ENCYCLOPÆDIA Britannica DISCOVER AMERICA Rhode Island The Ocean State CHICAGO LONDON NEW DELHI PARIS SEOUL SYDNEY TAIPEI TOKYO
4 RHODE ISLAND INTRODUCTION You may need to squint to see Rhode Island on a map but it is not difficult to see that this state is brimming with industry history and culture Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States covering only 1,213 square miles In fact Rhode Island could fit into the state of Texas 200 times Although Rhode Island is small in size it is nevertheless an important industrial state Rhode Island is one of the New England states along with Maine New Hampshire Vermont Massachusetts and Connecticut It is graced by a beautiful shoreline along the Atlantic Ocean When the state’s bays and islands are included the coastline measures more than 400 miles With this in mind it should come as no surprise that the state’s official nickname is the Ocean State The Atlantic Ocean the second largest ocean in the world has greatly influenced the state’s economy and its people The coast is the most important commercial area lending itself to a vibrant fishing industry And the call of the coast has attracted many visitors making tourism yet another important economic activity in the state Much of Rhode Island’s coastline is rocky but the state also has more than 100 miles of beautiful sandy beaches The official name of the state is The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Providence is the capital of Rhode Island Rhode Island entered the Union on May 29 1790 The state flag has a ship’s anchor and a circle of 13 stars representing the original 13 states The state motto Hope is displayed on a blue ribbon beneath the anchor The Jamestown Windmill on Conanicut Island is more than 200 years old It has been restored to its original condition
INTRODUCTION 5 Rhode Island shares a border with two other states Connecticut lies to the west and Massachusetts is to the north and east Rhode Island’s southwest corner shares a water border with New York The rest of the state borders the waters of Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Sound Travelers can get to Rhode Island by land sea or air Interstate Highways 95 and 295 are the main roadways from Connecticut and Massachusetts Numerous train lines serve the state including Amtrak Conrail for passenger travel and the Providence and Worcester Railroad lines for freight transport Rhode Island’s main airport is T F Green International Airport in Warwick Conveniently located within a short drive of Boston Cape Cod Newport and Providence this airport serves many New England travelers Ferries provide transportation links between the mainland and the various islands in Narragansett Bay including the popular Block Island Rhode Island Location Map Capital Providence Interstate highways Scale 0 0 5 8 10 16 Mi Km Population 1,048,319 Size 1,213 square miles Highest peak Jerimoth Hill 812 feet Rhode Island’s land area includes a number of islands even one called Rhode Island It is the largest island in Narragansett Bay Native Americans called this island Aquidneck Rhode Island’s long coastline makes it easily accessible by boat or ferry Narragansett Bay is a welcome harbor for ocean travelers Providence and Newport are the most popular ports for oceangoers St Mary’s Rhode Island’s oldest Roman Catholic parish was founded in 1828 The church was the site of the wedding of Jacqueline Bouvier to John F Kennedy in 1953
