Providence is the capital and largest city in Rhode Island, a state of the United States of America. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of 173,618, but a July 1, 2004, Census estimate put the city's population at 178,126. Its metropolitan population is 1,188,613, making it the 42nd largest in the country. The city is located in Providence County and is the second largest in New England. Providence is nicknamed the "Beehive of Industry" and, since the 1990s, "The Renaissance City."
Providence was named by Roger Williams in honor of "God's merciful Providence" in his finding this spot to settle when expelled by the Puritans from Massachusetts. The official name of the state includes the name of the city, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. The city was one of the first cities to industrialize in the United States and was noted for its jewelry and silverware industry. Today, Providence is the economic, cultural, and political hub of Rhode Island.
As of the census of 2000, there were 173,618 people, 62,389 households, and 35,873 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,629.4/km2 (9,401.7/mi2). There were 67,915 housing units at an average density of 1,419.7/km2 (3,677.7/mi2). The racial makeup of the city was 54.53% Caucasian, 14.54% African American, 1.14% Native American, 6.01% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 17.55% from other races, and 6.08% from two or more races. 30.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Providence receives refugees in cooperation with the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement. The 2000 US Census estimate for the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) including Providence, Fall River, Massachusetts, and Warwick was 1,188,613.
There were 62,389 households out of which 32.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.9% were married couples living together, 20.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.5% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 18.9% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 15.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,867, and the median income for a family was $32,058. Males had a median income of $28,894 versus $23,472 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,525. 29.1% of the population and 23.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 40.1% of those under the age of 18 and 19.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Providence was one of the first cities to industrialize in the U.S. 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. Since it is the capital of Rhode Island, Providence's economy also consists of government services. The conglomerate Textron is headquartered in the city. Another company whose origins are in the city is Fleet Bank. Once Rhode Island's largest bank, it moved its headquarters to Boston after acquiring Shawmut Bank in 1995. Before its acquisition by Bank of America, Fleet merged with BankBoston to become New England's largest commercial bank.
The city is home to the Rhode Island Convention Center, opened in December 1993. Along with a hotel, the convention center is connected to the Providence Place Mall through a skywalk. The Providence Place Mall is a major retail center in the city. Providence also maintains a seaport which handles cargo such as cement, chemicals, heavy machinery, petroleum, and scrap metal.
This area was first settled in 1636 by Roger Williams, and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies. Williams secured a title to the land from the Narragansett natives around this time, renaming the area "Providence," because of "God's merciful providence." Williams cultivated Providence as a refuge for persecuted religious dissenters, as he himself had been exiled from Massachusetts. Shortly after being settled, much of Providence was burned down in King Philip's War, which lasted from 1675 to 1676.
Providence's growth was slow during the next quarter-century. The first census of the colony, taken in 1708, recorded 1,446 residents. However, in the second census taken in 1730, the colony's population had almost tripled to 3,916 people. The Providence territory would become smaller as more and more of the land would become part of different towns, including Scituate and Johnston. The city's slow growth was also due to the rocky, hilly, and heavily wooded land which made farming difficult, as well as the tradition of dissent and independent-mindedness (Rhode Island was the first of the thirteen colonies to declare independence from Great Britain). Residents often fought over land titles, politics, and religion.
In the mid-1770s, Providence was focused on fishing and maritime trade, and was becoming a major commercial center. Nevertheless, the British government's passage of several laws levying various taxes caused Providence to join the other colonies in renouncing allegiance to the British Crown. One such law was the Sugar Act, which levied a tax on sugar and molasses imports, and impacted Providence's distilleries and its trade in rum and slaves. During this period, Providence's population had exceeded 4,300 citizens by 1776, and Providence was able to avoid occupation by British soldiers during the American Revolutionary War, though the city did suffer major interruptions in education and trade as a result of its location and facility as quarters for many troops passing through the area.
Following the war, Providence's main focus on its economy shifted from maritime endeavors to manufacturing. Samuel Slater is credited as having begun the shift in about 1790, and historians mark the transformation's completion at about 1830. Manufacturing would be the city's major industry for the next one hundred years, particularly in jewelry and textiles. The city's industries attracted many people, including immigrants from Ireland, Germany, Sweden, England, Italy, and French Canada. Nevertheless, the city experienced social strife, notably with a series of race riots between whites and blacks during the 1820s. In response to continued growth and social conflicts, Providence residents issued ratified a city charter in November 1831. The city became the sole capital of Rhode Island in 1900. From, 1854 to 1900, Providence was the joint capital of the state with Newport.
The city began to see a decline by the mid-1920s as industries, notably in textiles, began to shut down and unemployment rose. The Great Depression hit the city hard, and Providence was further hit by the New England Hurricane of 1938, which flooded the downtown area. The city saw further decline with the construction of highways and increased suburbanization after World War II.
Providence was notorious from the 1950s into the 1980s as a bastion of organized crime. The city was the seat of power for the New England "Cosa Nostra" or Mafia. "The Office", as the organization was sometimes known, was run out of a small vending machine office on Atwells Avenue in the heart of Federal Hill, Providence's "Little Italy". The legendary mafia boss Raymond Patriarca ruled a vast criminal enterprise with an iron fist from here for over three decades. At the height of his power in the 1960s, Patriaraca was thought to be more powerful than the Governor of Rhode Island and was alleged to have judges, the police, and politicians at his command through bribery and intimidation. Murders and disappearances associated with organized crime were commonplace during this period and were accepted with resignation by most Rhode Islanders.
The city began to revive beginning in the 1970s. From 1975 until 1982, $606 million of Community Development money, including funds from other federal, state, and city sources, were invested in the downtown area and neighborhoods throughout the city. In the 1990s, Mayor Vincent Cianci, Jr. showcased the city as a center for the arts and pushed for further revitalization. These included opening up the Providence River and moving the railroad tracks underground, building Waterplace Park and riverwalks along the river's banks, and the construction of the Fleet Skating Rink (now the Bank of America Skating Rink) in downtown and the Providence Place Mall.
The recent Providence Renaissance has triggered new investment within the city. GTech is in the final stages of moving its headquarters to downtown Providence. Due to be completed in 2006, the 10-story 210,000 square foot (19,500 m2) building will contain about 500 people. The Waterplace Residential Towers, to be built overlooking Providence's Waterplace Park, will consist of 193 luxury condominiums in its 17 and 19-story buildings, and is estimated to be completed in mid-2007.
The Masonic Temple building in downtown, the construction of which had been abandoned amidst the Great Depression and has stood uncompleted for 75 years, is currently being renovated in the largest restoration project in Rhode Island history. When completed in the summer of 2006, it will host 274 guest rooms, a restarant, and a lounge, and will preserve the original historic 1929 facade. Being constructed in the space next to the city's existing Westin Hotel is an additional 27-story tower.
Estimated to be ready for occupancy by Fall 2008, the 35-story 520-foot "OneTen" (110 Westminster Street) will contain condominiums and claim the title of the tallest building in the Providence, supplanting the existing 26-floor Bank of America building that was finished in 1927.
Although the new projects will expand the Providence tax base and build its skyline, there is disapproval from some local residents, who fear that some of the more modern-looking additions will taint the traditionally historic look of DownCity Providence.
Source:
ProvidenceRhodeIsland.com
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