Rhode Island, the smallest of the United States, and one of the original thirteen states of the Union: the state takes its Copyright 1891 in U.S. by J. B. Lippincott Company. name from the island of Rhode Island in Narragansett Bay. Its length from north to south is not quite 50 miles, and its width is about 40 miles; land area, 1085 sq. m. Rhode Island has thus a land surface only about th as great as that of Texas, the largest state; but, while it ranks only thirty-fifth among the forty-nine states and territories in order of population, in density of population (318 per sq. m.) it holds the first place. Its name is referred by some to a supposed resemblance of the island of Rhode Island to Rhodes in the Mediterranean, while by others it is considered to be a corruption of Roodt Eylandt ('Red Island'), a name bestowed upon this island by the early Dutch.
There are no mountains in the state, but the surface is considerably diversified. The northern and eastern sections are hilly, and the land slopes toward a level region in the south. The most important elevations are Woonsocket Hill, Mount Hope, Diamond Hill, and Hopkins Hill. The coast along the Atlantic Ocean measures about 45 miles, but Narragansett Bay, which penetrates inland some 30 miles, affords with its various inlets about 350 miles of shore washed by tide-water. The southern coast west of Point Judith is low and sandy, with numerous fine beaches, and many marshes and ponds of salt water. To the west the shores are formed by high rocky cliffs interspersed with beaches of sand. Newport, Narragansett Pier, and Watch Hill, on the ocean coast, are among the most famous seaside resorts of the country; and Block Island, about 10 miles SW. of Point Judith, is also a favourite watering-place.
The western part of the state is marked geologically by the Archean formation which is characteristic of much of New England, but an extensive coal-bearing area of the Carboniferous period stretches under the bay across the eastern part of the state into Massachusetts. It is the most eastern bed of anthracite in the United States, but thus far the coal which has been mined has been of inferior quality. There are deposits of iron ore, and excellent limestones and granite. Traces of the terminal moraine of the glacial period are visible in the state, and in many places the soil is stony or rocky, though in some localities it is moderately fertile. Agriculture, however, except in the way of market-gardening, is by no means a leading occupation.
Rhode Island enjoys a maritime climate, milder and more equable than that of other portions of New England. The rivers of the state are of little importance for navigation, but are of great value in furnishing water-power, and have played a prominent part in developing the industries of the state. The principal rivers are the Seekonk, navigable to Pawtucket, the Woonasquatucket, the Pawtuxet, and the Pawcatuck.
Newport has one of the finest harbours in the world, and the bay affords an extensive area of safe anchorage, with excellent ports at Bristol, Warren, and Providence. Formerly these places enjoyed a large foreign commerce, which finally disappeared with the war of 1812, and, though a considerable coasting trade is still carried on, commerce from that time ceased to be a prominent industry. It was replaced by manufacturing, which has ever since been the characteristic occupation of the people. The cotton manufacturing industry of the United States had its birth in Rhode Island. In 1790 Samuel Slater, who had been an apprentice in England, built at Pawtucket Falls the first cotton-mill of America. He equipped the mill throughout with a complete set of machinery which he constructed from memory, and by the time Rhode Island had ceased to be a commercial state it had already upwards of fifty cotton-mills. Cotton manufacturing, with dyeing, bleaching, and calico-printing, still holds the first place among the industries of the community, followed in importance by the manufacture of woollen and iron goods—especially screws, locomotives, and firearms—and of jewellery (see PROVIDENCE), rubber and leather goods, &c.
There are five counties in Rhode Island and four cities, Providence, Newport, Pawtucket, and Woonsocket. Of these Providence and Newport are both capitals of the state. The common school system, established in 1828, is of the highest order; but on account of the number of foreign-born persons attracted to the mill villages, and the difficulty in such communities of securing regular attendance at the schools, there is a remarkable prevalence of illiteracy. In 1897 there were 59,428 pupils enrolled at the elementary schools, with 1686 teachers; 2909 pupils and 131 teachers in high schools; and 850 students and 76 professors at Brown University (1764), one of the oldest and best colleges of the country.
The Northmen are supposed to have visited Rhode Island in the 10th century; and the 'Old Stone Mill' at Newport (q.v.) has been claimed as their work. The first permanent settlement was made at Providence by Roger Williams in 1636. He and other settlers purchased lands from the Indians, and, as a result of the wise policy displayed toward the natives, Rhode Island suffered less from trouble with the Indians than many of her sister colonies. Rhode Island was the last (1790) of the original thirteen states to ratify the constitution. In the war of the revolution, in that of 1812, and in the civil war of 1861-65, she took an active part. Pop. (1730) 17,935; (1830) 97,199; (1880) 276,531; (1890) 345,506.