| The
exact origin of the state name is unknown. Roger Williams and
a group of religious followers founded the town of Providence
in what is today known as Rhode Island after their banishment
from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Williams believed in the
importance of liberty of conscience, which became an important
principle in the founding of Rhode Island and ultimately in
the founding of the United States. Rhode
Island is the 13th of the original states of the Union (1790).
Rhode Island is
the smallest state in the United States. In spite of its
size (3,140 sq. km), it is nevertheless an important industrial
state. Rhode Island lies on beautiful Narragansett Bay,
an arm of the Atlantic Ocean. Tourists come to Rhode Island
coastal resorts each summer to enjoy boating, fishing and other
water sports. The annual Newport Music Festival is held
in late July and early August.
Die
genaue Herkunft des Namens ist unbekannt. Roger Williams und
eine Gruppe religiöser Anhänger gründeten den
Ort Providence in der Region des heutigen Rhode Island, nachdem
sie aus der Massachusetts Bay Colony verbannt worden waren.
Williams glaubte an die Freiheit des Gewissens, und dies wurde
ein wichtiger Grundsatz in der Gründung von Rhode Island
und letztendlich der Vereinigten Staaten. Rhode Island war der
13. Staat, der sich der Union anschloss (1790). Rhode Island
ist der kleinste Bundesstaat der Vereinigten
Staaten. Trotz seiner geringen Größe (3.140 Quadratkilometer)
gehört er zu den wichtigen Industriestaaten. Rhode Island
liegt an der wunderschönen Bucht Narragansett Bay, einem
Meeresarm des Atlantik. Im Sommer kommen viele Touristen zum
Bootfahren, Angeln und zum Ausüben anderer Wassersportarten
in die Seebäder Rhode Islands. Das jährliche Newport
Music Festival findet Ende Juli und Anfang August statt.
GOVERNMENT
Capital: Providence
Governor: Donald
Carcieri, R (to Jan. 2011)
Senators: Jack Reed,
D (to Jan. 2015); Sheldon Whitehouse, D (Jan. 2007 to Jan.
2013)
House of Representatives: 2
districts | Search by zip code
STATISTICS
Population (July 2005):
1,076,000; National Rank: 43; Percent change since April 2000:
2.7%
Land Area: 1,045 sq mi. (2,706 sq km);
National Rank:
50
10 largest cities (2005 est): Providence, 176,862; Warwick, 87,233; Cranston, 81,614; Pawtucket, 73,742; East Providence, 49,515; Woonsocket, 44,328; Newport, 25,340; Central Falls, 19,159
ECONOMY
Total Gross State Product 2005 prel. (billions of current dollars): 43.8
Per Capita Personal Income 2005: $36,153; National Rank:
13
State Exports 2005 (millions of dollars): 1,269; National
Rank: 45
Agriculture: Nursery stock, vegetables, dairy products,
eggs.
Industry: Fashion jewelry, fabricated metal products,
electric equipment, machinery, shipbuilding and boatbuilding,
tourism.
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