Rhode Island
Smallest state of the USA, in New England; nicknamed Little Rhody/
Ocean State
Area:
3,100 sq km/1,197 sq mi
Capital:
Providence
Towns and Cities:
Cranston, Newport, Woonsocket
Physical:
Block Island; 640 km/400 mi of coastline
Features:
Narragansett Bay, one of the greatest sailing centres in the world,
home of America's Cup yacht races; Newport, with colonial waterfront
and 19th-century mansions, the summer `cottages´ of the wealthiest families
in America, including the Breakers (1895), built by Cornelius Vanderbilt
II, Marble House (1892), and Chateau-sur-Mer (1851-52); Hammersmith
Farm, the childhood summer home of Jacqueline Onassis Kennedy; the Friends
Meeting House (1700), and the Touro Synagogue (1763), in Newport, both
the oldest in the USA ; Slater Mill historic site, Pawtucket; state
capitol with marble dome, Providence; Narragansett Native American monument
at Sprague Park ; Charlestown, with Native American church and burial
ground; US Naval War College and Museum, Newport; Brown University (1764);
Rhode Island School of Design (1877); International Lawn Tennis Hall
of Fame and Tennis Museum, Newport
Industries:
Electronics, machine tools, jewellery, textiles, silverware, rubber,
and plastics. Agriculture is limited by the rocky terrain but is important
in rural areas, the main crops being apples and potatoes. Rhode Island
Red hens were developed here from the 19th century
Population:
(1995) 989,800
Famous People:
George M Cohan, Anne Hutchinson, Matthew C Perry, Oliver Hazard Perry,
Gilbert Stuart, Roger Williams
History:
Founded 1636 by Roger Williams, exiled from Massachusetts Bay colony
for religious dissent; one of the original 13 states. The principle
trends in the 19th century were industrialization, immigration, and
urbanization. Rhode Island is highly industrialized and the second most
densely populated state; it suffers from high unemployment, low-wage
manufacturing industries, and susceptibility to recessions.
|
