Providence County
County
Providence County Courthouse
Providence County Courthouse
Map of Rhode Island highlighting Providence County
Location within the U.S. state of Rhode Island
Map of the United States highlighting Rhode Island
Rhode Island's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°52′N 71°35′W / 41.87°N 71.58°W / 41.87; -71.58
Country United States
State Rhode Island
FoundedJune 22, 1703
Named forProvidence, Rhode Island
SeatProvidence (1703–1842)
Largest cityProvidence
Area
 • Total436 sq mi (1,130 km2)
 • Land410 sq mi (1,100 km2)
 • Water26 sq mi (70 km2)  6.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total660,741 Increase
 • Density1,611/sq mi (622/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts1st, 2nd

Providence County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 660,741, or 60.2% of the state's population.[1] Providence County contains the city of Providence, the state capital of Rhode Island and the county's (and state's) most populous city, with an estimated 190,934 residents in 2020. Providence County is included in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn constitutes a portion of the greater Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT Combined Statistical Area. As of 2010, the center of population in Rhode Island is located in Providence County, in the city of Cranston.[2]

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 square miles (1,130 km2), of which 410 square miles (1,100 km2) is land and 26 square miles (67 km2) (6.0%) is water.[3] 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.[4] 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 feet (247 m). Sea level is the lowest point.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
179024,376—
180025,8546.1%
181030,86919.4%
182035,73615.8%
183047,01831.6%
184058,07323.5%
185087,52650.7%
1860107,79923.2%
1870149,19038.4%
1880197,87432.6%
1890255,12328.9%
1900328,68328.8%
1910424,35329.1%
1920475,19012.0%
1930540,01613.6%
1940550,2981.9%
1950574,9734.5%
1960568,778−1.1%
1970580,2612.0%
1980571,349−1.5%
1990596,2704.4%
2000621,6024.2%
2010626,6670.8%
2020660,7415.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2019[1]

2000 census

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 621,602 people, 239,936 households, and 152,839 families living in the county. The population density was 1,504 inhabitants per square mile (581/km2). There were 253,214 housing units at an average density of 613 per square mile (237/km2). 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.[10]

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.[11] The population density was 1,530.3 inhabitants per square mile (590.9/km2). There were 264,835 housing units at an average density of 646.7 per square mile (249.7/km2).[12] The racial makeup of the county was 73.4% white, 8.5% black or African American, 3.7% Asian, 0.7% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 9.6% from other races, and 4.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 18.8% of the population.[11] The largest ancestry groups were:[13]

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.[11]

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.[14]

Communities

Map of Providence County, Rhode Island showing cities, towns, and CDPs

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other villages

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.

United States presidential election results for Providence County, Rhode Island[15][16]
Year Republican / Whig Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 102,551 37.61% 165,012 60.52% 5,104 1.87%
2016 90,882 36.58% 142,899 57.51% 14,693 5.91%
2012 75,785 31.61% 159,520 66.53% 4,481 1.87%
2008 81,010 31.94% 167,442 66.02% 5,178 2.04%
2004 82,337 35.59% 144,811 62.60% 4,176 1.81%
2000 61,378 28.12% 142,469 65.26% 14,461 6.62%
1996 49,901 23.52% 134,866 63.58% 27,355 12.90%
1992 69,579 27.45% 125,358 49.46% 58,504 23.08%
1988 94,248 40.77% 135,927 58.80% 984 0.43%
1984 116,024 48.16% 124,109 51.52% 765 0.32%
1980 86,467 34.88% 126,808 51.15% 34,652 13.98%
1976 103,976 41.62% 144,805 57.96% 1,036 0.41%
1972 129,418 49.94% 129,232 49.87% 506 0.20%
1968 70,320 28.11% 169,246 67.64% 10,633 4.25%
1964 43,432 16.52% 219,465 83.48% 0 0.00%
1960 91,028 32.51% 189,014 67.49% 1 0.00%
1956 153,860 55.80% 121,861 44.20% 0 0.00%
1952 146,197 48.09% 157,592 51.84% 219 0.07%
1948 93,867 38.20% 149,254 60.73% 2,627 1.07%
1944 87,190 38.80% 137,216 61.06% 321 0.14%
1940 99,434 40.60% 145,236 59.30% 251 0.10%
1936 88,492 37.17% 131,218 55.12% 18,370 7.72%
1932 84,397 40.86% 118,546 57.40% 3,601 1.74%
1928 85,884 46.77% 97,185 52.92% 568 0.31%
1924 92,464 57.24% 62,336 38.59% 6,750 4.18%
1920 79,558 61.30% 45,859 35.33% 4,374 3.37%
1916 32,406 49.18% 31,314 47.52% 2,172 3.30%
1912 19,695 33.72% 23,127 39.59% 15,587 26.69%
1908 32,037 59.58% 18,880 35.11% 2,854 5.31%
1904 30,295 59.76% 18,557 36.60% 1,846 3.64%
1900 24,194 58.03% 15,223 36.51% 2,274 5.45%
1896 26,844 66.58% 11,644 28.88% 1,832 4.54%
1892 18,695 49.16% 18,203 47.86% 1,134 2.98%
1888 14,207 51.74% 12,440 45.30% 812 2.96%
1884 12,387 57.08% 8,491 39.13% 824 3.80%
1880 11,316 61.14% 6,975 37.69% 217 1.17%
1844 3,752 54.03% 3,192 45.97% 0 0.00%

Education

School districts include
[17]

K-12:

Secondary:

Elementary:

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

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Census - Geography Profile: Providence County, Rhode Island". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  2. ^ "Centers of Population by State: 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  3. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  4. ^ Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Providence, the N. county of Rhode Island" . The American Cyclopædia.
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  7. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  9. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  10. ^ "Adherents.com: Catholics". www.adherents.com. Archived from the original on August 18, 2000. Retrieved March 18, 2018.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  12. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  13. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  14. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  16. ^ "The Popular Vote of the United States, in the Presidential Election of 1844". New York Daily Herald. No. 5270. November 7, 1848. p. 1. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Providence County, RI" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022. - Text list
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