State of Rhode Island general data
- Time zone: 6 hours less than Italy
- Capital: Providence
- Main towns: Coventry, Cranston, Pawtucket, Warwick, Woonsocket
- Area: 4.002 km²
- Population: 1,060,000 inhabitants approximately.
- Population density: 264,8 residents / km²
- State abbreviation: RI
- Entry into the United States: It joins the United States on May 19, 1790, it is the 13th state to join the union.
According to thembaprograms.com, Rhode Island is the smallest state in the Union. Physically it can be divided into two major regions: the lowlands of the Narragansett Basin and the south of the state, and the highlands of the north and west of the bay. The state has a low average height, the highest point being 247m, (Hill Jerimoth).
The lowlands embrace the Narragansett Bay area. It is a land shaped by the glaciations and very rich from an agricultural point of view. This region includes 35 small islands and sandy beaches, alternating with rocky headlands. The highlands region can be described as a territory of valleys and low hills, the highest of which are in the northwest and central Rhode Island.
Rhode Island has 64km of coastline with the Atlantic Ocean. The most important rivers of this state are the Pawtuxet, the Blackstone, the Moshassuck, the Woonasquatuteck and the Pawcatuck. It also has numerous lakes of glacial origin. The most important lake, the Scituate, is the result of a huge engineering work in the Tawtuxet River basin.
Flora and fauna – Due to the location, halfway between northern and southern vegetation, the species present are Canadian fir, birch, white pine, maple and many varieties of oak.
In Rhode Island’s highly urbanized environment, small animals survive in confined areas. Block island is known for its abundance of birds. The inland waters are populated by numerous species of fish and amphibians, in addition to crustaceans and other fish varieties from the open sea.
The climate – Rhode Island can be defined as humid continental. In fact, it is subject to winds from the south-east in the summer, and from the north-east and west in the winter, although the ocean mitigates the temperatures in the two stations, it is at the same time responsible for great instability. Given the small size of the state, we cannot speak of great climatic differences. Average temperatures in Rhode Island are 10 ° C, with -2 ° C in January and 22 ° C in July. Average rainfall fluctuates around 1,000 mm which is distributed throughout the year; although November and December are the wettest months. There are differences in snowfall, as it is more abundant in the north. The coast is occasionally hit by hurricanes.
Providence
According to countryaah.com, Providence is a city and state capital of Rhode Island. In addition to being the seat of the state government, Providence is a commercial, manufacturing and financial center. The city is known for its jewelry production. Other major manufacturers are silverware, machinery, metal products and rubber products. The city is also an important port, which is the main landing place for tankers carrying petroleum products in southern New England. Providence, spanning seven hills near the Providence and Seekonk Rivers, was Rhode Island’s first town. It is currently the fourth largest city in New England and the state capital since 1901, but it grew as one of the main ports of the famous “triangular trade” which consisted of the New England rum trade for slaves of the state. Africa which were in turn sold for molasses. After Samuel Slater’s invention of the hydraulically powered loom, port trade and industry were the mainstays of the city. The Market House was the scene of one of the tea “mutinies” in 1775.
According to topschoolsoflaw.com, in 1636, Roger Williams, who had been expelled from the colony of Plymouth due to his religious beliefs, founded Providence as a refuge for those who shared his beliefs. After defending the territory against attacks by the peoples of the Narragansett tribe, he gave the community its name in gratitude to ‘providence’, (in English providence), of God. The settlement attracted other religious dissidents and, in the early 18th century, the community prospered as a merchant port with the Antilles. In 1772 the inhabitants of Providence burned the British ship Gaspée, sent to check compliance with British navigation laws. They also protested about the English taxes, burning tea in the public square. Two months before the signing of the declaration of the Independence of the United States (1776), the independence of Rhode Island was approved in the city (May 4, 1776). The growth of the community after the US War of Independence was slow, but in the mid-19th century it became an important industrial center, thanks to jewelry and textile production. Many European emigrants settled in the city during this century. In 1900 Providence became the sole capital of Rhode Island (Newport had been a joint capital since 1854). Many European emigrants settled in the city during this century. In 1900 Providence became the sole capital of Rhode Island (Newport had been a joint capital since 1854). Many European emigrants settled in the city during this century. In 1900 Providence became the sole capital of Rhode Island (Newport had been a joint capital since 1854).
Providence is a transport crossroads, with wide roads and rail links to nearby metropolitan areas, the scheduled air service is guaranteed by Theodore Francis Green State Airport, a ferry service connects it to Newport and Block Island, a summer resort.
Providence is one of the nation’s leading educational centers. The city is home to Brown University (1764), Johnson & Wales University (1914), Providence College (1917), Rhode Island College (1854), and Rhode Island School of Design (1877). Among the many historic buildings to see in Providence, some date back to before the colonial period, the State Capitol (1895-1904), with one of the largest marble domes in the world, the First Unitarian Church (1816), with a bell of the Paul Revere’s foundry, the John Brown House (1786), built by a merchant and considered one of the finest 18th-century homes in the country, and the First Baptist Church (1775), the meeting house of the oldest Baptist congregation in the States United. Along Benefit Street is an impressive concentration of colonial houses, many of which are opened by their owners during the annual Festival of Historic Houses. An important historical figure for the city is the aforementioned Roger Williams, pioneer of religious freedom and the founder of Providence. A city park is named after Williams with a natural history museum, planetarium, and zoo inside. Cultural institutions also include the Providence Athenaeum (1753), one of the oldest libraries in the United States, and the Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art.
