Rhode Island
BASIC INFORMATION
| 2010 Census Population: |
1,052,567 (43rd) |
| Land Area: |
1,033.8 square miles (50th) |
| Density: |
1,018.1 persons per square mile (2nd) |
| Capital: |
Providence |
| Became a State: |
May 29, 1790 (13th) |
| Bordering States: |
Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York |
| Abbreviation: |
RI |
| ANSI Code: |
44 |
Download 2010 Census Rhode Island Profile [PDF]
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HISTORY
The area of Rhode Island was part of the original territory of the United States. An original patent was granted for the Providence Plantations in 1643, and a charter was granted for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in 1663. Rhode Island ratified the Constitution on May 29, 1790; it was the 13th of the original 13 states to join the Union, with generally the same boundary as the present state. However, there were changes to the boundary between Rhode Island and Massachusetts in 1862, and additional changes from a resurvey of that boundary in 1897. The official name of the state is "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations."
Census data for Rhode Island are available beginning with the 1790 census.
AMERICAN INDIAN AREAS
Rhode Island has one federally recognized American Indian reservation.
METROPOLITAN AND MICROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS AND RELATED STATISTICAL AREAS
Rhode Island has core based statistical areas based on both counties (metropolitan statistical areas and combined statistical areas) and county subdivisions (metropolitan New England city and town areas (NECTAs) and combined NECTAs).
There is one metropolitan statistical area, one combined statistical area, two metropolitan NECTAs, and one combined NECTA.
COUNTIES
There are five counties in Rhode Island. Counties in Rhode Island were legally abolished as governmental units but they continue to serve as geographic subdivisions of the state for Census Bureau purposes.
COUNTY SUBDIVISIONS
There are 40 county subdivisions in Rhode Island which are known as minor civil divisions (MCDs). There are 31 towns which are functioning governmental units, each governed by a town council. The eight cities in Rhode Island are independent of MCDs and serve as county subdivisions. In addition, there is one undefined MCD which consists of water area.
PLACES
Rhode Island has 34 places; 8 incorporated places and 26 census designated places (CDPs). The incorporated places in Rhode Island are all cities and can legally exist in a single county only. All MCD and place governments in Rhode Island have the same powers and function. Incorporated places are independent of county subdivisions.
CENSUS TRACTS/BLOCK GROUPS/BLOCKS
Rhode Island has 244 census tracts, 815 block groups, and 25,181 census blocks.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
For the 111th Congress (January 2009-January 2011), Rhode Island has two congressional districts. Beginning with the 113th Congress (January 2013-January 2015), Rhode Island will continue to have two congressional districts as a result of reapportionment based on the 2010 Census.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Rhode Island has 5 elementary school districts, 1 secondary school district, and 30 unified school districts.
STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS
There are 38 state senate districts and 75 state house districts in Rhode Island.
ZIP CODE TABULATION AREAS
There are 77 ZIP Code tabulation areas (ZCTAs) in Rhode Island.
OTHER INFORMATION OF GENERAL GEOGRAPHIC INTEREST
Rhode Island is the smallest in land area of the 50 states.
HISTORICAL CENTERS OF POPULATION
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/2010census/centerpop2010/historical/historical_cenpop_44.html
| Year |
North Latitude |
West Longitude |
| 20106 |
41° 45′ 13″ |
71° 27′ 03″ |
| 20006 |
41° 45′ 12″ |
71° 26′ 56″ |
| 19905 |
41° 45′ 16″ |
71° 26′ 47″ |
| 19804 |
41° 45′ 34″ |
71° 26′ 31″ |
| 19703 |
41° 45′ 39″ |
71° 26′ 02″ |
| 19603 |
41° 46′ 13″ |
71° 25′ 52″ |
| 19503 |
41° 46′ 47″ |
71° 26′ 15″ |
| 19402 |
41° 48′ 36″ |
71° 32′ 01″ |
| 19302 |
41° 48′ 50″ |
71° 32′ 04″ |
| 19201 |
41° 47′ 43″ |
71° 26′ 27″ |
| 19101 |
41° 47′ 24″ |
71° 27′ 40″ |
| 19001 |
41° 47′ 05″ |
71° 27′ 42″ |
| 18901 |
41° 46′ 46″ |
71° 27′ 49″ |
| 18801 |
41° 46′ 14″ |
71° 27′ 40″ |
1 Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1923
2 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, recomputation for historical county level data which relied upon aggregate county level population data with an estimated county centroid resulting in a possible error of up to one mile.
3 Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Centers of Population for States and Counties, 1974
4 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division, recomputation from archived national block group/enumeration area data resulting in a possible error of up to 1,000 feet.
5 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division, recomputation from archived national block group data resulting in a possible error of up to 1,000 feet.
6 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, computation from national block-level data
MOST POPULOUS, LARGEST IN AREA, AND MOST DENSELY POPULATED AREAS
|
| Population |
Land Area
(square miles) |
Population Density
(Persons per square mile) |
| |
Name |
Population |
Name |
Area |
Name |
Density |
| County |
Providence County |
626,667 |
Providence County |
409.50 |
Bristol County |
2,064.0 |
| Place |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| - Inc Place |
Providence city |
178,042 |
Warwick city |
35.04 |
Central Falls city |
16,171.7 |
| - CDP |
Westerly CDP |
17,936 |
Westerly CDP |
15.82 |
Kingston CDP |
4,480.6 |
| Town |
Coventry town,
Kent County |
35,014 |
Coventry town,
Kent County |
59.05 |
North Providence town,
Providence County |
5,708.8 |
LIST OF ENTITIES
American Indian Areas
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/guidestloc/files/aiannh10.txt
Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas and Related Statistical Areas
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/guidestloc/files/cbsa10.txt
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/guidestloc/files/csa10.txt
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/guidestloc/files/necta10.txt
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/guidestloc/files/cnecta10.txt
Counties
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_counties_44.txt
County Subdivisions
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_cousubs_44.txt
Places
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_44.txt
Census Tracts
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_tracts_44.txt
Congressional Districts
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_cd111_national.txt
School Districts
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_unsd_national.txt
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_elsd_national.txt
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_scsd_national.txt
State Legislative Districts
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_sldl_national.txt
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_sldu_national.txt
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_zcta_national.txt
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