The smallest state in the United States has the rather unwieldy name of The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations! Popularly known as Rhode Island, this picturesque part of the New England region is also called the Ocean State because you could be standing anywhere and yet be less than 30 miles away from the sea!
Apart from drawing droves of well-heeled citizens to its beautiful homes every summer, Rhode Island also has a place in American history. It was one of the 13 colonies that began the American Revolution in a bid for independence from the British. Bordered by Massachusetts and Connecticut on three sides, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, the state is actually a collection of more than 30 islands situated in Narragansett Bay. Aquidneck Island, on which the city of Newport is located, is the largest island in the Bay, while others include the popular Block Island and the charmingly named Hope and Prudence.
The majority of Rhode Island’s inhabitants is white, and the state has a strong presence of Americans of Italian and Portuguese descent. As a result the state also has the highest percentage of Catholics in the U.S. Culturally diverse, Rhode Island is also home to a large percentage of people with Irish, English and French ancestry. Their influences, ranging from language to cuisine, mingle to create a unique ethos quite unlike that in other New England states.
The capital of Rhode Island is Providence, a city full of architectural marvels. Other prominent cities include Warwick, Cranston, and Central Falls. Several scenic little towns dot the landscape, attracting a large number of tourists. Most of the population is engaged in agriculture, metal fabrication, jewelry manufacturing, and ship- and boat-building. The state is also home to a number of prestigious schools including Brown University, the Rhode Island School of Design, and Providence College.
The state motto is ‘Hope’, while the state drink is coffee x96 sure shot indications that the people of this state do not believe in sitting around letting the grass grow under their feet!
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Providence, Rhode Island
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When the Puritans expelled one Roger Williams from Massachusetts he set out to find another place to settle in. He stumbled upon a location at the head of Narragansett Bay, which he promptly named Providence, as a tribute to what he considered ‘God’s merciful Providence’....
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Rhode Island Attractions
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Rhode Island is a beautiful state that has, in the past, been the playground of millions of tourists, and it remains so even today. Towns such as Newport are sprinkled with mansions, giving the impression of celebrity and wealth. Providence, the state capital of Rhode...
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Rhode Island Real Estate
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Rhode Island, the smallest state in the U.S., is one of the New England states. It was the first among the thirteen original American colonies to announce independence from British rule, indicating the beginning of the American Revolution. Rhode Island is situated between Connecticut and...
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Rhode Island Tourism
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When a number of vacationers think about vacations, their views spin to long stretches of sandy beaches, clear ocean waters, cool winds, and bright sunshine. No trip to Rhode Island is complete without taking time to enjoy the picturesque, clean beaches. Rhode Island is the...
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Rhode Island History
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Roger Williams established the earliest permanent settlement in Rhode Island at Providence in 1636 on property obtained from the Narragansett Indians. Forced to run away from Massachusetts because of harassment, Williams established a rule of religious and political freedom in his new settlement. Other leaders...
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Rhode Island Hotels
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Hordes of visitors gravitate to Rhode Island in the summer, bringing to the state more than a billion dollars in revenue every year. The immensely scenic state offers myriad opportunities for both the tourist looking for beaches and water-based activity, and the traveler wishing to...
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Newport, Rhode Island
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Newport, Rhode Island has been witness to numerous historical moments, not least of which was the wedding of John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier in 1953! It was also where one of the earliest anti-British acts took place in 1769, a forerunner to the American...
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Watch Hill, Rhode Island
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Watch Hill is a charming village that is situated along the coast of Block Island Sound in the southwest corner of Washington County, Rhode Island. Watch Hill is located on a peninsula that is surrounded by ocean, which adds to its breathtaking beauty. Watch Hill...
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Hawaii Geography
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The only state that is not a part of the North American mainland and located in the tropics, Hawaii has a distinct geography of its own that has made it special and enigmatic. The state is made up of a chain of 132 islands, although,...
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An Introduction to Bahamas Vacations
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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A Bahamas vacation is something that most travelers will never forget. The 700 islands of the Bahamas make up a 100,000-square-mile archipelago, extending over 500 miles. Including uninhabited cays and large rocks, it has a total estimated land area of 5,382 miles. The two main...