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Officially named the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Rhode Island is a state in the New England region of the United States of America. It is the smallest state by area, and the 8th smallest by population. Its official name is the longest official name of any U.S. state. Rhode Island was the first of the thirteen original American colonies to declare independence from British rule, signaling the start of the American Revolution; it was also the first state that engaged in armed hostilities with British property and authorities. Rhode Island did not participate in the Philadelphia Convention and was also the last of the original thirteen states to ratify the United States Constitution. Despite its name, most of the state of Rhode Island lies on the North American mainland. Providence Plantations refers to the mainland, while Rhode Island was the 17th and 18th century name for Aquidneck Island (now composed of the city of Newport, and the towns of Middletown and Portsmouth). |
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| Capital |
Providence |
| Population |
1,048,319 |
| Governor |
Don Carcieri (R, to January 2011) |
| Entered the Union |
May 29, 1790, as the 13th State |
| Motto |
Hope |
| Nickname |
The Ocean state |
| Flower |
Violet (unofficial) |
| Bird |
Rhode Island Red |
| Song |
Rhode Island It's For Me |
| Major Active Sports Teams |
None |
| Origin of Name |
From the Greek Island of Rhodes |
| Major Industries |
Primary Metal Manufacturing, Metal Fabrication, Jewelry, Silverware, Textiles |
| Historical Sites |
The Roger Williams National Memorial in Providence |
| Points of Interest |
Samuel Slater's Mill in Pawtucket and the General Nathanael Greene Homestead in Coventry and Block Island |
| Bordering States |
Rhode Island borders Massachusetts, the Atlantic Ocean, Connecticut, and New York (water border). |
| Flag |
Placed on a white field is a circle of thirteen gold stars representing the first thirteen states. The stars surround a gold ship's anchor. The states motto " Hope" is on a blue ribbon below the anchor. |
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Did You Know …
• RI is a primary center for jewelry manufacturing in the United States.
• Despite its dense population, 60 percent of the state is forestland.
• The largest manufacturer of silverware in the world is in Providence. The plant from the early 1800's.
• In 1524 the Florentine navigator Giovanni da Verrazano, while sailing for France, was the first European to explore Rhode Island. By comparing Block Island with the Mediterranean island Rhodes, he accidentally gave it its name.
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Famous People from the State of Rhode Island…
• Harry Anderson (1951- ), actor and magician. He starred in the TV sitcom Night Court.
• H.P. (Howard Phillips) Lovecraft (1890-1937), author. He wrote the book Necronomicon and was interested in science fiction and supernatural stories.
• Bobby (Robert Leo) Hackett (1915-1976), jazz trumpeter.
• Roger Williams (1603-1683). He was a Puritan leader and the founder of Rhode Island.
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For more information about the State of Rhode Island, please visit their official website at: http://www.ri.gov/
For more information about the Grange in the State of Rhode Island, please visit the Rhode Island State Grange information page on the National Grange website at: http://www.nationalgrange.org |
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