The state takes its name from Rhode Island; however, most of the state is located on the mainland. Rhode Island is also home to a top semi-professional soccer club, the Rhode Island Reds, which compete in the National premier soccer league, in the fourth division of U.S. Soccer. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was called in to help flood victims. In the early 19th century, Rhode Island was subject to a tuberculosis outbreak which led to public hysteria about vampirism. The 19 mi (31 km) Washington Secondary Bike Path stretches from Cranston to Coventry, and the 2 mi (3.2 km) Ten Mile River Greenway path runs through East Providence and Pawtucket. [54], The 50 years following the Civil War were a time of prosperity and affluence that author William G. McLoughlin calls "Rhode Island's halcyon era." It also shares a small maritime border with New York. The mean elevation of the state is 200 feet (61 m). In 2010, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed a new state income tax structure that was then signed into law on June 9, 2010, by Governor Carcieri. The 350th Anniversary of the founding of Rhode Island was celebrated with a free concert held on the tarmac of the Quonset State Airport on August 31, 1986. On May 4, 1776, the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations was the first of the Thirteen Colonies to renounce its allegiance to the British Crown,[9] and it was the fourth state to ratify the Articles of Confederation, doing so on February 9, 1778. [158], Nibbles Woodaway, more commonly referred to as "The Big Blue Bug", is a 58-foot-long termite mascot for a Providence extermination business. The Towers now serve as an event venue and host the local Chamber of Commerce, which operates a tourist information center. In Newport, New York's wealthiest industrialists created a summer haven to socialize and build grand mansions. [25][26] Dutch maps as early as 1659 call the island "Red Island" (Roodt Eylant). In 1644, Providence, Portsmouth, and Newport united for their common independence as the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, governed by an elected council and "president". The AHL returned to Providence in 1992 in the form of the Providence Bruins. Rhode Island is the only state that still celebrates the end of World War II on Victory Day (which is also known as VJ Day). To put things in perspective, the entire United States is 3,531,844.39 square miles. [139], In 2012, Rhode Island passed bill S2277/H7412, "An act relating to Health and Safety – Environmental Cleanup Objectives for Schools", informally known as the "School Siting Bill." A Pew survey of Rhode Island residents' religious self-identification showed the following distribution of affiliations: Roman Catholic 42%, Protestant 30%, Jewish 1%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, Buddhism 1%, Mormonism 1%, Hinduism 1%, and Non-religious 20%. [29], On June 19, 2020, State Senator Harold Metts introduced a resolution for another ballot referendum on removing the words "and Providence Plantations" from the state's name, saying, "Whatever the meaning of the term 'plantations' in the context of Rhode Island's history, it carries a horrific connotation when considering the tragic and racist history of our nation. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 28.3 square miles (73.2 km 2), of which 26.4 square miles (68.5 km 2) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km 2), or 6.40%, is water. Though it has the highest overall Catholic percentage of any state, none of Rhode Island's individual counties ranks among the 10 most Catholic in the United States, as Catholics are very evenly spread throughout the state. The total land area is 97.9 km 2 (37.8 sq mi), which makes it the largest island in the bay. It was in Pawtucket that Samuel Slater set up Slater Mill in 1793,[109] using the waterpower of the Blackstone River to power his cotton mill. Route 99 links Woonsocket with Providence (via Route 146). Save Add Review Get Directions Add Photo Added by Shannon Kalahan Block Island is approximately 10 square miles of summertime fun (6 miles long by 3.5 miles wide). The southern part of the island became the separate settlement of Newport after disagreements among the founders. RIPTA bus routes serve 38 of Rhode Island's 39 cities and towns. Rhode Island's population barely crosses the threshold beyond the minimum of three for additional votes in both the federal House of Representatives and Electoral College; it is well represented relative to its population, with the eighth-highest number of electoral votes and second-highest number of House Representatives per resident. [41] In 1774, the slave population of Rhode Island was 6.3% of the total (nearly twice the ratio of other New England colonies). [151] The oldest Fourth of July parade in the country is still held annually in Bristol, Rhode Island. [8] Providence is the state capital and most populous city in Rhode Island. The word plantation in the state's name became a contested issue during the course of the 20th century and the increased awareness of slavery and its role in early Rhode Island history. The team played their home games at the old Messer Street Field in Providence. FM Global, GTECH Corporation, Hasbro, American Power Conversion, Nortek, and Amica Mutual Insurance are all Fortune 1000 companies that are based in Rhode Island. 12.4% of the total population was of Hispanic or Latino origin (they may be of any race). Rhode Island 500 41 West Virginia 24,231 West Virginia 24,087 Nebraska 481 42 Maryland 12,407 Maryland 9,775 Kansas 459 43 Massachusetts 10,555 Vermont 9,249 Iowa 401 44 Vermont 9,615 New Hampshire 8,969 382 45 All Rights Reserved. [71] Its United States senators are Jack Reed (D) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D). Jeremy caught up with one of his racing antagonists Paul Davis for an epic gravel ride through America's smallest State: Rhode Island. [31] Gorton received a separate charter for his settlement in 1648 which he named Warwick after his patron. A culinary tradition in Rhode Island is the clam cake (also known as a clam fritter outside of Rhode Island), a deep fried ball of buttery dough with chopped bits of clam inside. Chafee signs bill allowing civil unions", "Rhode Island Becomes 10th State With Gay Marriage", "Rhode Island taxes rising, now seventh in the country", "Population and Population Centers by State: 2000", "Rhode Island QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau", "Historical Census Statistics on Population Totals By Race, 1790 to 1990, and By Hispanic Origin, 1970 to 1990, For The United States, Regions, Divisions, and States", "Rhode Island – Race and Hispanic Origin: 1790 to 1990", "Americans under age 1 now mostly minorities, but not in Ohio: Statistical Snapshot", "Obama grants 12-month extension to Liberians on DED", "U.S. [136] The William C. O'Neill Bike Path (commonly known as the South County Bike Path) is an 8 mi (13 km) path through South Kingstown and Narragansett. Although enslaved workers were an important part of the colony’s economy, Rhode Island passed the first gradual emancipation act after Quakers waged a campaign to abolish slavery. Interstate 95 (I-95) runs southwest to northeast across the state, linking Rhode Island with other states along the East Coast. [150] The motion picture machine was patented in Providence on April 23, 1867. Official Government Web Portal for the State of Rhode Island www.ri.gov/facts/history.php accessed May 24, 2014. Known as Rapa Nui to its earliest inhabitants, the island was christened Paaseiland, or Easter Island, by Dutch ...read more, Three Mile Island is the site of a nuclear power plant in south central Pennsylvania. The highest temperature recorded in Rhode Island was 104 °F (40 °C), recorded on August 2, 1975 in Providence. Rhode Island is also home to the headquarters of the governing body for youth rugby league in the United States, the American Youth Rugby League Association or AYRLA. [75] In 2008, Rhode Island gave Barack Obama a 28-percentage-point margin of victory (the third-highest of any state), with 63% of its vote. [28] In 1790, following the American Revolution, the new state incorporated both "Rhode Island" and "Providence Plantations" becoming known as the "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations". This unique syrup was invented in the state and is sold in almost all Rhode Island supermarkets, as well as its bordering states. Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams in 1636, who had been banished from the Massachusetts colony for his advocacy of religious tolerance and the separation of church and state.During the colonial period, Newport was a major hub for shipping and trade, and in the 19th century Rhode Island was at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution and the establishment of power-driven textile mills. The town was named "Warren" after British naval hero Admiral Sir Peter Warren after a victory at Louisburg in 1745 . Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present. [56], In the 1920s and 1930s, rural Rhode Island saw a surge in Ku Klux Klan membership, largely in reaction to large waves of immigrants moving to the state. He helped to produce the Beverly Cotton Manufactory, in which Moses Brown of Providence took an interest. Rhode Island, measuring only about 48 miles long and 37 miles wide, is the smallest of the U.S. states. [126] The state's first income tax was enacted in 1971. Ruth Reichl, John Willoughby, Zanne Early Stewart The Gourmet Cookbook: More Than 1000 Recipes Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2006, Last edited on 21 December 2020, at 13:02, Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, Rhode Island locations by per capita income, Rhode Island Department of Transportation, United States Department of Transportation, List of colleges and universities in Rhode Island, Eastern New England English § Rhode Island English, Learn how and when to remove this template message, List of Registered Historic Places in Rhode Island, United States Declaration of Independence, Office of the Secretary of State: A. Ralph Mollis: State Library, "Elevations and Distances in the United States", "Letter from Certain Citizens of Rhode Island to the Federal Convention", "Rhode Islanders voted to strip the word 'plantations' from their official state name", "RI Board of Elections certifies results of 2020 general election", "Origins of the Names of the State of the Union", "Senate unanimously approves resolution on removing 'Providence Plantations' from RI's official name", "Raimondo signs executive order removing 'Providence Plantations' from official documents", http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/HVotes/votereport.asp?id=17173, "Journal of the Rhode Island Senate, Volume 147, No. Took effect when the results were certified on November 30, 2020 West 37 miles from. The South to North coasts update ]. played their home games at the Polo grounds in York! The plural Providence Plantations '' was therefore the official name of the state called the Cycledrome fire resulted in twice. 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