Capital: Providence
Population: 1,048,319
Governor: Don Carcieri (R, to January 2011)
Entered the Union: May 29, 1790
as the 13th state
Motto: Hope
Nickname: The Ocean state
Flower: Violet (unofficial)
Bird: Rhode Island Red
Song: Rhode Island It's For Me
Sports Teams:
(sport listing policy)
Origin of Name: From the Greek Island of Rhodes
Major Industries: Primary Metal Manufacturing, Metal Fabrication, Jewelry, Silverware, Textiles
Historical Sites: The Roger Williams National Memorial in Providence
Points of Interest: Samuel Slater's Mill in Pawtucket and the General Nathanael Greene Homestead in Coventry and Block Island
Bordering: States Rhode Island borders Massachusetts, the Atlantic Ocean, Connecticut, and New York (water border).
Source: Rhode Island State
Population, 2006 estimate: 1,321,574
Population, percent change April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006: 3.7%
Population, 2000: 1,274,923
Persons under 5 years old, percent, 2005: 5.1%
Persons under 18 years old, percent, 2005: 21.0%
Persons 65 years old and over, percent, 2005: 14.6%
Female persons, percent, 2005: 51.1%
White persons, percent, 2005 (a): 96.9%
Black persons, percent, 2005 (a) : 0.8%
American Indian and Alaska Native persons, percent, 2005 (a): 0.6%
Asian persons, percent, 2005 (a): 0.8%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, percent, 2005 (a): 0.0%
Persons reporting two or more races, percent, 2005: 0.9%
Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, percent, 2005 (b) :1.0%
White persons not Hispanic, percent, 2005: 96.0%
Living in same house in 1995 and 2000, pct 5 yrs old & over : 59.6%
Foreign born persons, percent, 2000 : 2.9%
Language other than English spoken at home, pct age 5+, 2000 : 7.8%
High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+, 2000 : 85.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher, pct of persons age 25+, 2000 : 22.9%
Persons with a disability, age 5+, 2000 : 237,910
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16+, 2000: 22.7
Housing units, 2005 : 683,799
Homeownership rate, 2000 : 71.6%
Housing units in multi-unit structures, percent, 2000 : 20.3%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2000: $98,700
Households, 2000 : 518,200
Persons per household, 2000 : 2.39
Median household income, 2004 : $41,287
Per capita money income, 1999 : $19,533
Persons below poverty, percent, 2004 : 11.5%
Source: U.S.Census Bureau
Total Gross Domestic Product by State: 43,623
Private industries: 38,160
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting: 90
Crop and animal production (Farms): 36
Forestry, fishing, and related activities: 54
Mining: 23
Oil and gas extraction: NA
Mining, except oil and gas: 21
Support activities for mining: 2
Utilities: 845
Construction: 2,211
Manufacturing: 4,390
Durable goods: 3,211
Wood product manufacturing: 43
Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing: 47
Primary metal manufacturing: 231
Fabricated metal product manufacturing: 580
Machinery manufacturing: 170
Computer and electronic product manufacturing: 164
Electrical equipment and appliance manufacturing: 558
Motor vehicle, body, trailer, and parts manufacturing: 8
Other transportation equipment manufacturing: 218
Furniture and related product manufacturing: 82
Miscellaneous manufacturing: 1,109
Nondurable goods: 1,179
Food product manufacturing: 164
Textile and textile product mills: 218
Apparel manufacturing: 12
Paper manufacturing: 67
Printing and related support activities: 114
Petroleum and coal products manufacturing: 13
Chemical manufacturing: 413
Plastics and rubber products manufacturing: 179
Wholesale trade: 2,259
Retail trade: 2,765
Transportation and warehousing, excluding Postal Service: 588
Air transportation: 42
Rail transportation: 2
Water transportation: 15
Truck transportation: 192
Transit and ground passenger transportation: 80
Pipeline transportation: 6
Other transportation and support activities: 193
Warehousing and storage: 58
Information: 1,764
Publishing including software: 500
Motion picture and sound recording industries: 30
Broadcasting and telecommunications: 841
Information and data processing services: 393
Finance and insurance: 5,171
Federal Reserve banks, credit intermediation and related services: 3,280
Securities, commodity contracts, investments: 417
Insurance carriers and related activities: 1,465
Funds, trusts, and other financial vehicles: 9
Real estate and rental and leasing: 6,272
Real estate: 5,971
Rental and leasing services and lessors of intangible assets: 301
Professional and technical services: 2,251
Legal services: 598
Computer systems design and related services: 464
Other professional, scientific and technical services: 1,189
Management of companies and enterprises: 914
Administrative and waste services: 1,060
Administrative and support services: 929
Waste management and remediation services: 131
Educational services: 949
Health care and social assistance: 4,070
Ambulatory health care services: 1,727
Hospitals and nursing and residential care facilities: 1,967
Social assistance: 376
Arts, entertainment, and recreation: 362
Performing arts, museums, and related activities: 111
Amusement, gambling, and recreation: 251
Accommodation and food services: 1,218
Accommodation: 277
Food services and drinking places: 941
Other services, except government: 958
Government: 5,463
Federal civilian: 940
Federal military: 565
State and local: 3,959
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
Longitude: 71° 8'W to 71° 53'W
Latitude: 41° 18'N to 42° 1'N
Length / Width: The smallest state in the union, Rhode Island is about 40 miles long and 30 miles wide.
Geographic Center: The geographic center of Rhode Island is located in Kent County, 1 mile SSW of Crompton.
Borders: Rhode Island is bordered by Massachusetts on the north and on the east. On the south, Rhode Island is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. On the west, Rhode Island is bordered by Connecticut.
Total Area :Rhode Island covers 1,545 square miles, making it the smallest of the 50 states.
Land Area: 1,045 square miles of Rhode Island are land areas.
Water Area: 500 square miles of Rhode Island are covered by water.
Highest Point: The highest point in Rhode Island is Jerimoth Hill, in Foster, at a mere 812 feet above sea level.
Lowest Point: The lowest point in Rhode Island is sea level where Rhode Island meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Mean Elevation: The Mean Elevation of the state of Rhode Island is 200 feet above sea level.
Major Rivers: Sakonnet River
Major Lakes: Scituate Reservoir
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Interactive
America On GuardThe Homeland Security Department, the terror alert system, preparedness quiz and more.
Interactive
Campaign 2008A glimpse at presidential hopefuls and a fund-raising overview as the campaign gears up.
More In-depth
Ex-NBA ref Tim Donaghy 
