Providence, Rhode Island

Providence is the capital and largest city in Rhode Island, a state of the United States of America. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of 173,618, but a July 1, 2004, Census estimate put the city's population at 178,126, comprising about one sixth the population of the state. Its metropolitan population is estimated as of 2004 to be 1,628,808, making it the 34th-largest metropolitan area in the country. The city is located in Providence County and is the second-largest city in New England. Providence is nicknamed the "Beehive of Industry" and, since the 1990s, "The Renaissance City."

Providence was named by Roger Williams in honor of "God's merciful Providence" in his finding this spot to settle when expelled by the Puritans from Massachusetts. The official name of the state includes the name of the city, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. The city was one of the first cities to industrialize in the United States and was noted for its jewelry and silverware industry. Today, Providence is the economic, cultural, and political hub of Rhode Island.

History

This area was first settled in 1636 by Roger Williams, and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies. Williams secured a title to the land from the Narragansett natives around this time, renaming the area "Providence," because of "God's merciful providence." Williams cultivated Providence as a refuge for persecuted religious dissenters, as he himself had been exiled from Massachusetts. Shortly after being settled, much of Providence was burned down in King Philip's War, which lasted from 1675 to 1676.

Providence's growth was slow during the next quarter-century. The first census of the colony, taken in 1708, recorded 1,446 residents. However, in the second census taken in 1730, the colony's population had almost tripled to 3,916 people. The Providence territory would become smaller as more and more of the land would become part of different towns, including Scituate and Johnston. The city's slow growth was also due to the rocky, hilly, and heavily wooded land which made farming difficult, as well as the tradition of dissent and independent-mindedness (Rhode Island was the first of the thirteen colonies to declare independence from Great Britain). Residents often fought over land titles, politics, and religion.

In the mid-1770s, Providence was focused on fishing and maritime trade, and was becoming a major commercial center. Nevertheless, the British government's passage of several laws levying various taxes caused Providence to join the other colonies in renouncing allegiance to the British Crown. One such law was the Sugar Act, which levied a tax on sugar and molasses imports, and impacted Providence's distilleries and its trade in rum and slaves. During this period, Providence's population had exceeded 4,300 citizens by 1776, and Providence was able to avoid occupation by British soldiers during the American Revolutionary War, though the city did suffer major interruptions in education and trade as a result of its location and facility as quarters for many troops passing through the area.

Following the war, Providence's main focus on its economy shifted from maritime endeavors to manufacturing. Samuel Slater is credited as having begun the shift in about 1790, and historians mark the transformation's completion at about 1830. Manufacturing would be the city's major industry for the next one hundred years, particularly in machine tools, silverware, jewelry and textiles. At one time, Providence boasted the largest steam engine factory in the US (Corliss), the largest silverware plant (Gorham), the largest machine tool plant (Brown and Sharpe), the largest file and rasp maker (Nicholson), and the largest screw manufacturer (American Screw). The city's industries attracted many people, including immigrants from Ireland, Germany, Sweden, England, Italy, Portugal, Cape Verde, and French Canada. Nevertheless, the city experienced social strife, notably with a series of race riots between whites and blacks during the 1820s. In response to continued growth and social conflicts, Providence residents issued ratified a city charter in November 1831. The city became the sole capital of Rhode Island in 1900. From 1854 to 1900, Providence was the joint capital of the state with Newport.

The city began to see a decline by the mid-1920s as industries, notably in textiles, began to shut down and unemployment rose. The Great Depression hit the city hard, and Providence was further hit by the New England Hurricane of 1938, which flooded the downtown area. The city saw further decline as a result of the nation-wide trends affecting most American cities in the post-WWII era, with the construction of highways and increased suburbanization, manifested in the loss of population and capital.

Providence was notorious from the 1950s into the 1980s as a bastion of organized crime. The city was the seat of power for the New England "Cosa Nostra" or Mafia. "The Office," as the organization was sometimes known, was run out of a small vending machine office on Atwells Avenue in the heart of Federal Hill, Providence's "Little Italy." The legendary mafia boss Raymond Patriarca ruled a vast criminal enterprise with an iron fist from here for over three decades. At the height of his power in the 1960s, Patriaraca was thought to be more powerful than the Governor of Rhode Island and was alleged to have judges, the police, and politicians at his command through bribery and intimidation. Murders and disappearances associated with organized crime were commonplace during this period and were accepted with resignation by most Rhode Islanders.May, Allan. All About the Providence Mob. CrimeLibrary.com.

The city began to revive beginning in the 1970s. From 1975 until 1982, States dollar|$" target="_blank" >^*606 million of Community Development money, including funds from other federal, state, and city sources, were invested in the downtown area and neighborhoods throughout the city, and the population began to stabilize. In the 1990s, Mayor Vincent Cianci, Jr. showcased the city as a center for the arts and pushed for further revitalization. These included opening up the Providence River and moving the railroad tracks underground, building Waterplace Park and riverwalks along the river's banks, and the construction of the Fleet Skating Rink (now the Bank of America Skating Rink) in downtown and the 1.4 million ft² Providence Place Mall.

The recent Providence Renaissance has triggered new investment within the city. GTech is in the final stages of moving its headquarters to downtown Providence. Due to be completed in 2006, the 10-story 210,000 square foot (19,500 m²) building will contain about 500 people.Work Begins on Gtech Headquarters (2004). The Waterplace Residential Towers, to be built overlooking Providence's Waterplace Park, will consist of 193 luxury condominiums in its 17 and 19-story buildings, and is estimated to be completed in mid-2007.Waterplace Residential Towers (2005). BuildRI at www.ri21.com. Additionally, a former parking lot adjacent to the state capitol is being developed into low-rise apartments. Other recent residential construction includes The Jefferson behind Providence Place mall and the historic preservation and conversion of the Foundry, the former plant of Brown and Sharpe.

The Masonic Temple building in downtown, the construction of which had been abandoned amidst the Great Depression and has stood uncompleted for 75 years, is currently being renovated in the largest restoration project in Rhode Island history. When completed in the summer of 2006, it will host 274 guest rooms, a restaurant, and a lounge, and will preserve the original historic 1929 facade.The Masonic Temple Renovation (2004). BuildRI at www.ri21.com.The Renaissance Providence Hotel (2004). Hensel Phelps Construction Company. Being constructed in the space next to the city's existing Westin Hotel is an additional 31-story tower that will add 200 rooms to the existing 364 rooms (making the Westin the largest hotel in Rhode Island with 564 guest rooms) as well as 103 new luxury condominiums.Stape Andrea L. (April 13, 2005). Procacciati Group unveils its design. Providence Journal, found at Art in Ruins (www.artinruins.com/arch/construct/westin/).

Estimated to be ready for occupancy by Fall 2008, the 40-story 520-foot "OneTen" (110 Westminster Street) will contain condominiums and claim the title of the tallest building in the Providence, supplanting the 26-floor Bank of America building that was finished in 1927.OneTen Luxury ResidencesBank of America Building (2006). SkyscraperPage.com.

Although the new projects will expand the Providence tax base and build its skyline, there is disapproval from some local residents, who fear that some of the more modern-looking glass additions will taint the traditionally historic brick and concrete look of Down City Providence. Additional concerns include an equitable taxation policy for several of the new luxury highrises.

Geography and climate

Providence is located at 41°49'25" North, 71°25'20" West (41.823550, -71.422132). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 53.2 km² (20.5 mi²). 47.8 km² (18.5 mi²) of it is land and 5.3 km² (2.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 10.03% water.

Providence is located at the head of Narragansett Bay, with the Providence River running into the bay through the center of the city. The Waterplace Park amphitheater and riverwalks line the river's banks through downtown. Constitution Hill (near downtown), College 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 seven hills.

Cityscape

The downcity area is the location of the city-state's tallest buildings. 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). By contrast, nearby to it is the second tallest One Financial Center, designed in modern taut-skin cladding, constructed a half century later.One Financial Plaza. Emporis.com. Accessed June 5, 2006. Downcity is also the home of the Providence Biltmore and Westminster Arcade, the oldest enclosed shopping mall in the U.S., built in 1828.Providence, Rhode Island (2004). Emporis.com. Accessed November 7, 2005. Many 19th century merchantile buildings in the Federal and Victorian architectural styles, as well as several post-modern and modernist buildings, are located throughout the Downcity area.

The city's southern waterfront, away from the downcity core, is the location of many oil tanks, a docking station for a ferry boat, a decommissioned Russian submarine, bars, strip clubs, and power plants. Abandoned and revitalized industrial mills, triple and double-decker housing, a small number of high-rise buildings (predominantly for housing the elderly), and single family homes make up the majority of the cityscape. I-95 serves as a physical barrier between the city's commercial core and neighborhoods such as Federal Hill and the West End.

Climate

Providence's climate is humid continental, with hot summers, cold winters, and high humidity year-round. The USDA rates the city at Zone 6, 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. January is the coldest month with average high temperatures of 3° C (37° F) and average low temperatures of -7° C (19° F). July is the warmest month with average high temperatures of 28° C (82° F) and average low temperatures of 18° C (64° F). The record high temperature in the city was 40° C (104° F) recorded in 1975. The record low temperature in the city was -25° C (-13° F) recorded in 1976.

As with the rest of the northeastern seaboard, Providence receives ample precipitation year-round. Monthly precipitation ranges from a high of 112.5 mm (4.43 in) in March to a low of 80.5 mm (3.17 in) in July.Records and Averages - Providence (2005). Yahoo! Weather. Accessed September 13, 2005. 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. Though not frequent, Providence's location at the head of Narragansett Bay makes it vulnerable to Atlantic hurricanes.

Demographics

City of Providence Population by yearGibson, Campbell (June 1998). Population of the 100 Largest Cities and Other Urban Places in the United States: 1790 to 1990. U.S. Bureau of the Census - Population Division.
Census year	Population

1880	104,857
1890	132,146
1900	175,597
1910	223,326
1920	237,595
1930	252,981
1940	253,504
1950	248,674
1960	207,498
1970	179,213
1980	156,804
1990	160,728
2000	173,618
2004	178,126

As of the census of 2000, there were 173,618 people, 62,389 households, and 35,873 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,629.4/km² (9,401.7/mi²). There were 67,915 housing units at an average density of 1,419.7/km² (3,677.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 54.53% Caucasian, 14.54% African American, 1.14% Native American, 6.01% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 17.55% from other races, and 6.08% from two or more races. 30.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino Hispanic from any of the above categories. Providence receives refugees in cooperation with the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement. The 2000 US Census estimate for the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) including Providence, Fall River, Massachusetts, and Warwick was 1,188,613.

There were 62,389 households out of which 32.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.9% were married couples living together, 20.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.5% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.33.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 18.9% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 15.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,867, and the median income for a family was $32,058. Males had a median income of $28,894 versus $23,472 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,525. 29.1% of the population and 23.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 40.1% of those under the age of 18 and 19.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

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. Services, particularly education, health care, and finance, also make up a large portion of the city's economy. Since it is the capital of Rhode Island, Providence's economy also consists of government services.

The conglomerate Textron is headquartered in the city, and Gtech's world headquarters has recently been moved to downtown Providence. Another company whose origins were in the city is Fleet Bank. Once Rhode Island's largest bank, it moved its headquarters to Boston, Massachusetts, after acquiring Shawmut Bank in 1995. Before its acquisition by Bank of America, Fleet merged with BankBoston to become New England's largest commercial bank.

The city is home to the Rhode Island Convention Center, which opened in December 1993. Along with a hotel, the convention center is connected to the Providence Place Mall, a major retail center, through a skywalk. Providence also maintains a seaport which handles cargo such as cement, chemicals, heavy machinery, petroleum, and scrap metal.

Government

Providence has a mayor-council form of government. There are fifteen city councilors, one for each of the city's wards. The city 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 on the opposite end of Kennedy Plaza from City Hall.

Vincent Cianci, Jr, who was often credited with Providence's 1990s renaissance, was the city's longest serving mayor and a major presence in Providence politics. Nevertheless, during Operation Plunder Dome, Cianci was indicted in April 2001 on various federal criminal charges including racketeering, conspiracy, extortion, witness tampering, and mail fraud. He was ultimately convicted of conspiracy and is currently serving his sentence in federal prison. In 2002, David N. Cicilline was elected Mayor in a landslide, making him the first openly gay Mayor of an American state capital.

Providence has the following sister citiesMayor Announces Sister City - Meeting (7/30/2003). Press Release from the Office of the Mayor at www.providenceri.com/press/sister_city.html.:

Education

Providence is home to the following institutions of higher learning:

Brown University, an Ivy League university
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), one of the world's top art colleges
Providence College, a Catholic school, one of the top master’s level colleges in the northeast United States
Johnson and Wales University, notable for culinary program, considered one of the best such programs in the world
Rhode Island College
Community College of Rhode Island (Providence campus)
University of Rhode Island (Providence campus).

Several private schools, including Moses Brown, the Lincoln School, and the Wheeler School, are in the city's East Side. La Salle Academy, a Catholic high school which has educated many Rhode Island political and business leaders, is located in the Elmhurst area of the city near Providence College.

The Providence Public School District serves about 26,000 students from pre-Kindergarten to grade 12. The district has 25 elementary schools, nine middle schools, and thirteen high schools. The Providence Public School Districts features magnet schools at the middle and high school level, Nathaniel Greene and Classical respectively. There are also two centers for students with special needs.

Culture

Providence has several ethnic neighborhoods, notably Federal Hill (Italian), Elmwood (Vietnamese), Lower South Providence (Dominican and Liberian), and Smith Hill (mixed -- Irish, Bolivian, Cambodian). There are also many dedicated community organizations and arts associations located in the city.

The city gained the reputation as one of the most vibrant and growing LGBT communities in the Northeast. The current mayor won his election running as an openly gay man, making him the first openly gay mayor of a US state capital. Mayor Cianci instituted the position of Mayor's Liaison to the Gay and Lesbian community in the 1990s. There are numerous social and community organizations supporting the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.

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. There are multiple Waterfire events that are accompanied by various pieces of classical and world music. The public art displays, most notably sculptures, change on a regular basis.

The city is also the home of the Tony winning theater group Trinity Repertory Company and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra. Providence is also the home of several performing arts centers such as the Veterans Memorial Auditorium and the Providence Performing Arts Center. The city's underground music scene, centered around artist-run spaces such as the now-defunct Fort Thunder, is internationally revered.

Providence and the surrounding area have been used as a backdrop for several movies and television series. The animated television series Family Guy takes place in Quahog, a fictional suburb of Providence and prominently features the most pronounced segment of Providence's skyline several times an episode (the buildings are One Financial Plaza, 50 Kennedy Plaza, and the Bank of America Building respectively). The city and its name were used in the television series Providence, and Showtime's upcoming series, The Brotherhood, was also filmed and set in Providence. The Farrelly brothers used the city as a backdrop for several of their movies, notably Dumb and Dumber and There's Something About Mary. The movie Outside Providence takes place in Pawtucket, adjacent to Providence. Although not set in Providence, the movie Amistad used the exterior of the Rhode Island State House as the United States Capitol exterior, while Meet Joe Black was also filmed on location in Providence.In the footsteps of Amistad. Katharine Imbrie. Accessed April 19, 2006. Providence is currently the primary filming grounds for the upcoming Underdog movie. The upcoming CBS show Waterfront will also take place in and be filmed in Providence.

Media

The city is served by the daily newspaper The Providence Journal, which is also available throughout Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. The arts and entertainment newspaper Providence Phoenix also serves Providence and the surrounding area. Additionally, the community paper The Providence Agenda serves as a vehicle for reflection on development, music, and the arts in the city.

Providence is the center of Rhode Island's broadcasting market, which also encompasses New Bedford, Massachusetts. The city is served by television stations representing every major American television network as well radio stations originating from Providence and Boston. The major network-affiliated television stations based in Providence are WLNE-TV (ABC and licensed to New Bedford), WJAR (NBC), WPRI-TV (CBS), and WNAC-TV (FOX). Other stations serving the Providence market include WLWC (UPN/The WB and licensed to New Bedford), WRIW-LP (Telemundo), and WPXQ (i). WSBE-TV is Rhode Island's PBS member station.

Sites of interest

The East Side neighborhood of Providence includes the largest contiguous area of National Historic Society-designated buildings in the U.S. The nearby Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum has a collection of trees and plants, including the largest sequoia on the East Coast. Providence is home to the First Baptist Church in America, the oldest Baptist church in the Americas, which was founded by Roger Williams in 1638. Downcity Providence is home to the fourth largest unsupported dome in the world (the second largest marble dome after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome).Rhode Island Facts and Figures. Rhode Island State House. 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, as well as Roger Williams Park. The park contains a zoo and the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.

The main art museum is the RISD Museum. In addition to the Providence Public Library and its nine branches, the city is home to the Providence Athenaeum, which is one of the oldest lending libraries in the world. Edgar Allan Poe, a longtime Providence resident, was a regular fixture there.

The Bank of America Skating Center, formerly the Fleet Skating Center, is located near Kennedy Plaza in the downtown district.

Sports

The city is home to the American Hockey League team Providence Bruins, which plays at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. From 1926 to 1972, the AHL's Providence Reds (renamed the Rhode Island Reds in their last years)Providence Reds (10/4/2005). A to Z Encyclopedia of Ice Hockey. Accessed November 9, 2005. played at the Rhode Island Auditorium. In 1972, the team relocated to the Providence Civic Center, where they played until moving to Binghamton, New York, in 1977.

Providence has its own roller derby league. 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. 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 city is also where Rocky Marciano won 29 of his 49 fights.Eisele, Andrew. Rocky Marciano. About.com.

The city's defunct baseball team, the Providence Grays, competed in the National League from 1879 through 1885. The team defeated the New York Metropolitans in baseball's first successful "world championship series" in 1884. 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. Today, professional baseball is offered by the Pawtucket Red Sox, the AAA affiliate of the Boston Red Sox which plays in nearby Pawtucket. Most baseball fans — along with the local media — tend to follow the Boston Red Sox.

Major colleges and universities fielding NCAA Division I athletic teams are Brown University and Providence College. The latter is a member of the Big East Conference. Much local hype is associated with games between these two schools or the University of Rhode Island. 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.

Infrastructure

Health and medicine

Providence is home to Rhode Island Hospital, one of the largest medical centers in the state. The hospital is located in a complex along I-95 that includes Hasbro Children's Hospital and Women and Infants Hospital. 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), and The Miriam Hospital, a major teaching affiliate associated with Brown University. A VA medical center is located in Providence.

Transportation

Providence is served by T. F. Green Airport, which is located in nearby Warwick. The railroad station, located between the Rhode Island State House and the downtown district, is served by Amtrak and MBTA commuter railroad services, with a commuter rail running to Boston. Additionally, federal funds have been allocated to extend the commuter rail from Providence to T. F. Green Airport.

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. I-295 encircles Providence while RI 146 provides a direct connection with Worcester, Massachusetts. The city has commissioned and begun a long-term project 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 city's Kennedy Plaza, in downtown Providence, is a public transportation hub for the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA). 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. 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.

Notes

References

Profile: City of Providence (2005). Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation - RI Databank.
Three and One-Half Centuries at a Glance (May 2002). ProvidenceRI.com - History and Fact.

External links

Cities in Rhode Island | Providence, Rhode Island | 1636 establishments

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