Rhode Island

Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States by area. The capital and largest city is Providence. It is called the "Ocean state" because of its bays and waterways. It was founded by Roger Williams for religious freedom.

Rhode Island
State
State of Rhode Island
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  The Ocean State Little Rhody[1]
Motto:  Hope
Anthem: "Rhode Island's It for Me"
Map of the United States with Rhode Island highlighted
Country	United States
Before statehood	Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Admitted to the Union	May 29, 1790 (13th)
Capital (and largest city)	Providence
Largest county or equivalent	Providence
Largest metro and urban areas	Greater Boston (combined) Providence (metro and urban)
Government
• Governor	Dan McKee (D)
• Lieutenant Governor	Sabina Matos (D)
Legislature	Rhode Island General Assembly
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	House of Representatives
Judiciary	Rhode Island Supreme Court
U.S. senators	Jack Reed (D) Sheldon Whitehouse (D)
U.S. House delegation	1: Gabe Amo (D) 2: Seth Magaziner (D) (list)
Area
• Total	1,545[a][2] sq mi (4,001 km2)
• Land	1,034 sq mi (2,678 km2)
• Water	511 sq mi (1,323 km2)  33.1%
• Rank	50th
Dimensions
• Length	48 mi (77 km)
• Width	37 mi (60 km)
Elevation	200 ft (60 m)
Highest elevation (Jerimoth Hill[3][b])	812 ft (247 m)
Lowest elevation (Atlantic Ocean[3])	0 ft (0 m)
Population  (2020 Census Results)
• Total	1,098,163[4]
• Rank	45th
• Density	1,006/sq mi (388/km2)
• Rank	2nd
• Median household income	$63,870[5]
• Income rank	15th
Demonym	Rhode Islander
Language
• Official language	De jure: None De facto: English
Time zone	UTC– 05:00 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC– 04:00 (EDT)
USPS abbreviation	RI
ISO 3166 code	US-RI
Traditional abbreviation	R.I.
Latitude	41° 09′ N to 42° 01′ N
Longitude	71° 07′ W to 71° 53′ W
Website	www.ri.gov

Rhode Island State Capitol

Rhode Island state symbols
Flag of Rhode Island
Living insignia
Bird	Rhode Island Red chicken Gallus gallus domesticus
Fish	Striped bass
Flower	Violet Viola sororia
Insect	American burying beetle Nicroforus americanus
Mammal	Morgan horse
Reptile	Painted turtle
Tree	Red Maple Acer rubrum
Inanimate insignia
Beverage	Coffee milk
Colors	White and Blue
Mineral	Bowenite
Rock	Cumberlandite
Ship	Courageous, USS Providence
Slogan	Unwind
Tartan	Rhode Island State Tartan
Other	Fruit: Rhode Island Greening
State route marker
State quarter
Released in 2001
Lists of United States state symbols

Rhode Island was one of the original Thirteen Colonies. It became very important to the economy because of the slave trade, and more slaves were taken to the thirteen colonies through Rhode Island than any of the others in the 18th century. Slavers would send ships from Newport to buy slaves from Africa and make money by trading goods with others involved in slavery.^[6] Rhode Island became a state (the last of the thirteen to agree to the new United States Constitution) in 1790. But despite it joined the United States in 1790, it was founded in 1776.

Rhode Island is bordered on the north and east by Massachusetts, on the west by Connecticut, and on the south by Rhode Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. It shares a water border with New York. It is named for a large island in Rhode Island Sound, Rhode Island. Some thought the island looked liked Rhodes, an island in Greece.

An executive order was signed by Governor Gina Raimondo on June 22, 2020 to remove "Providence Plantations" from the official state name due to its ties to slavery. ^[7] Raimondo stated the change would go into effect "as soon as practicable." ^[8] In November 2020, the official name was voted to be changed to "State of Rhode Island".

Related pages

• Colleges and universities in Rhode Island
• List of counties in Rhode Island

Notes

1. Approximately 988,668 acres
2. Elevation adjusted to North American Vertical Datum of 1988