Providence County, Rhode Island

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Providence County, Rhode Island
Providence20June07WWIMonument.jpg
Providence County Courthouse
Map of Rhode Island highlighting Providence County
Location in the U.S. state of Rhode Island
Map of the United States highlighting Rhode Island
Rhode Island's location in the U.S.
Founded June 22, 1703
Seat Providence (1703-1842)
Largest city Providence
Area
 • Total 436 sq mi (1,129 km2)
 • Land 410 sq mi (1,062 km2)
 • Water 26 sq mi (67 km2), 6.0%
Population (est.)
 • (2014) 631,974
 • Density 3,963/sq mi (1,530/km²)
Congressional districts 1st, 2nd
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4

Providence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 626,667 (59.5% of the state's total population).[1] It is home to the state capital of Providence.

Providence County is included in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT Combined Statistical Area.

In 2010, the center of population of Rhode Island was 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. 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 area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1790 24,376 —
1800 25,854 6.1%
1810 30,869 19.4%
1820 35,736 15.8%
1830 47,018 31.6%
1840 58,073 23.5%
1850 87,526 50.7%
1860 107,799 23.2%
1870 149,190 38.4%
1880 197,874 32.6%
1890 255,123 28.9%
1900 328,683 28.8%
1910 424,353 29.1%
1920 475,190 12.0%
1930 540,016 13.6%
1940 550,298 1.9%
1950 574,973 4.5%
1960 568,778 −1.1%
1970 580,261 2.0%
1980 571,349 −1.5%
1990 596,270 4.4%
2000 621,602 4.2%
2010 626,667 0.8%
Est. 2014 631,974 [5] 0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2014[1]

2000 census

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 621,602 people, 239,936 households, and 152,839 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,504 people 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.[11]

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 626,667 people, 241,717 households, and 149,691 families residing in the county.[12] 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).[13] 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.[12] In terms of ancestry, 18.5% were Italian, 15.8% were Irish, 9.4% were English, 8.6% were Portuguese, 5.4% were French Canadian, and 1.6% were American.[14]

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.[12]

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.[15]

Communities

File:Map of Providence County Rhode Island With Municipal Labels.PNG
Map of Providence County, Rhode Island showing cities, towns, and CDPs

Cities

Towns

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Villages

Villages are census division, but have no separate corporate existence from the towns they are in.

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See also

References

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  11. ↑ Adherents.com: Catholics
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 Worcester County, Massachusetts Norfolk County, Massachusetts
Windham County, Connecticut Bristol County, Massachusetts
  Providence County, Rhode Island  
Kent County Bristol County

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