Entered Union March 29, 1790 (13th state)
Rhode Island (1,097,371), Providence (190,932)
The marble capitol was originally completed in 1904 using the designs of McKim, Mead, and White. It is located on Smith Street at Frances Street. Interstate Highway 95 is 1 block west of the capitol. The Capitol is designed in Neoclassical style. The Providence County Courthouse building in Providence houses the Supreme Court. The state was officially created as the 13th state on March 29, 1790 from Native American lands and the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Providence has been the capital since 1900 with Newport the capital before then. The state is named for the Greek of island. Providence is named for the move of founder Roger Williams due to religious disagreement. Jerimoth Hill in Providence County is the highest point and the lowest point is the sea level at the Atlantic Ocean.
Rhode Island government, in the Executive, consists of a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Treasurer. There are 38 Senators and 75 Representatives in the Legislature. Five Supreme Court Justices serve Rhode Island in the Judicial. Rhode Island is located in the northeast part of the United States, a New England state. The geographic center is in Kent County 2 miles west of Crompton. The state is surrounded clockwise by Massachusetts, the Atlantic Ocean, and Connecticut.
The area is 1,545 square miles. It is 50th largest state in the country. It is the 43rd most populated state in the country. It has a density of 710.3 persons per square mile making it 2nd in the country. Its major rivers are the Pawcatuck, the Providence, and the Warren. Providence is located in the north central third of the state.
Click here to link to the Rhode Island county slideshow
Click to link to a Rhode Island county page