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Rhode Island facts for kidsRhode Island facts: it is a New England state, consists of an area of mainland and several islands including Rhode Island itself. Rhode Island was formerly known as Aquidneck Island. This is the largest of the state's islands. With an area of 1,214 square miles and a population of 1,053,000, the state is the smallest and also the most densely peopled American state. Its nickname is 'Little Rhody'. Most of the state's islands, including Rhode Island, Conanicut Island and Prudence Island, lie in Narragansett Bay. Providence, the capital and largest city, is located on the mainland, on the eastern bank of the Providence River. Other major cities include Warwick, Pawtucket and Cranston. Rhode Island's warm summers make the state a favored vacation area. More than half the state is forested, and farming is of minor importance. The leading types of farming are dairying and poultry-raising. Rhode Island Red chickens are noted. Fishing is important. Most of the state's wealth comes from its many industries, including the manufacture of textiles, textile machinery, machine tools and metal goods. Food processing is also important. Providence is one of the world's leading centers of jewelry manufacture.
Rhode Island history: the state area was probably visited by the European explorer Giovanni da Verrazano in 1524. During the 1600s, English colonists who had been banished from Massachusetts Colony founded Providence and other settlements, and the area became one of the thirteen original colonies. In 1663, Charles II of England granted Rhode Island a charter that guaranteed it religious freedom. Although it opposed English rule in the 1700s, Rhode Island did not ratify the United States' independence constitution until 1790. In the 1800's, as the state's industries developed, the original settlers were joined by immigrants from many other European countries. You can read these articles also: |
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Wikipedy.com @ - Online Encyclopedia |
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