St. James Newport 2011: Providence: Capital City of Rhode Island

Today we went to Providence. We took the bus from Newport instead of going in the university vans. It was good because it drove through neighbourhoods and gave the students a chance to see more of the real America. The weather was good: a bit cloudy but warm so we didn’t get very hot. We had time to walk around and see the city center and also to go to a nice mall… When we came back we took the trolley from Newport to the university because we were all tired!

Getting the bus in Newport at 10.08. All the students were on time this morning. Great!

Walking around Providence. It was Sunday so it was quiet.

Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region.

Providence was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams. After being one of the first cities in the country to industrialize, Providence became noted for its jewelry and silverware industry. Today, the City of Providence is home to eight hospitals and seven institutions of higher learning.

Downtown Providence has numerous 19th century mercantile buildings in the Federal and Victorian architectural styles, as well as several post-modern and modernist buildings, located throughout the area.

Providence's climate is between humid continental climate and humid subtropical climate, with warm summers, cold winters, and high humidity year-round.

Providence has had a substantial Italian population since the turn of the century, with 14% of the population claiming Italian ancestry.

The per capita income, as of the 2000 census, was $15,525, which is well below both the state average of $29,113, and the national average of $21,587. 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.

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.