City of Providence
Flag Seal
Nickname: Beehive of Industry, The Renaissance City, The Divine City
Location in Rhode Island
Coordinates: 41°49′25″N 71°25′20″W / 41.82361, -71.42222
Country	United States
State	Rhode Island
County	Providence
Government
- Mayor	David Cicilline (D)
Area
- City	20. A nickname is a Name of an entity or thing that is not its Proper name. Rhode Island ( officially named the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, is a state in the New England region of the United States Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This list of countries, arranged alphabetically The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The political units and divisions of the United States include The 50 states (four of these being officially styled as Commonwealths) which are typically Rhode Island ( officially named the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, is a state in the New England region of the United States This is a list of the five counties in the US state of Rhode Island. Providence County is a County located in the US state of Rhode Island. A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government David N Cicilline (born 1961 an American Democratic politician is the current Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status 5 sq mi (53. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. 2 km²)
- Land	18. To help compare different Orders of magnitude and geographical regions we list here areas between 100 km² and 1000 km² 5 sq mi (47. 8 km²)
- Water	2. 1 sq mi (5. 3 km²)
Elevation	75 ft (23 m)
Population (2006)
- City	175,255
- Density	9,473/sq mi (3,666/km²)
- Metro	1,622,520
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Area code(s)	401
FIPS code	44-59000[1]
GNIS feature ID	1219851[2]
Website: http://www.providenceri.com

Providence is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, and one of the first cities established in the United States. The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large Metropolis and its adjacent zone of influence or of more than one closely adjoining neighboring central The Eastern Time Zone ( ET) of the Western Hemisphere falls mostly along the east coast of North America and the west coast of South America UTC−5 is the Time offset used in the North American Eastern Time Zone during Standard time and in the North American Central Time Zone during Daylight saving time ( DST The Eastern Time Zone ( ET) of the Western Hemisphere falls mostly along the east coast of North America and the west coast of South America UTC−4 is the Time offset used in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone in Canada in winter and the North American Eastern Time Zone during A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating Telephone number ranges to countries regions areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks Area code 401 is the Telephone Area code serving all of the state of Rhode Island. Federal Information Processing Standards ( FIPS) are publicly announced standards developed by the United States Federal government for use by all non-military The Geographic Names Information System ( GNIS) is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government Rhode Island ( officially named the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, is a state in the New England region of the United States The United States of America —commonly referred to as the ^[3] Located in Providence County, it is the estimated third-largest city^[4] in the New England region. Providence County is a County located in the US state of Rhode Island. History See also History of New England New England's earliest inhabitants were Algonquian -speaking Native Americans including the Despite having an estimated population of 175,255 as of 2006, it anchors the 36th largest metropolitan population in the country, with an estimated MSA population of 1,612,989, exceeding that of Rhode Island by about 60% due to its reaching into southern Massachusetts. See also Metropolitan Statistical Area, Core Based Statistical Area Table of United States Core Based Statistical AreasThe United States Census Bureau has defined The Providence metropolitan area is a region covering six counties in two states and is the 36th largest metropolitan area in the United States Table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas|Table of United States Core Based Statistical AreasIn the United States, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB has produced The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. ^[5][6][7] Situated at the mouth of the Providence River, on Narragansett Bay, the city's small footprint is crisscrossed by seemingly erratic streets and a rapidly changing demographic using them. Providence River is a Tidal river in the US state of Rhode Island. Narragansett Bay is a Bay and Estuary on the north side of Rhode Island Sound.

Providence was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a religious exile from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Roger Williams ( December 21, 1603 &ndash April 1, 1683) was an English theologian, a notable proponent of Religious The Massachusetts Bay Colony (sometimes called the Massachusetts Bay Company, for the institution that founded it was an English settlement on the east coast of North America He named the area in honor of "God's merciful Providence" which he believed was responsible for his finding such a haven to settle. After being one of the first cities in the country to industrialize, Providence became noted for its jewelry and silverware industry. Jewellery (also spelled jewelry, see spelling differences) is a personal Ornament, such as a necklace ring or bracelet made from Gemstones Household silver ( the silver, the plate) comprises Dishware, Cutlery and other household items made of sterling, Britannia Today, Providence city proper alone is home to eight hospitals and seven institutions of higher learning, which has shifted the city's economy into service industries, though it still retains significant manufacturing work. The city was once nicknamed the "Beehive of Industry", while today "The Renaissance City" is more common, though as of 2000 census, its poverty rate was still among the ten highest for cities over 100,000. ^[8][9]

History

Main article: History of Providence

The area which is now Providence was first settled in June 1636 by Roger Williams, and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies of the United States. The city of Providence Rhode Island has a long (by North American standards and nationally significant history including the first bloodshed of the American Revolution economic shifts Roger Williams ( December 21, 1603 &ndash April 1, 1683) was an English theologian, a notable proponent of Religious The Thirteen Colonies were part of what became known as British America, a name that was used by Great Britain until the Treaty of Paris (1783 recognized the ^[10] Williams secured a title from the Narragansett natives around this time and gave the city its present name. The Narragansett tribe are a Native American Tribe who controlled the area surrounding Narragansett Bay in present-day Rhode Island, and also Williams also cultivated Providence as a refuge for persecuted religious dissenters, as he himself had been exiled from Massachusetts. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. ^[11] Providence's growth would be slow during the next quarter-century—the subsuming of its territory into surrounding towns, difficulty of farming the land, and differing of local traditions and land conflicts all slowed development. ^[11]

Providence in the mid-nineteenth century

In the mid-1770s, the British government levied taxes that impeded Providence's maritime, fishing and agricultural industries, the mainstay of the city's economy. One example was the Sugar Act, which impacted Providence's distilleries and its trade in rum and slaves. The Sugar Act (citation 4 Geo III c 15 officially called the American Revenue Act, passed on April 5, 1764, was a revenue-raising Act These taxes caused Providence to join the other colonies in renouncing allegiance to the British Crown. In response to enforcement of unpopular trade laws, Providence residents spilled the first blood of the American Revolution in the notorious Gaspée Affair of 1772. The Gaspée Affair was a significant event in the American Revolution. ^[11]

Though during the Revolutionary War the city escaped enemy occupation, the capture of nearby Newport disrupted industry and kept the population on alert. In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about 30 miles (48 km south of Providence Troops were quartered for various campaigns and Brown University's University Hall was used as a barracks and military hospital. Brown University is a highly esteemed private University located in Providence, Rhode Island and is a member of the Ivy League. ^[11]

Providence in the mid-20th century

Following the war, the economy shifted from maritime endeavors to manufacturing, particularly machinery, tools, silverware, jewelry and textiles. At one time, Providence boasted some of the largest manufacturing plants in the country, including Brown & Sharpe, Nicholson File, and Gorham Silverware, and was the country's ninth-largest city^[11] The city's industries attracted many immigrants from Ireland, Germany, Sweden, England, Italy, Portugal, Cape Verde, and French Canada. Brown & Sharpe is today a division of Hexagon Metrology Inc a multinational corporation focused mainly on metrological tools and technology The Gorham Manufacturing Company is a major American manufacturer of Sterling and Silverplate. Economic and demographic shifts caused social strife, notably with a series of race riots between whites and blacks during the 1820s. In response to these troubles and the economic growth, Providence residents ratified a city charter in 1831. ^[11]

During the Civil War, local politics split over slavery as many had ties to Southern cotton. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South Despite ambivalence concerning the war, the number of military volunteers routinely exceeded quota, and the city's manufacturing proved invaluable to the Union. Providence thrived postwar, waves of immigrants and land annexations bringing the population from 54,595 in 1865 to 175,597 by 1900. ^[11]

The city began to see a decline by the mid-1920s as industries, notably textiles, shut down. The Great Depression hit the city hard, and Providence's downtown was flooded by the New England Hurricane of 1938 soon after. The New England Hurricane of 1938 (or Great New England Hurricane or Long Island Express or simply The Great Hurricane of 1938) was the first major The city saw further decline as a result of nation-wide trends, with the construction of highways and increased suburbanization. ^[11] From the 1950s to the 1980s, Providence was a notorious bastion of organized crime. "Crime syndicate" redirects here For the DC Comics group of villains see Crime Syndicate. ^[12] The mafia boss Raymond L.S. Patriarca ruled a vast criminal enterprise. Raymond Loreda Salvatore Patriarca Sr ( March 18, 1908 - July 11, 1984) was a Providence Rhode Island mobster who became the

New construction in Providence (August 2006): cranes seen for Waterplace Condominium towers, Westin addition, and the GTECH headquarters prior to completion

The city's eponymous "Renaissance" began in the 1970s. GTECH Corporation, a company based in Providence, Rhode Island, United States, became a wholly owned subsidiary of Lottomatica S From 1975 until 1982, $606 million of local and national Community Development funds were invested throughout the city, and the hitherto falling population began to stabilize. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been In the 1990s, Mayor Vincent Cianci, Jr showcased the city's strength in arts and pushed for further revitalization, ultimately resulting in the opening up of the city's natural rivers (which had been paved over), relocation of a large section of railroad underground, creation of Waterplace Park and river walks along the river's banks, and construction of the Fleet Skating Rink (now the Bank of America Skating Rink) downtown and the 1. Vincent Albert "Buddy" Cianci Jr (born April 30 1941 in Cranston Rhode Island) served as the Mayor of Providence Rhode Island from 1975 Waterplace Park is an urban park situated in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. Downtown, also known as Downcity, is the central economic political and cultural district of the city of Providence Rhode Island. 4 million ft² Providence Place Mall. Providence Place, opened on August 20, 1999, is a modern urban Shopping mall in the central part of Providence Rhode Island, near the Rhode ^[11]

New investment triggered within the city, with new construction including numerous condo projects, hotels, and a new office highrise all filling in the freed space. ^[13][14] Despite new investment, poverty remains an entrenched problem as it does in most post-industrial New England cities. A post-industrial society is a society in which an economic transition has occurred from a manufacturing based economy to a service based economy, a diffusion Nearly 30 percent of the city population lives below the poverty line. ^[15] Recent increases in real estate values further exacerbate problems for those at marginal income levels, as Providence had the highest rise in median housing price of any city in the United States from 2004 to 2005. ^[16]

Geography

Providence neighborhoods with major highways shown

The Providence city limits enclose a small geographic region, with a total area of 20. 5 square miles (53. 2 km²). 18. 5 square miles (47. 8 km²) of it is land and the remaining 2. 1 square miles (5. 3 km²) (roughly 10%) of it is water.

Providence is located at the head of Narragansett Bay, with the Providence River running into the bay through the center of the city,^[17] formed by the confluence of the Moshassuck and Woonasquatucket Rivers. Narragansett Bay is a Bay and Estuary on the north side of Rhode Island Sound. Providence River is a Tidal river in the US state of Rhode Island. The Moshassuck River is a River in the US state of Rhode Island. The Woonasquatucket River (pronounced woon-AHS-kwa-tuk-it Algonquian for "where the salt water ends" is a River in the U The Waterplace Park amphitheater and riverwalks line the river's banks through downtown. Downtown, also known as Downcity, is the central economic political and cultural district of the city of Providence Rhode Island. Constitution Hill (near downtown), College (or Prospect) Hill (east of the Providence River), and Federal Hill (west of downtown and is New England's largest Italian district) are the most prominent of the city's hills. The remaining hills include Tockwotten Hill at Fox Point, Smith Hill (where the State House is located), Christian Hill at Hoyle Square (junction of Cranston & Westminster Streets), and Weybosset Hill at the lower end of Weybosset Street, which was leveled in the early 1880s. Fox Point is a neighborhood in the East Side of Providence RI.

Neighborhoods

Main article: Neighborhoods in Providence

The Providence skyline viewed from College Hill

Providence has 25 official neighborhoods, though these neighborhoods are often grouped together and referred to collectively:^[18][19]

• The East Side is a region comprising the neighborhoods of Blackstone, Hope (aka Summit), Mount Hope, College Hill, Wayland, and Fox Point. The city of Providence Rhode Island has 25 official neighborhoods. The East Side is a collection of neighborhoods in Providence, Rhode Island on the eponymous eastern part of the city Blackstone is a predominantly residential neighborhood in Providence Rhode Island. Hope in a neighborhood on the northern border of Providence, Rhode Island. Mount Hope is a neighborhood in northern Providence, Rhode Island. College Hill is a neighborhood in Providence Rhode Island, and one of six neighborhoods comprising the East Side of Providence and part of College Hill Historic Fox Point is a neighborhood in the East Side of Providence RI.

• The Jewelry District describes the area enclosed by I95, I195, and the Providence River. The Jewelry District is a neighborhood of Providence Rhode Island located just south of Downtown between Interstate 195 and Henderson Street Providence River is a Tidal river in the US state of Rhode Island.

• The North End is formed by the combination of the neighborhoods of Charles and Wanskuck. Charles is a neighborhood in northern Providence Rhode Island.

• The South Side (or South Providence) consists of the neighborhoods of Elmwood, Lower South Providence, Upper South Providence, and the West End. The South Side of Providence, Rhode Island, originally South Providence, is a term frequently used to describe the collective region comprising the official Elmwood is a neighborhood in the South Side of Providence, Rhode Island. The Lower South Side (or Lower South Providence is a neighborhoods in southern Providence, Rhode Island. Upper South Providence is an official neighborhood in the South Side in the city of Providence Rhode Island. West End is a neighborhood in the southwestern part of Providence Rhode Island in the region often referred to as the South Side.

• West Broadway is an officially recognized neighborhood with its own association. It overlaps with the southern half of Federal Hill and the northern part of the West End. Federal Hill neighborhood has a salient role in the history of Providence due to its central location within the city ^[20]

• The West Side is a vague term sometimes used to mean the West End, Olneyville, and nearby parts of abutting neighborhoods. West End is a neighborhood in the southwestern part of Providence Rhode Island in the region often referred to as the South Side. Olneyville is a neighborhood in Providence Rhode Island bordered by Atwells Avenue to the north U

Cityscape

Perspective of Westminster Street

The city of Providence is geographically very compact, characteristic of eastern seaboard cities which developed prior to use of the automobile. The East Coast of the United States, also known as the "Eastern Seaboard" or "Atlantic Seaboard" refers to the easternmost coastal states in the central and northern For this reason, Providence has the eighth-highest percentage of pedestrian commuters. The following is a list of United States cities of 100000+ inhabitants with the 50 highest rates of pedestrian commuting according to data from the 2000 Census. ^[21][22] The street layout is somewhat chaotic—over one thousand streets (a great number for the city's size) run haphazardly, connecting and radiating from traditionally bustling places like Market Square. ^[23]

Downtown Providence has numerous 19th century mercantile buildings in the Federal and Victorian architectural styles, as well as several post-modern and modernist buildings, are located throughout this area. Chester TownshipJPG|thumb|right|A federal style colonial home in Chester Township New Jersey]] Federal-style architecture occurred in the United States between 1780 In particular, a fairly clear spatial separation appears between the areas of pre-1980s development and post-1980s development. West Exchange Street and Exchange Terrace serve as rough boundaries between the two.

The newer area includes Providence Place Mall (1999), a Westin hotel (1993), GTECH (2006), new condominium construction, and Waterplace Park (1994); the area tends toward newer development since much of it is land reclaimed in the 1970s from a mass of railroad tracks which was referred to colloquially as the "Chinese Wall". Providence Place, opened on August 20, 1999, is a modern urban Shopping mall in the central part of Providence Rhode Island, near the Rhode The Westin Providence is a Neo-Traditionalist skyscraper in downtown Providence, Rhode Island, occupied by the Westin Hotel GTECH Corporation, a company based in Providence, Rhode Island, United States, became a wholly owned subsidiary of Lottomatica S Waterplace Park is an urban park situated in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. ^[24] This part of Downtown is characterized by open spaces, wide roads, and intent landscaping.

Downtown Providence at Burnside Park

The historic part of downtown has many streetscapes that look as they did eighty years ago. Burnside Park is a small park situated in downtown Providence, Rhode Island, adjacent to Kennedy Plaza. Most of the state's tallest buildings are found here. The largest structure, to date, is the art-deco-styled former Industrial Trust Tower, currently the Bank of America Building at 426 feet (130 m). This list of tallest buildings in Providence ranks High-rise buildings in the U The Bank of America Building (or "The Superman Building" to locals is the tallest building in the city of Providence and the state of Rhode Island A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International ^[25] By contrast, nearby to it is the second tallest One Financial Plaza, designed in modern taut-skin cladding, constructed a half century later. One Financial Plaza, also known as the Sovereign Bank Tower and formerly known as the Hospital Trust Tower, is an international-style skyscraper in ^[26] In between the two is 50 Kennedy Plaza. 50 Kennedy Plaza (formerly known as Fleet Center) is a Postmodern skyscraper in Providence Rhode Island. The Textron Tower is also a core building to the modest Providence skyline. The Textron World Headquarters building (formerly known as the Old Stone Tower) is an International -style skyscraper in downtown Providence Downtown is also the home of the Providence Biltmore and Westminster Arcade, the oldest enclosed shopping mall in the U. The Providence Biltmore Hotel is an upscale hotel that opened in 1922 as part of the Biltmore Hotel chain The Westminster Arcade or Providence Arcade ( The Arcade, locally is a historic shopping center in Providence, Rhode Island. S. , built in 1828. ^[27]

The city's southern waterfront, away from the downtown core, is the location of many oil tanks, a docking station for a ferry boat, a decommissioned Russian submarine, a non-profit sailing center, bars, strip clubs, and power plants. The Fox Point Hurricane Barrier is also found here, built to protect Providence from storm surge, like that it had endured in the 1938 New England Hurricane and again in 1954 from Hurricane Carol. The Fox Point Hurricane Barrier is a long tidal flood barrier spanning the Providence River in Providence Rhode Island, located upstream from Fox Point Storm surge or tidal surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system typically a Tropical cyclone. The New England Hurricane of 1938 (or Great New England Hurricane or Long Island Express or simply The Great Hurricane of 1938) was the first major ^[28]

The majority of the cityscape comprises abandoned and revitalized industrial mills, double and triple decker housing (though the row houses found in so commonly in other Northeast cities, are notably rare here),^[29] a small number of high-rise buildings (predominantly for housing the elderly), and single family homes. A triple-decker (also referred to as a three-decker) is a three-story Apartment building, typically of light-framed wood construction, where each In Architecture and City planning, a terrace(d or row house or townhouse (though the latter term can also refer to Patio houses I-95 serves as a physical barrier between the city's commercial core and neighborhoods such as Federal Hill and the West End. Route 84 (Rhode Island redirects here For the once-planned Interstate Highway, see Interstate 84 (Rhode Island. Federal Hill neighborhood has a salient role in the history of Providence due to its central location within the city West End is a neighborhood in the southwestern part of Providence Rhode Island in the region often referred to as the South Side.

Climate

Waterplace Park

Providence's climate is humid continental, with warm summers, cool winters, and high humidity year-round. The humid continental climate is a Climate found over large areas of land masses in the temperate regions of the mid-latitudes where there is a zone of conflict between The USDA rates the city at Zone 6a, which is an "in-between" climate. The influence of the Atlantic Ocean keeps Providence, and the rest of the state of Rhode Island, warmer than many inland locales in New England. ^[30][31] January is the coldest month with average high temperatures of 37 °F (3 °C) and average low temperatures of 20 °F (-7 °C). Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736 a German Physicist who proposed it in 1724 The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. ^[32] July is the warmest month with average high temperatures of 83 °F (28 °C) and average low temperatures of 64 °F (18 °C). ^[32] The record high temperature in the city was 104 °F (40 °C) recorded in 1975. ^[32] The record low temperature in the city was -17 °F (-27 °C) recorded in 1934. ^[32]

As with the rest of the northeastern seaboard, Providence receives ample precipitation year-round. Monthly precipitation ranges from a high of 4. 43 inches (112. Inches redirects here To see the Les Savy Fav album see Inches. 5 mm) in March to a low of 3. 17 inches (80. 5 mm) in July. ^[33] Precipitation levels are generally slightly lesser in the summer months than the winter months when powerful storms known as Nor'easters can cause significant snowfall and blizzard conditions. A nor'easter (also northeaster; see below is a macro-scale Storm along the East Coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada. A blizzard is a severe Winter storm condition characterized by low Temperatures strong Winds and heavy blowing Snow Blizzards are formed when Though not frequent, Providence's location at the head of Narragansett Bay makes it vulnerable to Atlantic hurricanes. A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a low pressure center and numerous Thunderstorms that produce strong winds and Flooding

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, the population comprised 173,618 people, 62,389 households, and 35,859 families. A census is the procedure of acquiring information about every member of a given population ^[15] The population density was 3,629. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 4/km² (9,401. 7/sq mi), characteristic of comparatively older cities in New England such as New Haven, Connecticut, Boston, and Hartford, Connecticut. History See also History of New England New England's earliest inhabitants were Algonquian -speaking Native Americans including the Connecticut ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. Connecticut ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. ^[39] Also like these cities, its population peaked in the 1940s just prior to the nationwide period of rapid suburbanization. Suburbanization (or suburbanisation) is a term used to describe the process of population movement from within towns and cities to the rural-urban fringe Providence has had a substantial Italian population since the turn of the century, evidenced by its own Little Italy in Federal Hill. Federal Hill neighborhood has a salient role in the history of Providence due to its central location within the city ^[40] Irish immigrants have also had considerable influence on the city's history, with 8% of residents claiming Irish heritage. ^[41]

Belying Providence's traditionally white makeup is the sizable minority presence it has acquired in the last twenty years. Though nearby cities like Boston and Hartford have longer-standing black and Latino communities, Providence now has a higher minority percentage, with non-Hispanic whites comprising less than half (45. 8%) of the population. ^[42][43] Though salient contributions to this growth have been among Asians and unspecified races, the most dramatic change comes from Hispanics, whose presence has increased fivefold. Having origins in Puerto Rico, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Central America (particularly Guatemala), Hispanics have strong influence in the neighborhoods of Elmwood, the West End, and Upper and Lower South Providence. Puerto Rico (ˌpwertoˈriko officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ("Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico" {{lang-en|"Associated Free State of Puerto Rico"}} Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. The Dominican Republic ( Spanish: República Dominicana;) is a nation located in the Caribbean region and shares the island of Hispaniola with Guatemala (República de Guatemala) is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west the Pacific Ocean to the southwest Elmwood is a neighborhood in the South Side of Providence, Rhode Island. West End is a neighborhood in the southwestern part of Providence Rhode Island in the region often referred to as the South Side. Upper South Providence is an official neighborhood in the South Side in the city of Providence Rhode Island. The Lower South Side (or Lower South Providence is a neighborhoods in southern Providence, Rhode Island. ^[43] Hispanic impact is even larger in the city's schools. Hispanics represent over half (55%) of all students in the city's school system while comprising only 30% of Providence's population. ^[44][42]

In addition, Providence, like the nearby Massachusetts cities of Fall River and New Bedford, has a considerable community of immigrants from various Portuguese-speaking countries, living mostly in the areas of Washington Park and Fox Point. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. The Community of Portuguese Language Countries ( Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa, pron. Fox Point is a neighborhood in the East Side of Providence RI. ^[45][46][47] African Americans constitute approximately 15% of the city with the largest percentages in Mount Hope and Upper and Lower South Providence neighborhoods. Mount Hope is a neighborhood in northern Providence, Rhode Island. ^[48][15] Asians are 6% of Providence's population and have enclaves scattered thoroughout the city. ^[48] Another 6% of the city has multiracial ancestry. Native Americans and Pacific Islanders make up the remaining 1. 3%. ^[15]

The Providence metropolitan area, which includes Providence, Fall River, Massachusetts, and Warwick is estimated to be 1,622,520. The Providence metropolitan area is a region covering six counties in two states and is the 36th largest metropolitan area in the United States The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Warwick is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. ^[5] In 2006, this area was officially added to the Boston Combined Statistical Area (CSA), the fifth-largest CSA in the country. See also Combined Statistical Area The United States Census Bureau has defined 123 Combined Statistical Areas ref name=CSA>The United States Census In last fifteen years, Providence has experienced a sizable growth in its under-18 population, attributed to the influx of Hispanics. ^[42] The median age of the city is 28 years, while the largest age cohort is comprised of 20 to 24 year olds owing to the city's large student population. In Statistics and Demography, a cohort is a group of subjects &mdash most often humans from a given population &mdash defined by experiencing an event (typically ^[42][49]

The per capita income, as of the 2000 census, was $15,525, which is well below both the state average of $29,113,^[50] and the national average of $21,587. Per capita income means how much each individual receives in monetary terms of the yearly income generated in the country ^[51][15] The median income for a household was $26,867, and the median income for a family in Providence was $32,058, according to the 2000 census. The city has one of the highest rates of poverty in the nation with 29. 1% of the population and 23. 9% of families living below the poverty line in 2000, the largest concentrations being found in the city's Olneyville, and Upper and Lower South Providence areas. The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of Income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate Standard of living in a given country Olneyville is a neighborhood in Providence Rhode Island bordered by Atwells Avenue to the north U ^[52][9] Poverty has affected children at a disproportionately higher rate with 40. 1% of those under the age of 18 living below the poverty line, concentrated particularly west of downtown in the neighborhoods of Hartford, Federal Hill, and Olneyville. Downtown, also known as Downcity, is the central economic political and cultural district of the city of Providence Rhode Island. Hartford is a neighborhood located along the western edge of Providence, Rhode Island. Federal Hill neighborhood has a salient role in the history of Providence due to its central location within the city ^[52]

Crime

The rate of violent crime in the city has dropped for five consecutive years, running contrary to contemporaneous national trends in comparably-sized cities. ^[53][54] The city's 11 homicides in 2006 represented a historic low. ^[53] Averaged over three years, murders had highest concentrations in Olneyville and the West End neighborhoods. ^[55] Of the 239 United States cities with populations over 100,000, Providence's violent crime rate ranked 84th in 2003, as compared with New York City at 94th and Boston at 28th. ^[56] Notwithstanding its comparatively low rate of violent crime, Providence has the fifth-highest rate of property crime per 100,000 inhabitants in the country,^[57] which is 50% above the national average, with car theft in particular at 150% higher. ^[58]

David Cicilline, mayor since 2002, is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition,^[59] a bi-partisan group with the goal of reducing illegal gun ownership. David N Cicilline (born 1961 an American Democratic politician is the current Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island. The Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition is a coalition of Mayors from 225 different United States cities, with a stated goal of "making the public safer In a Two-party system (such as in the United States) bipartisan refers to any bill, act, resolution, or any other action of a The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Thomas Michael Menino (born December 27, 1942) is the mayor of Boston Massachusetts, United States and the city's first The City of New York Michael Rubens Bloomberg (born February 14, 1942) is an American businessman and the Mayor of New York City.

Economy

Providence was one of the first cities to industrialize in the United States. By 1830, the city had manufacturing industries in metals, machinery, textiles, jewelry, and silverware. Though manufacturing has declined, the city is still one of the largest centers for jewelry and silverware design and manufacturing. Jewellery (also spelled jewelry, see spelling differences) is a personal Ornament, such as a necklace ring or bracelet made from Gemstones Household silver ( the silver, the plate) comprises Dishware, Cutlery and other household items made of sterling, Britannia Services, particularly education, health care, and finance, also make up a large portion of the city's economy. Providence also is the site of a sectional center facility, a regional hub for the U. A Destination Sectional Center Facility ( SCF) is a Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC of the United States Postal Service (USPS that serves a designated geographical S. Postal Service. ^[60] Since it is the capital of Rhode Island, Providence's economy additionally consists of government services.

Data from City-Data. com^[61]

Textron's headquarters, One Financial Plaza, and the Rhode Island Hospital Trust building

The Fortune 500 conglomerate Textron and Fortune 1000 company Nortek Incorporated are both headquartered in the city, and GTECH's world headquarters has recently been moved to downtown Providence. Banc of America Securities Bank of America () is the largest bank by asset and second largest commercial Bank by deposits and Market capitalization in United "Verizon" redirects here this article is about the corporation see also Verizon Wireless, Verizon Online DSL and Verizon FiOS. The Textron World Headquarters building (formerly known as the Old Stone Tower) is an International -style skyscraper in downtown Providence One Financial Plaza, also known as the Sovereign Bank Tower and formerly known as the Hospital Trust Tower, is an international-style skyscraper in Founded in 1923 as the Special Yarns Company by Royal Little, Textron, today is a multi-industry company with a portfolio of familiar brands such as Bell Helicopter GTECH Corporation, a company based in Providence, Rhode Island, United States, became a wholly owned subsidiary of Lottomatica S ^[66] Citizens Bank is also headquartered in Providence. Several banks are commonly known as Citizens Bank. Citizens Financial Group Inc ^[67] Another company whose origins were in the city is Fleet Bank. FleetBoston Financial was a Boston, Massachusetts –based Bank created in 1999 by the merger of Fleet Financial Group and BankBoston Once Rhode Island's largest bank, it moved its headquarters to Boston, Massachusetts, after acquiring Shawmut Bank in 1995. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Before its acquisition by Bank of America, Fleet merged with BankBoston to become New England's largest commercial bank. Banc of America Securities Bank of America () is the largest bank by asset and second largest commercial Bank by deposits and Market capitalization in United BankBoston was a bank based in Boston Massachusetts, which was created by the 1996 merger of Bank of Boston and BayBank.

The city is home to the Rhode Island Convention Center, which opened in December 1993. ^[68] Along with a hotel, the convention center is connected to the Providence Place Mall, a major retail center, through a skywalk. Providence Place, opened on August 20, 1999, is a modern urban Shopping mall in the central part of Providence Rhode Island, near the Rhode Early examples of skywalks Copenhagen, Denmark: skywalk connecting courts building to adjacent uses 18th century Faaborg ^[68] The Port of Providence, the second largest deepwater seaport in New England,^[62] handles cargo such as cement, chemicals, heavy machinery, petroleum, and scrap metal. ||-||-|-||-||-||-||-||-||-|} A port is a facility for receiving Ships and transferring cargo ^[69]

Government

Providence City Hall in the Second Empire Baroque style

Rhode Island State House at sunset

Providence serves as Rhode Island's capital, housing the Rhode Island General Assembly as well as the offices of the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor in the Rhode Island State House. This article is about the Second Empire architectural style For France during the reign of Napoleon III of France, see Second French Empire The Rhode Island State House is the capitol of the US state of Rhode Island. The State of Rhode Island General Assembly is the state legislature of the U List of Rhode Island Governors Colonial governors See also List of colonial governors of Rhode Island State governors The current Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in 2007 is Elizabeth H The Rhode Island State House is the capitol of the US state of Rhode Island.

Providence's city government has a mayor-council form of government. The Mayor-Council government system sometimes called the Mayor-Commission government system is one of two variations of Government used for the most part in modern The Providence City Council consists of fifteen city councilors, one for each of the city's wards. The Providence City Council is the fifteen-member legislative body of the city of Providence Rhode Island. The council is tasked with enacting ordinances and passing an annual budget. Providence also has probate and superior courts. The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island is located downtown across from City Hall adjacent to Kennedy Plaza. The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Rhode Island. Kennedy Plaza is a transportation hub in downtown Providence, Rhode Island next to the Providence City Hall and Providence Federal Building.

David N. Cicilline was elected mayor by a large margin in 2002 and was re-elected without any major opposition in 2006. David N Cicilline (born 1961 an American Democratic politician is the current Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island. Cicilline is the first and only openly gay mayor of an American state capital. In the English language, gay is an Adjective that in modern usage refers to Homosexuality. ^[70] Providence is the largest American city to have an openly gay mayor,^[70] though Portland, Oregon now has an openly gay mayor elect. Portland is a city located in the Northwestern United States, near the Confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers

Education

Postsecondary

Hope College and Manning Hall at Brown University

Seven of the fourteen institutions of higher learning in Rhode Island have campuses in Providence (city proper):

• Brown University, an Ivy League university
• Community College of Rhode Island (Downcity and Liston campuses)
• Johnson & Wales University, notable for its culinary and hospitality program
• Providence College, a top master's level college and member of the Big East Conference. Brown University is a highly esteemed private University located in Providence, Rhode Island and is a member of the Ivy League. The Ivy League is an Athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The Community College of Rhode Island, commonly abbreviated as "CCRI" is the only community college in Rhode Island. Johnson & Wales University (JWU J&W is a private nonprofit co-educational career-oriented university This page refers to a college in Rhode Island. For the college in Manitoba, see Providence College and Theological Seminary. The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of seventeen Universities in the northeastern southeastern and midwestern United
• Rhode Island College
• Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), one of the country's top art colleges
• University of Rhode Island (Providence campus). This article is about the current institution that has used this name since 1960 The Rhode Island School of Design (abbreviated as RISD, pronounced /ˈrɪzdi/ is a Fine arts college located in Providence Rhode Island. The University of Rhode Island, commonly abbreviated as URI, is the principal public research university in the State of Rhode Island, with its main campus in

Between these schools the number of postsecondary students is approximately 44,000, or 25% the population of Providence. ^[71] Compounded by Brown University's being the second-largest employer,^[62] higher education exerts a considerable presence in the city's politics and economy.

Private and charter schools

Several private schools, including Moses Brown, the Lincoln School, and the Wheeler School, are in the city's East Side. Moses Brown School is a Quaker school located in Providence Rhode Island, founded by Moses Brown, a Quaker Abolitionist, in 1784 Lincoln School is a Liberal arts college preparatory day school for girls nursery through twelfth grade located in Providence, Rhode Island. The Wheeler School is a Coeducational independent day school located on the East Side of Providence, Rhode Island, United States. The East Side is a collection of neighborhoods in Providence, Rhode Island on the eponymous eastern part of the city LaSalle Academy is located in the Elmhurst area of the city near Providence College. La Salle Academy is a Co-education Catholic college preparatory High school located in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Providence Rhode Island This page refers to a college in Rhode Island. For the college in Manitoba, see Providence College and Theological Seminary. The public charter schools Time Squared Academy (K-12) and Textron Chamber of Commerce (9-12) are funded by GTECH and Textron respectively. Time Squared Academy High School is a High school in Providence Rhode Island that specialises in teaching students science and mathematics Founded in 1923 as the Special Yarns Company by Royal Little, Textron, today is a multi-industry company with a portfolio of familiar brands such as Bell Helicopter ^[72] In addition, the city's South Side houses Community Preparatory School, a private school serving primarily low-income students in grades 3-8. ^[73] Within the semi-private schools, The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center (The Met) and The Big Picture Company schools serve students through real world experiences and project-based learning. There are two separate centers for students with special needs. ^[74]

Public schools

The Providence Public School District serves about 26,000 students from pre-Kindergarten to grade 12. The Providence Public School Department is the administrative force behind the primary public school district of Providence Rhode Island. The district has 25 elementary schools, nine middle schools, and thirteen high schools. The Providence Public School District features magnet schools at the middle and high school level, Nathanael Greene and Classical respectively. A magnet school is a School which offers specialized courses or curricula. Classical High School, founded in 1843 is a public exam school in the Providence School District, in Providence, Rhode Island,

Culture

The Providence Performing Arts Center

See also: Media in Providence

Much of Providence culture is synonymous with Rhode Island culture. The city of Providence, Rhode Island, is served by the daily newspaper The Providence Journal, which is also available throughout Rhode Island and southeastern Rhode Island ( officially named the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, is a state in the New England region of the United States Like the state, the city has a non-rhotic accent which can be heard on local media. English pronunciation is divided into two main accent groups the rhotic (ˈroʊtɪk and non-rhotic, depending on when the sound typically represented Providence also shares Rhode Island's propensity for coffee, as the former has the most coffee/doughnut shops per capita of any city in the country. ^[75] Providence is also reputed to have the highest number of restaurants per capita,^[76] many of which are founded and/or staffed by its own Johnson & Wales graduates. ^[77]

The gateway arch over Atwells Avenue is a Federal Hill landmark. Federal Hill neighborhood has a salient role in the history of Providence due to its central location within the city A pineapple sculpture, a traditional emblem of welcome, hangs from the center.

Providence has several ethnic neighborhoods, notably Federal Hill and the North End (Italian),^[78] Fox Point (Cape Verdean and Portuguese),^[79] West End (mainly Central American and Asians),^[80] and Smith Hill (Irish with miscellaneous enclaves of other groups). Federal Hill neighborhood has a salient role in the history of Providence due to its central location within the city Charles is a neighborhood in northern Providence Rhode Island. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Fox Point is a neighborhood in the East Side of Providence RI. The Republic of Cape Verde ( Portuguese: Cabo Verde, 'kabu 'veɾdɨ is a Republic located on an Archipelago in the Macaronesia West End is a neighborhood in the southwestern part of Providence Rhode Island in the region often referred to as the South Side. Smith Hill is a neighorhood in Providence Rhode Island. Its traditional bounds are the Woonasquatucket River, the Chad Brown public housing complex Interstate ^[81] There are also many dedicated community organizations and arts associations located in the city. ^[82]

The city gained the reputation as one of the most active and growing LGBT communities in the Northeast;^[83][84] the rate of reported gay and lesbian relationships is 75% higher than the national average^[85] and Providence has been named among the "Best Lesbian Places to Live". LGBT (also GLBT) is an initialism referring collectively to Lesbian, Gay, bisexual, and Transgender / transsexual ^[84] The current mayor, David Cicilline, won his election running as an openly gay man, making him the first openly gay mayor of a U. S. state capital. ^[70] Former Mayor Cianci instituted the position of Mayor's Liaison to the Gay and Lesbian community in the 1990s. ^[84] There are numerous social and community organizations supporting the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.

Fireworks at the State House during the 2006 4 July celebration

During the summer months, the city regularly hosts WaterFire, an environmental art installation that consists of about 100 bonfires that blaze just above the surface of the three rivers that pass through the middle of downtown Providence. Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples WaterFire is an Environmental art installation created by Barnaby Evans in Providence, Rhode Island. The term Environmental Art is used in two different senses The term can be used generally to refer to art dealing with ecological issues and/or the natural, such as the formal the ^[86] There are multiple Waterfire events that are accompanied by various pieces of classical and world music. Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music The term world music includes Traditional music (sometimes called Folk music or roots music of any culture that are created and played by indigenous musicians The public art displays, most notably sculptures, change on a regular basis.

The city is also the home of the Tony Award-winning theater group Trinity Repertory Company, the Providence Black Repertory Company, and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra. The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented Trinity Repertory Company is a Regional theatre located in Providence Rhode Island. ^[87] Providence is also the home of several performing arts centers such as the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, the Providence Performing Arts Center, and the Providence Festival Ballet. Veterans Memorial Auditorium (VMA is a performing arts theater in Providence Rhode Island. The city's underground music scene, centered around artist-run spaces such as the now-defunct Fort Thunder, is known in underground music circles. Fort Thunder was a warehouse on the second floor of a pre-Civil War former textile factory in the Olneyville district of Providence Rhode Island. ^[88]

Sites of interest

See also: List of Registered Historic Places in Providence, Rhode Island

Old Stone Bank and Unitarian Church

Providence is home to an 1,200-acre (4. List of Registered Historic Places in Providence, Rhode Island, which has been transferred from and is an integral part of List of Registered Historic Places 9 km²) park system,^[89] notably Waterplace Park and Riverwalk, Roger Williams Park, Roger Williams National Memorial, and Prospect Terrace Park, the latter featuring expansive views of the downtown area. Waterplace Park is an urban park situated in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. Roger Williams Park, in southern part of the city of Providence Rhode Island is an elaborately-landscaped 427-acre city park and National Historic District. Roger Williams National Memorial is a landscaped urban park located on a common lot of the original settlement of Providence Rhode Island, by Roger Williams in 1636 Prospect Terrace Park is a park located on Congdon Street in the College Hill neighborhood of Providence Rhode Island. As one of the first cities in the country, Providence is littered with historic buildings while the East Side neighborhood in particular includes the largest contiguous area of buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the U. List of Registered Historic Places in Providence, Rhode Island, which has been transferred from and is an integral part of List of Registered Historic Places S. with many pre-revolutionary houses. ^[90] Providence is home to the First Baptist Church in America, the oldest Baptist church in the Americas, founded by Roger Williams in 1638. The First Baptist Church in America is the First Baptist Church of Providence Rhode Island, also known as First Baptist Meetinghouse. Baptist is a term describing individuals belonging to a Baptist church or a Baptist denomination. Roger Williams may refer to Roger Williams (soldier (1539/1540–1595 Welsh soldier of fortune Roger Williams (theologian (1603–1683 ^[91] Nearby is Roger Williams National Memorial. Downcity Providence is home to the fourth largest unsupported dome in the world (the second largest marble dome after St. The Rhode Island State House is the capitol of the US state of Rhode Island. Peter's Basilica in Rome),^[92] as well as the Westminster Arcade, which is the oldest enclosed shopping center in the U. The Latin word basilica (derived from Greek, Basiliké Stoà, Royal Stoa) was originally used to describe a Roman The Westminster Arcade or Providence Arcade ( The Arcade, locally is a historic shopping center in Providence, Rhode Island. S. ^[93][94]

Providence Catholic Cathedral and environs

The main art museum is the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, which has the twentieth largest collection in the country. The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul is a Roman Catholic Cathedral in Providence Rhode Island and is the Mother church of the Diocese Rhode Island School of Design Museum is a prominent art museum in Providence Rhode Island affiliated with the well-known Rhode Island School of Design. ^[95] The city's southern waterfront hosts a decommissioned Cold War era Russian submarine. Career The details of K-77 ’s career remain largely unknown ^[96] In addition to the Providence Public Library and its nine branches, the city is home to the Providence Athenæum, the fourth oldest library in the country. The Providence Athenaeum, founded in 1753 in Providence Rhode Island, is the fourth oldest Subscription library in the United States ^[97] Here, on one of his many visits to Providence, Edgar Allan Poe, met and courted a love interest named Sarah Helen Whitman. Edgar Allan Poe (January 19 1809 – October 7 1849 was an American poet, short-story Writer, editor and Literary critic, Early life She was born in Providence Rhode Island on January 19 1803 - the same day as Poe though a few years before him ^[98] Poe was a regular fixture there, as was H. P. Lovecraft; both of them influential writers of gothic literature. Howard Phillips Lovecraft ( August 20, 1890 – March 15, 1937) was an American author of horror, fantasy Gothic fiction (sometimes referred to as Gothic horror) is a genre of literature that combines elements of both horror and romance.

The Bank of America Skating Center, formerly the Fleet Skating Center, is located near Kennedy Plaza in the downtown district, connected by pedestrian tunnel to Waterplace Park, a cobblestone and concrete park below street traffic that abuts Providence's three rivers. Banc of America Securities Bank of America () is the largest bank by asset and second largest commercial Bank by deposits and Market capitalization in United Waterplace Park is an urban park situated in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. ^[99][100]

The southern part of the city is home to the famous roadside attraction Nibbles Woodaway (also known as the "Big Blue Bug"), the world's largest termite,^[101] as well as the aforementioned Roger Williams Park, which contains a zoo, a botanical center, and the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium. The Big Blue Bug, also known as Nibbles Woodaway, is the giant Termite mascot of New England Pest Control, located along I-95 in Providence The termites are a group of Social Insects usually classified at the taxonomic rank of order Isoptera (but see also taxonomy A zoological garden, shortened to zoo, is an institution in which living animals are exhibited in captivity ^[102]

Sports

The city is home to the American Hockey League team Providence Bruins, which plays at the Dunkin' Donuts Center (formerly the Providence Civic Center). American Hockey Association (1926–1942The American Hockey League (AHL is a Professional Ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary The Providence Bruins is an Ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are the primary development team for the NHL 's Boston Bruins The Dunkin' Donuts Center, also known as The Dunk, is an Indoor arena located in Providence Rhode Island, USA. The Dunkin' Donuts Center, also known as The Dunk, is an Indoor arena located in Providence Rhode Island, USA. From 1926 to 1972, the AHL's Providence Reds (renamed the Rhode Island Reds in their last years)^[103] played at the Rhode Island Auditorium. The Providence Reds, later called the Rhode Island Reds, played in the Canadian-American Hockey League ( CAHL) 1926-36 and the American Hockey League Rhode Island Auditorium was an indoor Arena in Providence Rhode Island, at 1111 North Main Street In 1972, the team relocated to the Providence Civic Center, where they played until moving to Binghamton, New York, in 1977. The Dunkin' Donuts Center, also known as The Dunk, is an Indoor arena located in Providence Rhode Island, USA. Binghamton, known as The Parlor City is a City located in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous

Providence has its own roller derby league. Roller derby is an American -invented contact Sport —and historically a form of Sports entertainment —based on formation Roller skating Formed in 2004, it currently has four teams: the Providence Mob Squad, the Sakonnet River Roller Rats, the Old Money Honeys, and the Rhode Island Riveters. The NFL's New England Patriots and MLS's New England Revolution play in Foxborough, Massachusetts, which is situated halfway between Providence and Boston. The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. The New England Patriots, commonly called the " Pats " by sports writers and fans are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston Major League Soccer ( MLS) is the top-flight professional Soccer league in the United States and Canada with 14 teams 13 in the U The New England Revolution, nicknamed the Revs, is a professional soccer club based in Foxborough Massachusetts, that participates in Major League Foxborough is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, approximately 22 miles (35 km southwest of Boston and 18 miles (29 km The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Providence was formerly home to two major league franchises: the NFL's Providence Steam Roller in the 1920s and 1930s, and the NBA's Providence Steamrollers in the 1940s. The Providence Steam Roller (also referred to as the Providence Steam Rollers, the Providence Steamroller and the Providence Steamrollers) was a professional Franchise history The Steamrollers were one of the original eleven NBA franchises (when the league was called the Basketball Association of America The city is also where Rocky Marciano won 29 of his 49 fights. Rocky Marciano ( September 1, 1923 – August 31, 1969) born Rocco Francis Marchegiano, was the heavyweight champion of the world ^[104]

The city's defunct baseball team, the Providence Grays, competed in the National League from 1879 through 1885. Providence Grays was a team name used by several major and minor league baseball teams based in Providence Rhode Island. The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League ( NL) is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball The team defeated the New York Metropolitans in baseball's first successful "world championship series" in 1884. The Metropolitan Club (the New York Metropolitans or the Mets) was a 19th century Professional Baseball team that played in New York In Baseball the 1884 World Series was an early forerunner of the modern post-season championship series ^[105] In 1914, after the Boston Red Sox purchased Babe Ruth from the then-minor league Baltimore Orioles, the team prepared Ruth for the major leagues by sending him to finish the season playing for a minor league team in Providence that was also known as the Grays. The Boston Red Sox are a Professional baseball team based in Boston Massachusetts, and are the reigning (2007 World Series Champions. George Herman Ruth Jr (February 6 1895 &ndash August 16 1948 also popularly known as " Babe " " The Bambino " and " The Sultan of The city of Baltimore Maryland has been home to two Minor league baseball teams called the Baltimore Orioles. Today, professional baseball is offered by the Pawtucket Red Sox, the AAA affiliate of the Boston Red Sox which plays in nearby Pawtucket. The Pawtucket Red Sox (known colloquially as the PawSox) are the Minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to The Boston Red Sox are a Professional baseball team based in Boston Massachusetts, and are the reigning (2007 World Series Champions. Pawtucket (pronounced Pa-TUCK-et is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. Most baseball fans—along with the local media—tend to follow the Boston Red Sox. ^[106]

Major colleges and universities fielding NCAA Division I athletic teams are Brown University and Providence College. Brown University is a highly esteemed private University located in Providence, Rhode Island and is a member of the Ivy League. This page refers to a college in Rhode Island. For the college in Manitoba, see Providence College and Theological Seminary. The latter is a member of the Big East Conference. The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of seventeen Universities in the northeastern southeastern and midwestern United Much local hype is associated with games between these two schools or the University of Rhode Island. The University of Rhode Island, commonly abbreviated as URI, is the principal public research university in the State of Rhode Island, with its main campus in Providence has also hosted the Gravity Games alternative sports tournament during several recent summers, and was also the first host of ESPN's X Games, known in its first edition as the Extreme Games. Gravity Games is a multi-sport competition originating from Providence Rhode Island that is broken down into Winter and Summer adaptations ESPN, originally an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American Cable television network dedicated to The X Games is an annual event with a focus on extreme action sports

Infrastructure

Health and medicine

Providence from downtown exit ramp off I-95

Providence is home to eight hospitals, most prominently Rhode Island Hospital, the largest general acute care hospital in the state. List of Hospitals in Rhode Island ( US state) sorted by hospital name Rhode Island Hospital is a private Not-for-profit hospital located in Providence Rhode Island. ^[107] The hospital is in a complex along I-95 that includes Hasbro Children's Hospital and Women and Infants Hospital. Route 84 (Rhode Island redirects here For the once-planned Interstate Highway, see Interstate 84 (Rhode Island. The city is also home to the Roger Williams Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital For Specialty Care (a division of St. Joseph Health Services Of Rhode Island), The Miriam Hospital, a major teaching affiliate associated with Brown University, as well as a VA medical center. Brown University is a highly esteemed private University located in Providence, Rhode Island and is a member of the Ivy League. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs ( VA) is a government-run military Veteran benefit system with Cabinet -level status

Providence is home to the Quality Assurance Review Center (QARC), which performs thousands of radiotherapy reviews per year. The Quality Assurance Review Center (QARC is a research program within the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS that provides Radiotherapy (RT Radiation therapy (or radiotherapy) is the medical use of Ionizing radiation as part of Cancer treatment to control Malignant QARC is supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The National Cancer Institute (NCI is part of the United States Federal government's National Institutes of Health. "NIH" redirects here For other meanings of NIH see NIH (disambiguation. It receives radiotherapy data from around one-thousand hospitals in both the United States and abroad. A hospital is an institution for Health care providing treatment by specialised staff and equipment and often but not always providing for The United States of America —commonly referred to as the ^[108] The center also maintains a strategic affiliation with the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts. The University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS is one of five campuses of the University of Massachusetts (UMass system and is home to three schools the School Worcester (ˈwʊstɚ is a City in the state of Massachusetts in the United States of America. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States.

The Rhode Island Blood Center has its main headquarters in Providence. Since 1979, the Rhode Island Blood Center has been the sole organization in charge of blood collection and testing and distribution of blood products to 11 hospitals in Rhode Island. A blood bank is a cache or bank of Blood or blood components, gathered as a result of Blood donation, stored and preserved for later use in Blood transfusions

Transportation

Providence Station

RIPTA buses in front of Providence City Hall

Providence is served by air primarily by the commercial airfield T. F. Green Airport in nearby Warwick. T F Green International Airport, also known as Theodore Francis Green State Airport, is a public Airport located in Warwick, six miles (10 Warwick is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. General aviation fields also serve the region. General aviation (abbr GA) is one of two categories of Civil aviation. Due to overcrowding and Big Dig complications in Boston, Massport has been promoting T. The Big Dig is the unofficial name of the Central Artery/Tunnel Project ( CA/T) a Megaproject that rerouted the Massachusetts Port Authority, or Massport, is a Port district in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. F. Green as an alternative to Boston's Logan International Airport. ^[109]

Providence Station, located between the Rhode Island State House and the downtown district, is served by Amtrak^[110] and MBTA Commuter Rail services, with a commuter rail running to Boston. The Rhode Island State House is the capitol of the US state of Rhode Island. The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Doing business as Amtrak, is a Government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 The MBTA Commuter Rail is the Regional rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in the United States. ^[111] Approximately 2400 passengers daily pass through the station. ^[112][113] Additionally, funds have been allocated to extend the commuter rail from Providence to T. F. Green Airport terminating at a $222.5 million intermodal station to be completed in 2009. T F Green Airport Station is an intermodal station under development in Warwick Rhode Island on the Northeast Corridor, extending the Providence/Stoughton ^[114]

I-95 runs from north to south through Providence while I-195 connects the city to eastern Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, including New Bedford, Massachusetts, and Cape Cod. Route 84 (Rhode Island redirects here For the once-planned Interstate Highway, see Interstate 84 (Rhode Island. Interstate 195 (abbreviated I-195) is an Interstate highway running a combined 40 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Cape Cod (or simply the Cape to most New Englanders is a Peninsula nearly coextensive with Barnstable County Massachusetts and forming the easternmost I-295 encircles Providence while RI 146 provides a direct connection with Worcester, Massachusetts. Interstate 295 (abbreviated I-295) is an Interstate route in length within the U Route 146 is a Numbered highway running 173 miles in the US state of Rhode Island. Worcester (ˈwʊstɚ is a City in the state of Massachusetts in the United States of America. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. The city has commissioned and begun a long-term project, the Iway, to move I-195 not only for safety reasons, but also to free up land and to reunify the Jewelry District with Downcity Providence, which had been split from one another by the highway. The Iway is the $610 million project by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT to relocate the Interstate 195 and Interstate 95 intersection ^[115] The project is estimated to cost $446 million and be completed in 2012. ^[116]

Kennedy Plaza, in downtown Providence, serves as a transportation hub for local public transit as well as a departure point for Peter Pan^[117] and Greyhound^[118] bus lines. Kennedy Plaza is a transportation hub in downtown Providence, Rhode Island next to the Providence City Hall and Providence Federal Building. Peter Pan Bus Lines is a long-distance Bus carrier that operates in the northeastern states of the United States. Greyhound Lines is an intercity Common carrier of passengers by Bus serving over 3700 destinations in the United States. Public transit is managed by Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA). The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA provides Public transportation, primarily Buses in the state of Rhode Island ^[119] Through RIPTA alone Kennedy Plaza serves over 71,000 people a day. ^[120] The majority of the area covered by RIPTA is served by traditional buses. Of particular note is the East Side Trolley Tunnel running under College Hill, the use of which is reserved for RIPTA buses. The East Side Trolley Tunnel is a tunnel in Providence Rhode Island, originally built for trolley use in 1914 RIPTA also operates the Providence LINK, a system of tourist trolleys in downtown Providence, as well as a ferry to Newport between May and October. A tourist trolley, also called a road trolley, is a rubber tired Bus (usually Diesel fueled sometimes Compressed natural gas) made to resemble Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about 30 miles (48 km south of Providence

Early construction on the Iway 195 relocation project from across the Narragansett Bay

Utilities

Electricity and natural gas are provided by Narragansett Electric Company which is owned by National Grid USA. The Iway is the $610 million project by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT to relocate the Interstate 195 and Interstate 95 intersection Narragansett Bay is a Bay and Estuary on the north side of Rhode Island Sound. ^[121] Providence Water is responsible for the distribution of drinking water, ninety percent of which comes from the Scituate Reservoir about ten miles (16 km) west of downtown, with contributions coming from four smaller bodies of water. The Scituate Reservoir is the largest inland body of water in the state of Rhode Island. ^{[122] [123]}

Sister cities

Providence has four sister cities designated by Sister Cities International:^[124]

• Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• Florence, Italy
• Riga, Latvia
• Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

See also

• Notable people from Providence
• List of tallest buildings in Providence
• Neighborhoods in Providence

Notes

Further reading

• EDC Profile City of Providence. Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (2006).
• Samantha Cook, Greg Ward, Tim Perry (2004). "Providence", The Rough Guide USA. Rough Guides, 243-247. ISBN 1-84353-262-X.  
• Rich, Wilbur C. (2000). "Vincent Cianci and Boosterism in Providence, Rhode Island", Governing Middle-Sized Cities. Lynne Rienner Publishers, 197-216. ISBN 1-55587-870-9.  

External links

• The City of Providence website
• Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce
• Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau
• The Providence Plan
• Providence travel guide from Wikitravel

• Providence, Rhode Island is at coordinates 41°49′25″N 71°25′20″W / 41.82355, -71.422132 (Providence, Rhode Island)Coordinates: 41°49′25″N 71°25′20″W / 41.82355, -71.422132 (Providence, Rhode Island)