Rhode Island

**Rhode Island** is the smallest state in the United States by area. The capital and largest city is Providence. It is called the "Ocean state" because of its bays and waterways. It was founded by Roger Williams for religious freedom.

Rhode Island was one of the original Thirteen Colonies. It became very important to the economy because of the slave trade, and more slaves were taken to the thirteen colonies through Rhode Island than any of the others in the 18th century. Slavers would send ships from Newport to buy slaves from Africa and make money by trading goods with others involved in slavery. Rhode Island became a state (the last of the thirteen to agree to the new United States Constitution) in 1790. But despite it joined the United States in 1790, it was founded in 1776.

Rhode Island is bordered on the north and east by Massachusetts, on the west by Connecticut, and on the south by Rhode Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. It shares a water border with New York. It is named for a large island in Rhode Island Sound, Rhode Island. Some thought the island looked liked Rhodes, an island in Greece.

An executive order was signed by Governor Gina Raimondo on June 22, 2020 to remove "Providence Plantations" from the official state name due to its ties to slavery.  Raimondo stated the change would go into effect "as soon as practicable."  In November 2020, the official name was voted to be changed to "State of Rhode Island".

## Related pages

- Colleges and universities in Rhode Island
- List of counties in Rhode Island

## Infobox (u.s. state)

- **name**: Rhode Island
- **official name**: State of Rhode Island
- **image flag**: Flag of Rhode Island.svg
- **flag link**: Flag of Rhode Island
- **image seal**: Seal of Rhode Island.svg
- **image map**: Rhode Island in United States (zoom) (extra close).svg
- **nickname**: The Ocean State
Little Rhody
- **motto**: Hope
- **anthem**: "Rhode Island's It for Me"
- **former**: Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
- **population demonym**: Rhode Islander
- **seat**: Providence, Rhode Island, Providence
- **largestcity**: capital
- **largestcounty**: Providence County, Rhode Island, Providence
- **largestmetro**: Greater Boston (combined)
Providence metropolitan area, Providence (metro and urban)
- **lieutenant governor**: (D)
- **legislature**: Rhode Island General Assembly
- **upperhouse**: Rhode Island Senate, Senate
- **lowerhouse**: Rhode Island House of Representatives, House of Representatives
- **judiciary**: Rhode Island Supreme Court
- **senators**:

- **representative**:

- **postal code**: RI
- **tradabbreviation**: R.I.
- **officiallang**: **De jure**: None
**De facto**: English
- **area rank**: 50th
- **area total sq mi**: 1,545
- **area total km2**: 4,001
- **area land sq mi**: 1,034
- **area water sq mi**: 511
- **population as of**: 2020 Census Results
- **population rank**: 45th
- **2010pop**: 1,098,163
- **population density rank**: 2nd
- **2000densityus**: 1006
- **2000density**: 388
- **medianhouseholdincome**: $63,870
- **incomerank**: List of U.S. states and territories by income, 15th
- **admittanceorder**: 13th
- **admittancedate**: May 29, 1790
- **timezone1**: Eastern Time Zone, Eastern
- **utc offset1**: – 05:00
- **timezone1 dst**: EDT
- **utc offset1 dst**: – 04:00
- **longitude**: 71° 07′ W to 71° 53′ W
- **latitude**: 41° 09′ N to 42° 01′ N
- **width mi**: 37
- **width km**: 60
- **length mi**: 48
- **length km**: 77
- **elevation max point**: Jerimoth Hill
- **elevation max ft**: 812
- **elevation max m**: 247
- **elevation ft**: 200
- **elevation m**: 60
- **elevation min point**: Atlantic Ocean
- **elevation min ft**: 0
- **elevation min m**: 0
- **iso code**: US-RI
- **website**: www.ri.gov


## Infobox (u.s. state symbols)

- **flag**: Flag of Rhode Island.svg
- **seal**: Seal of Rhode Island (pre 2022).svg
- **name**: Rhode Island
- **bird**: Rhode Island Red chicken
_Gallus gallus domesticus_
- **fish**: Striped bass
- **flower**: Viola sororia, Violet
_Viola sororia_
- **insect**: American burying beetle
_Nicroforus americanus_
- **mammal**: Morgan horse
- **reptile**: Painted turtle
- **tree**: Red Maple
_Acer rubrum_
- **beverage**: Coffee milk
- **colors**: White and Blue
- **mineral**: Bowenite
- **rock**: Cumberlandite
- **ships**: ,
- **slogan**: _Unwind_
- **tartan**: Rhode Island State Tartan
- **other**: Fruit: Rhode Island Greening
- **route marker**: Rhode Island 5.svg
- **quarter**: 2001 RI Proof.png
- **quarterreleasedate**: 2001