Providence County, Rhode Island

History

Providence County was constituted on June 22, 1703, as the County of Providence Plantations. It consisted of five towns, namely Providence, Warwick, Westerly, Kingstown, and Greenwich and encompassed territory in present-day Kent and Washington counties. Washington County was split off as King's County in 1729, while Kent County was split off in 1750. The town of Cumberland was acquired from Massachusetts and added to Providence County in 1746–47, and the towns of East Providence and Pawtucket were made part of Providence County when the final border with Massachusetts was settled in 1862.

County government in Rhode Island was abolished in 1842. Providence County, like other counties in Rhode Island, has no governmental functions (other than as court administrative and sheriff corrections boundaries which are part of state government).

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 436 sqmi, of which 410 sqmi is land and 26 sqmi (6.0%) is water. It is the largest of Rhode Island's five counties by land area, but it's the smallest county in the United States that is a state's largest county. The county is drained by the Blackstone River, which runs partly along the east border, the Woonasquatucket River in the central part of the county, joining with the smaller Moshassuck River in downtown Providence, and the Pawtuxet, which forms a portion of the southeastern boundary of the county. The Pawtuxet is dammed in the western part of the county to form the Scituate Reservoir, which supplies drinking water for Providence and surrounding communities.

The highest natural point in the county and the state of Rhode Island is Jerimoth Hill at 812 ft. Sea level is the lowest point.

Adjacent counties

• Norfolk County, Massachusetts - northeast
• Bristol County, Massachusetts - east
• Bristol County - southeast
• Kent County - south
• Windham County, Connecticut - west
• Worcester County, Massachusetts - northwest

National protected areas

• Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park (part)
• Roger Williams National Memorial

Major highways

Demographics

| align-fn = center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2019

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 660,741. Of the residents, 20.2% were under the age of 18 and 16.1% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 37.9 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.7 males. 94.8% of residents lived in urban areas and 5.2% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 60.9% White, 8.1% Black or African American, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 4.3% Asian, 14.3% from some other race, and 11.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 24.3% of the population.

There were 260,366 households in the county, of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 32.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 276,770 housing units, of which 5.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 52.0% were owner-occupied and 48.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.8%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 626,667 people, 241,717 households, and 149,691 families living in the county.{{cite web |access-date=January 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213010052/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US44007 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213184519/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US44007 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

• Italy 18.5% Italian
• Ireland 15.8% Irish
• France 12.3% French
• England 9.4% English
• Portugal 8.6% Portuguese
• Quebec 5.4% French Canadian
• Dominican Republic 5.4% Dominican
• Puerto Rico 4.9% Puerto Rican
• Cape Verde 4.3% Cape Verdean
• Germany 4.2% German
• Poland 3.8% Polish
• Guatemala 2.9% Guatemalan
• Scotland 1.7% Scottish
• United States 1.6% American
• Sweden 1.2% Swedish
• Colombia 1.2% Colombian
• Mexico 1.1% Mexican
• Northern Ireland 1.0% Scotch-Irish
• Arab League 1.0% Arab

Of the 241,717 households, 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.1% were non-families, and 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.11. The median age was 37.0 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,500 and the median income for a family was $61,265. Males had a median income of $44,964 versus $36,447 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,169. About 11.6% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.1% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web |access-date=January 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213022520/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US44007 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 621,602 people, 239,936 households, and 152,839 families living in the county. The population density was 1,504 PD/sqmi. There were 253,214 housing units at an average density of 613 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 78.38% White, 6.55% Black or African American, 0.51% Native American, 2.90% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 8.02% from other races, and 3.58% from two or more races. 13.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 19.0% were of Italian, 10.9% Irish, 8.1% French, 7.7% Portuguese, 7.2% French Canadian and 5.8% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 72.7% spoke English, 13.4% Spanish, 4.9% Portuguese, 2.5% French and 1.6% Italian as their first language.

There were 239,936 households, out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.50% were married couples living together, 14.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.30% were non-families. 29.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.00% under the age of 18, 11.10% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 20.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,950, and the median income for a family was $46,694. Males had a median income of $35,336 versus $26,322 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,255. About 11.90% of families and 15.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.30% of those under age 18 and 12.70% of those age 65 or over.

Providence County is 71% Catholic, making it among the most Catholic counties in the country.

Communities

Cities

• Central Falls
• Cranston
• East Providence
• Pawtucket
• Providence (traditional county seat)
• Woonsocket

Towns

• Burrillville
• Cumberland
• Foster
• Glocester
• Johnston
• Lincoln
• North Providence
• North Smithfield
• Scituate
• Smithfield

Census-designated places

• Chepachet
• Clayville
• Cumberland Hill
• Foster Center
• Greenville
• Harmony
• Harrisville
• Pascoag
• Valley Falls

Other villages

• Albion
• Arnold Mills
• Branch Village
• Esmond
• Forestdale
• Georgiaville
• Glendale
• Lime Rock
• Lonsdale
• Manville
• Oakland
• Primrose
• Quinnville
• Riverside
• Rumford
• Saylesville
• Smithville-North Scituate
• Slatersville
• Union Village
• Waterford

Ghost towns

Hanton City

Politics

As an urban county in the heavily liberal region of New England, Providence County is a Democratic stronghold. Richard Nixon is the last Republican presidential candidate to have won the county, doing so in his 1972 landslide. Even then, Nixon only carried it by a very narrow margin. Proving how Democratic this county is, Donald Trump is the first Republican presidential candidate to notch over 40% of the county's vote since 1988.

Education

;School districts include:

K-12:

• Burrillville School District
• Central Falls School District
• Cranston School District
• Cumberland School District
• East Providence School District
• Johnston School District
• Lincoln School District
• North Providence School District
• North Smithfield School District
• Pawtucket School District
• Providence School District
• Scituate School District
• Smithfield School District
• Woonsocket School District

Secondary:

• Foster-Glocester Regional School District

Elementary:

• Foster Elementary School District
• Glocester Elementary School District

There is a state-operated school: Rhode Island School for the Deaf.

References

References

1. [[Jerimoth Hill]] in the [[New England Uplands]].
2. Sea level at the Atlantic Ocean.
3. "Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Providence County, RI".
4. "Census - Geography Profile: Providence County, Rhode Island". [[United States Census Bureau]].
5. "Centers of Population by State: 2010". United States Census Bureau.
6. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
7. {{Cite AmCyc
8. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024". United States Census Bureau.
9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
11. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
12. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau.
14. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau.
15. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau.
16. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Providence County, Rhode Island". [[United States Census Bureau]].
17. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Providence County, Rhode Island".
18. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Providence County, Rhode Island".
19. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". [[United States Census Bureau]].
20. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
21. "Adherents.com: Catholics".
22. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
23. (November 7, 1848). "The Popular Vote of the United States, in the Presidential Election of 1844". New York Daily Herald.
24. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections – Sate Data".
25. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections – Sate Data".
26. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections – Sate Data".
27. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Providence County, RI". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].