basketball teams. Additionally, Rhode Island is a center for sailing, hosting the America’s Cup regatta races in Newport until 1983.
Rhode Island residents take advantage of the fact that the beach is no more than a half hour away at any point in the state. Swimming, sailing, boating and fishing are all popular activities.
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