Narragansett Bay · RI
Providence
Roger Williams's refuge, at the head of Narragansett Bay.
- Population
- 190,934 (2020 census)
- Founded
- June 1636
- Gaspee burned
- 1772
Then
- 1636
Banished from Massachusetts for arguing to separate church and state, Roger Williams founds Providence, named for “God's merciful Providence.”
- 1770
Rhode Island College moves here from Warren; it becomes Brown University.
- 1772
Providence men burn the British customs schooner Gaspee, an armed act of resistance more than a year before the Boston Tea Party.
- 1938
The Great New England Hurricane floods downtown; many textile mills never reopen.
Now
The Fox Point Hurricane Barrier now guards downtown from storm surge. In summer, WaterFire lights about 100 bonfires on the three rivers through downtown.
11 tide stations around Providence
- Providence, State Pier no.11.3 mi
- Rumford, Seekonk River2.3 mi
- Pawtucket, Seekonk River3.5 mi
- Pawtuxet, Pawtuxet Cove4.5 mi
- Bay Spring, Bullock Cove5.9 mi
- Conimicut Light8.2 mi
- East Greenwich11.1 mi
- Fall River, Massachusetts15.3 mi
- Steep Brook, Taunton River15.6 mi
- North End, Bay Oil pier15.8 mi
Show all 11 stations
- Hix Bridge, East Branch24.8 mi