Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England,[6] it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He named the area in honor of "God's merciful Providence" which he believed was responsible for revealing such a haven for him and his followers. The city is situated at the mouth of the Providence River at the head of Narragansett Bay.
Providence, Rhode Island | |
|---|---|
| City of Providence | |
From top, left to right: Downtown Providence skyline and the Providence River, Weybosset Street and the Providence Performing Arts Center, University Hall at Brown University, the Crawford Street Bridge and Financial District, DePasquale Square in
Federal Hill, Rhode Island State House | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Nickname(s): The Creative Capital, the Renaissance City, the Divine City, PVD, Prov | |
| Motto(s): "What Cheer?"[lower-alpha 1] | |
 Interactive map of Providence | |
| Coordinates: 41°49′25″N 71°25′20″W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Rhode Island |
| County | Providence |
| Region | New England |
| Settled | 1636 |
| Incorporated (town) | June 1636 |
| Incorporated (city) | November 5, 1832 |
| Founded by | Roger Williams |
| Named for | Divine providence |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| • Mayor | Jorge Elorza (D) |
| • Body | Providence City Council |
| Area | |
| • State capital city | 20.58 sq mi (53.31 km2) |
| • Land | 18.41 sq mi (47.67 km2) |
| • Water | 2.18 sq mi (5.64 km2) |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • State capital city | 190,934 |
| • Rank | US: 134th |
| • Density | 10,371.21/sq mi (4,005.32/km2) |
| • Urban | 1,190,956 (US: 39th) |
| • Metro | 1,604,291 (US: 38th) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern Time Zone) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 02901–02912, 02918-02919, 02940 |
| Area code | 401 |
| FIPS code | 44-59000[5] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1219851[4] |
| Major highways |        |
| Commuter Rail |  MBTA Commuter Rail |
| Website | www |
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Providence was one of the first cities in the country to industrialize and became noted for its textile manufacturing and subsequent machine tool, jewelry, and silverware industries.[7][8] Today, the city of Providence is home to eight hospitals and eight institutions of higher learning which have shifted the city's economy into service industries, though it still retains some manufacturing activity.
As of the 2020 United States Census, Providence has a population of 190,934, making it the third-most-populous city in New England after Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts.[9][10]