Introduction to Providence, Rhode Island
Founded in 1636 by the clergyman Roger Williams, Providence is the capital of the state of Rhode Island. Providence is also the largest city in Rhode Island with a population of nearly 180,000 people, and the second largest city in New England. According to U.S. Census estimates, the Providence metropolitan area is one of the 35 largest in the United States.
Providence is located in east/central Rhode Island on the Providence River, which leads into Narragansett Bay. It is about an hour drive southwest from Boston, Massachusetts, and 50 minutes southeast of Worcester, Massachusetts. There are two Fortune 1000 corporate headquarters located in Providence, and several others in surrounding communities.
Providence's climate is characterized by four distinct seasons. Winters are cold and summers tend to be hot and humid. January is the coldest month of the year with an average daily temperature of 37 degrees Fahrenheit. July is the warmest month of the year with an average daily temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Providence's close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, at the head of Narragansett Bay, tends to moderate its weather a bit, making winters warmer and summers a little cooler than other parts of inland New England.
Providence Arts and Entertainment
For a city of modest size, Providence provides a good assortment of arts and cultural offerings. Some of the more notable include:
- The Museum of Art at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
- The Providence Children's Museum
- The Providence Dunkin' Donuts Center, a venue for music and more
- The Providence Performing Arts Center
- The Rhode Island Philharmonic
- The Roger Williams Park and Zoo
- The Trinity Repertory Company
Providence is also a relatively short drive to all of the arts and cultural offerings of Boston, and Worcester, Massachusetts to the north.
Providence reputedly has more restaurants per capita than any other major city in the United States, making it a culinary enthusiast's dream. Many of Providence's restaurants are founded or staffed by graduates of the world famous College of Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University.
For sports enthusiasts, Providence is home to the American Hockey League (AHL) Providence Bruins. Minor League Baseball's (MiLB) Pawtucket Red Sox play close by in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The Red Sox are a Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Providence's proximity to Boston also puts it within an hour of major Massachusetts-based professional sports teams, including Major League Baseball's (MLB) Boston Red Sox, Major League Soccer's (MLS) New England Revolution, the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Softball New England Riptide, the NBA's Boston Celtics, the NFL's New England Patriots, the NHL's Boston Bruins, the United Soccer League's (USL) USL-W Division Boston Renegades, and World Team Tennis' (WTT) Boston Lobsters.
