The first settlement on the site of the current city was founded by Roger Williams, a puritanist expelled from Massachusetts. In 1636, he bought a plot of land from the Narragansett Indians, with whom he established friendly relations. According to legend, when he saw a land suitable for settlement, Williams exclaimed: "The merciful work of God!" (eng. — "God’s merciful Providence!"), hence the name of the city.

In the early years of its existence, the city served as a haven for religious dissidents of various faiths — Baptists, Quakers, Jews, Huguenots from France, Anglicans, even Catholics. Orthodoxy massachusetts dubbed Rhode Island "New England's sewer."

Due to difficulties in land processing and conflicts with the Indians, the development of the city was slow. In the 1770’s, the British government imposed a series of taxes that severely damaged the urban economy. High taxes forced the city to join other colonies that did not recognize the power of the metropolis.

Baptist Church, built in 1776

During the war of independence, the city escaped capture by the British. It housed American troops and infirmary.

The war contributed to the development of the economy, and in the following years the city experienced a real industrial revolution. This was particularly true for engineering, textiles, silver and jewelry. The development of industry has led to a massive influx of immigrants and a rapid population growth. The development of the city continued after the Civil War.

The Great Depression of the 1920s had a profound impact on Providence's life. Many businesses were closed. After World War II, things did not improve: The economy was collapsing, residents were leaving the city. Organized crime was on the rise, and Providence became the mafia capital of New England.

Since the 1970s, the revival of the city began. The urban economy has shifted to services: education, health, tourism. The population began to grow. Today, Providence is one of the most remarkable cities in New England.

Geographic Information

The city is located at the confluence of three rivers: Moshas, Moshassuck, Woonasquatucket, and Providence, the latter entering the Gulf of Narragansett. The city stands on several hills: Prestiushen Hill, Hill College (or Avenue), Federal Hill, Tokwoten Hill, Smith Hill, Christian Hill, and Weibosset Hill.

Urban landscape

The unordered layout is typical for cities along the US East Coast, built before the car became widespread. More than 1,000 streets cross each other at different angles, connecting crowded squares.

The city can be divided into two parts: on the west bank of Providence lies the center and business district, on the east - the historical part.

The heart of the city and its transportation hub is Kennedy Plaza Square. The main bus routes depart from here. In the business part of the city are historical buildings of the 19th century, built in the federal and Victorian styles, and there are also modern and post-modern styles. There are Place Mall, a shopping center, the Westin Hotel, the GTECH office, Waterplay Park. This part of the city is rapidly developing and developing. Here you can find some of the state's tallest buildings: Bank of America 130 m high, Textron building, Kennedy Plaza skyscraper. In the center of the city stands one of the Biltmore and Arkada hotels, the country's oldest closed shopping center.

The southern part of the city is a coastal area, where there are oil storage facilities, power plants, ferry port, faulty Russian submarine, bars, strip clubs. Fox Point is a facility that protects the city from hurricanes and storm surges.

Most houses in the city are for one or more families. There are few multi-story houses and townhouses.

Climate

Providence's climate is moderately continental, with features of the sea due to the influence of the Atlantic Ocean. Winter is cool and humid, summer warm and rainy.

According to the 2010 census, 178,042 people lived in the city.

Race composition of the population:

• white - 37.6% (in 1970 - 89.5%)
• African Americans - 16%
• Hispanics - 38.1%
• Asians - 6%

Approximately 14% of urban residents are descendants of Italian immigrants, 8% are Irish and 4% are Portuguese and Jewish. Providence is also home to the second largest (after New York) Liberian community in the United States.

The average annual income was $15,525 (2000 data). The average age of the urban population is 28 years (one of the youngest state capitals, mainly due to the high birth rate in the Latin American community). Crime rates are very high, four times higher than the US average and 4.8 times higher than the Rhode Island average.

Providence is one of the first U.S. cities to actively develop industry - metallurgy, machine building, textile, silver and jewelry, kitchen utensils.

At the end of the 20th century, the city experienced a period of deindustrialization. Although he remains a leader in jewelry, the main economic area has been services, education, health, and financial services. Providence is home to the headquarters of many well-known companies - Textron, Nortech, GTECH. The Port of Providence is the second largest port for deep sea vessels in New England.

Major employers:

• Rhode Island Hospital
• University of Brown
• U.S. Postal Service
• Rhode Island Hospital for Women and Children
• Bank of America
• Verizon Communications (Telco)

City bus

10 kilometers from the center of Providence, in the city of Vorvik there is T.F. Green Airport (IATA: PVD, ICAO: KPVD), which serves mainly domestic flights. Nearest major airport (approximately 80 kilometers from Providence) - IATA near Boston: BOS, ICAO: KBOS) with an annual passenger turnover of 28.9 million people (2011), from which it is possible to fly to dozens of airports of the USA and the rest of the world.

More than 20 trains to Boston, New York, Washington, Philadelphia and Baltimore stop daily at Providence Train Station.

The interstate highway I-95, which connects Florida to New England, passes through the city.

The State Department of Public Transport (Rhode Island Public Transit Authority) manages 54 regular bus routes and 8 tourist routes (with buses stylized in the 1920s).

Providence is the capital of Rhode Island, the seat of the General Assembly (State Assembly), the Governor's Office and the State Vice-Governor. Providence is governed by the "mayor-city council" model: The population elects a city council with legislative functions and a mayor, who exercises executive power. The City Council consists of 15 members (by number of districts). In the city are the District Court of Rhode Island, the highest court, the court of inheritance.

In 2002, David Cicilline, the first mayor of the US state capital, was elected, and in 2006 re-elected, making his name known as a sex minority.

Providence is a large state education center. There are many well-known educational institutions: Brown Ivy League University, Rhode Island School of Design (one of the best in the country, her famous graduate director Gus van Sainte), Rhode Island College, University of Johnson and Wales, Catholic Provident S-College. The College (Providence School or Catherine Gibbs College) was acquired by the American publishing company Crowell Collier and McMillan in 1968. After several sales, the last owner, Gibbs Group, began closing campus in 2009 after a failed attempt to sell the college. All branches of the school closed in 2011.

Providence is a good example of how a city can adapt to the post-industrial economy. The revival of Providence is connected with the name of the mayor of Vincent Chianchi (1974-1981, 1991-2002), who made from the capital of Rhode Island a center of culture and arts attractive for tourists. Old factories and factories were reconstructed, where offices, galleries, restaurants were located. Cafes serving coffee and doughnuts are particularly popular.

Some areas are inhabited by numerous immigrant communities: Federal Hill is an Italian neighborhood, Fox Point is a Portuguese and Cabo Quarter, and Smith Hill is an Irish Quarter.

The city has one of the largest LGBT communities in the northeast. Same-sex marriage is extremely popular. The city mayor, David Chichiline, claims to be a sex minority.

In the summer, Providence holds the annual "Waterfire" festival. The festival was founded in 1994 and became a symbol of the revival of the city. The performances are held from May to October. In the evenings, fires are lit on the three city rivers, and on the shore music, magicians, jugglers perform.

Providence's waterplace Park, Riverwalk Park, Roger Williams Memorial and others are about 5 km² in size. Roger Williams Zoo (named after the city's founder) is one of the best in the northeast of the United States.

Providence Theater, the Trinity Repertory Company, the Providence Performing Arts Center, is famous.

Attractions

• The first Baptist Church (1638) founded by Roger Williams. The modern building was built in 1774-75.
• Ateneum and museum of Rhode Island School of Design
• Washington Arcade (1828) — the country's first indoor shopping center, its original functions remained the same
• Rhode Island Capitol (1895-1904)

Music: Verse

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