Rhode Island
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The state of Rhode Island
Rhode Island attracts those seeking the advantages of an exciting city or relaxing country life. Less than 50 miles wide, but graced with a 400 mile shoreline, Rhode Island focuses naturally on the ocean and beautiful Narragansett Bay. A rich saltwater heritage makes Rhode Island one of the sailing capitals of the world. Fresh and saltwater fishing, swimming at more than 100 beaches, camping, music festivals, picnicking, surfing, skin diving, and old fashioned clambakes make Rhode Island’s summer an outdoor paradise.Rhode Island Regions
Northern Rhode Island, including the bustling capital, Providence, is an area of wide expanses of quiet woodland and lake country. Northern Rhode Island is the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution at the Old Slater Mill, the home of Brown University, the site of the State Capitol, the First Baptist Church in America built in 1775, and the Arcade, America’s first shopping mall. Providence’s Benefit Street called a “mile of history,” began as an Indian trail and was the social, intellectual, governmental, and artistic centre of Providence for two centuries. The Blackstone Valley Region occupies the north-western part of Providence County, offering an abundance of outdoor activities from hiking and canoeing to freshwater fishing.
Southern Rhode Island boasts some of the country’s finest beaches, salt water fishing, boating, resorts, art colonies, shoreline campgrounds and extensive woodland recreation areas. Its rich Colonial and Indian lore is preserved in numerous historic shrines Wickford Village on Narragansett Bay, has one of New England’s largest concentrations of varied 18th century buildings and homes and is considered the largest yachting centre in New England.
The City of Newport founded in 1639, became world famous early as a commercial seaport. Numerous colonial landmarks remain standing and preserved. The city-by-the-sea is home of international sailboat races, and the site of the palatial villas of the country’s leading socialites at the turn of the century. Newport today is the home of the White Horse Tavern (1673), America’s oldest continuously operated tavern; Touro Synagogue (1763), the oldest Jewish home of worship in the United States; and Fort Adams (1799), the second largest fortification on the Atlantic seaboard.
East Bay -Sailing and shipbuilding have played an important role in the life along the east shores of Narragansett Bay since the 17th century. The famous Herreshoff Boatyard, where the seven America’s Cup defenders were built, shares the coastline with old fishing villages and century-old homes.
Forests, meadowland and suburban residential development characterize central West Bay. Sailing, clam digging, antique hunting, shopping in the state’s commercial centre, and visiting the historic homesteads of General Nathaniel Greene and James Mitchell Varnum are rewarding activities.
Rhode Island's economy is built upon three powerful industries: Health services, tourism and manufacturing. Health services is the state's largest industry. Growing industries include electronics, plastics, metal products, instruments, chemicals, and boat building.
Tourism is Rhode Island's second largest industry, supporting 39,000 jobs and producing tourism-related sales which topped $3.26 billion in 2000. Manufacturing is the state's third largest industry. Rhode Island is a recognized producer of jewellery and boats, and is strong in electronics and ocean technologies. Information technology and financial services are growing industries in Rhode Island.