115-457: The Rhode Island Medical Society Building is a historic commercial building in Providence, Rhode Island . It is a two-story brick Federal Revival building, designed by Clarke, Howe & Homer , and built in 1911–12. It has a five-bay main facade and a bowed south-facing bay. The main entrance is recessed under a cast-stone entryway. The Rhode Island Medical Society was founded in 1812, and
230-462: A hot-summer humid continental climate (abbreviated Dfa ), or a hot-summer humid sub-tropical climate (abbreviated Cfa ), depending on the isotherm used. Throughout the colonial period and thereafter, Salem was one of the largest municipalities in the United States; as late as the 1820 census , Salem was ranked in the top ten cities in the country by population, and would not drop out of
345-626: A humid continental climate ( Köppen climate classification Dfa ) bordering a humid subtropical climate with hot summers, and cool to cold winters. The 2023 USDA places the city in hardiness zone 7a. The influence of the Atlantic Ocean keeps the state of Rhode Island warmer than many inland locales in New England. July is the warmest month with a daily mean of 73.5 °F (23.1 °C) and highs rising to 90 °F (32 °C) or higher an average of 10 days per summer, January
460-685: A 15-foot tall granite statue of Roger Williams gazing over the city. As one of the first cities in America, Providence contains many historic buildings , while the East Side neighborhood in particular includes the largest contiguous area of buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the U.S., with many pre-revolutionary houses. Providence's East Side is home to the First Baptist Church in America , which
575-524: A close relationship with Skelton, having been converted by him, and Endecott considered him as his spiritual father. Salem's harbor was defended by Fort Miller in Marblehead from 1632 to 1865, and by Fort Pickering on Winter Island from 1643 to 1865. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Salem was involved in the Atlantic slave trade , surpassing Boston in terms of the town's engagement with
690-483: A company of fishermen arrived from Cape Ann led by Roger Conant . Conant's leadership provided the stability for the settlers to survive the first two years, but John Endecott replaced him by order of the Massachusetts Bay Company . Conant stepped aside and was granted 200 acres (0.81 km ) of land in compensation. These "New Planters" and the "Old Planters" agreed to cooperate because of
805-627: A distributor of natural and organic foods; Fortune 1000 Nortek Incorporated; Gilbane , a construction and real estate company. Other companies with headquarters in the city include Citizens Bank , Virgin Pulse , Ørsted US Offshore Wind , and Providence Equity . Providence is the site of a sectional center facility (SCF), a regional hub for the U.S. Postal Service. Providence is also home to some of toy manufacturer Hasbro 's business operations, although their headquarters are in Pawtucket. The city
920-817: A drugstore building marks the former site of the Korn Leather Factory, which burned in the fire. Coast Guard Air Station Salem was established on February 15, 1935, when the United States Coast Guard opened a new seaplane facility in Salem because there was no space to expand the Gloucester Air Station at Ten Pound Island . Coast Guard Air Station Salem was located on Winter Island , an extension of Salem Neck which juts out into Salem Harbor . Search and rescue , hunting for derelicts , and medical evacuations were
1035-743: A faire house newly built for the Governor" which was remarkable for being two stories high. A year later, the Massachusetts Bay Charter was issued creating the Massachusetts Bay Colony with Matthew Craddock as its governor in London and Endecott as its governor in the colony. John Winthrop was elected Governor in late 1629, and arrived with the Winthrop Fleet in 1630, one of the many events that began
1150-591: A fairly clear spatial separation appears between the areas of pre-1980s development and post-1980s development; West Exchange Street and Exchange Terrace serve as rough boundaries between the two. The newer area, sometimes called "Capitol Center", includes the Providence Place Mall (1999), Omni Providence Hotel (1993) and Residences Providence (2007), GTECH Corporation (2006), Waterplace Towers condominiums (2007), and Waterplace Park (1994). The area tends toward newer development, since much of it
1265-408: A household in the city was $ 44,033, and the median income for a family was $ 55,635. Males had a median income of $ 38,563 versus $ 31,374 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 23,857. About 6.3% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line , including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over. The Pickman House , built c. 1664 , abuts
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#17328020869891380-571: A larger shift away from Newport's commercial and political dominance over the colony. In 1772, a group from Providence burned a British customs schooner south of Providence in the event known as the Gaspee Affair . This was the first act of armed resistance to British rule in America, predating the more famous Boston Tea Party by more than a year. Rhode Island was the first of the Thirteen Colonies to renounce its allegiance to
1495-547: A magistrate on the highest court, and was chosen as the first speaker of the House of Deputies. He was a zealous advocate of the personal rights of freemen against royal emissaries and agents. His son Judge John Hathorne came to prominence in the late 17th century when witchcraft was a serious felony. Judge Hathorne is the best known of the witch trial judges, and he became known as the "Hanging Judge" for sentencing accused witches to death. On February 26, 1775, patriots raised
1610-467: A mix of live music performances, art installations, craft markets, and food vendors showcasing global cuisines. Providence is home to a 1,200-acre (4.9 km ) park system. Notable among these are Waterplace Park and the Riverwalk, Roger Williams Park , Roger Williams National Memorial , and Prospect Terrace Park . Prospect Terrace Park features expansive views of the downtown area, as well as
1725-719: A multi-community area, thus laying the foundation for what became the Army National Guard . In 1637, the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony ordered the organization of the Colony's militia companies into the North, South and East Regiments. The colonists adopted the English militia system, which obligated men between the ages of 16 and 60 to own arms and take part in the community's defense. Each April,
1840-597: A nineteen-month voyage that was perhaps the first from the newly independent America to the East Indies . In 1795, Captain Jonathan Carnes set sail for Sumatra in the Malay Archipelago on his secret voyage for pepper . Nothing was heard from him until eighteen months later, when he entered Salem harbor with a cargo of pepper in bulk, the first to be so imported into the country, and which sold at
1955-658: A public elementary school is known as Witchcraft Heights, and the Salem High School athletic teams are named the Witches. Gallows Hill was originally believed to be the site of the executions during the Witch Trials, but in 2016 a site nearby called Proctor's Ledge was identified as the true site of the executions. Gallows Hill now serves as a city park. Native Americans lived in northeastern Massachusetts for thousands of years prior to European colonization of
2070-600: A resident of Salem, as a United States consul of the early years . The Old China Trade left a significant mark in two historic districts, Chestnut Street District , part of the Samuel McIntire Historic District containing 407 buildings, and the Salem Maritime National Historic Site , comprising 12 historic structures and about 9 acres (36,000 m ) of land along the waterfront in Salem. Elias Hasket Derby
2185-478: A riverwalk; the construction of a Downtown ice rink; and the development of Providence Place Mall. In 1980, Providence's previously declining population began to grow once again. In the early 2000s, Providence developed an economic development plan that outlined a shift to a knowledge-based economy. These efforts involved the rebranding of the formerly industrial Jewelry District as a new "Knowledge District". Despite new investment, approximately 21.5-percent of
2300-399: A self-sufficient agricultural and fishing settlement, though its lands were difficult to farm and its borders were disputed with Connecticut and Massachusetts. In 1652, Providence prohibited indentured servitude for periods of longer than 10 years. This statute constituted the first anti-slavery law in the United States, though there is no evidence the prohibition was ever enforced. However,
2415-607: Is 80 °F (26.7 °C) on June 6, 1925. Temperature readings of 0 °F or −17.8 °C or lower are uncommon in Providence and generally occur once every several years. The year which had the most days with a temperature reading of zero degrees or lower was 2015 with eight days total—one day in January and seven days in February. Conversely, temperature readings of 100 °F or 37.8 °C or higher are even rarer, and
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#17328020869892530-466: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Providence, Rhode Island Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island . The county seat of Providence County , it is one of the oldest cities in New England , founded in 1636 by Roger Williams , a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts Bay Colony . He named
2645-459: Is also a memorial to the victims of the infamous Witch Trials at Proctor's Ledge, the execution site from that time. The memorial is "meant to be a place of reflection" for the city. In 2000, the replica tall ship Friendship of Salem was finished and sailed to Salem Harbor, where she sits today. The Friendship of Salem is a reconstruction of a 171-foot (52 m) three-masted East Indiaman trading ship, originally built in 1797, which traveled
2760-468: Is based in trade, transportation, utilities, and educational and health services. As the capital of Rhode Island, the city's economy additionally consists of government services, with approximately 70,000 jobs. The unemployment rate in the city is 5.0% as of August 2022, compared to a national rate of 3.8%. Prominent companies headquartered in Providence include Fortune 500 Textron , an advanced technologies industrial conglomerate; United Natural Foods ,
2875-529: Is compact—characteristic of eastern seaboard cities that developed prior to use of the automobile. The street layout of the city is irregular; more than one thousand streets run haphazardly, connecting and radiating from traditionally bustling places such as Market Square . Downtown Providence has numerous 19th-century mercantile buildings in the Federal and Victorian architectural styles, as well as several postmodern and modernist buildings. In particular,
2990-599: Is divided by its natural features into several small neighborhoods. The Salem Neck neighborhood lies northeast of downtown, and North Salem lies to the west of it, on the other side of the North River. South Salem is south of the South River, lying mostly along the banks of Salem Harbor southward. Downtown Salem lies 15 miles (24 km) northeast of Boston , 16 miles (26 km) southwest of Gloucester and Cape Ann , and 19 miles (31 km) southeast of Lawrence ,
3105-591: Is home to the Rhode Island Convention Center , which opened in December 1993. Along with a hotel, the convention center is connected to the Providence Place Mall , a major retail center, through a skywalk . Much of Providence culture is synonymous with the culture of Rhode Island as a whole. Like the state, the city has a non-rhotic accent that can be heard on local media. Providence also shares Rhode Island's affinity for coffee, with
3220-744: Is home to the famous roadside attraction Big Blue Bug , the world's largest termite and mascot of eponymous Big Blue Bug Solutions . Roger Williams Park contains a zoo , a botanical center , and the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium . Providence is home to the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League , who play at the Amica Mutual Pavilion . From 1926 to 1972, the AHL's Providence Reds (renamed
3335-430: Is its history of witchcraft allegations, which started with Abigail Williams , Betty Parris , and their friends playing "with a Venus glase & an Egg" to learn "what trade their sweet harts should be of." The infamous Salem witch trials began in 1692, and 19 people were executed by hanging because of the false accusations; Giles Corey was pressed to death for refusing to plead innocent or guilty, thus avoiding
3450-474: Is known in underground music circles. Providence is also home to the Providence Improv Guild , an improvisational theatre that has weekly performances and offers improv and sketch comedy classes, and AS220 , a long-standing non-profit arts center with exhibition, educational, and performance spaces, as well as live-work studios. A multi-day annual outdoor arts festival, PVDFest, features
3565-513: Is land and 9.9 square miles (26 km ), or 55.09%, is water. Salem lies on Massachusetts Bay between Salem Harbor, which divides the city from much of neighboring Marblehead to the southeast, and Beverly Harbor, which divides the city from Beverly along with the Danvers River, which feeds into the harbor. Between the two harbors lies Salem Neck and Winter Island, which are divided from each other by Cat Cove, Smith Pool (located between
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3680-630: Is land and the remaining 2.1 square miles (5.4 km ) is water (roughly 10%). Providence is located at the head of Narragansett Bay , with the Providence River running into the bay through the center of the city, formed by the confluence of the Moshassuck and Woonasquatucket Rivers. The Waterplace Park amphitheater and riverwalks line the river's banks through Downtown . Providence is one of many cities claimed to be founded on seven hills like Rome. As with many cities worldwide,
3795-411: Is land reclaimed in the 1970s from a mass of railroad tracks referred to colloquially as the "Chinese Wall". This part of Downtown is characterized by open spaces, wide roads, and landscaping. The streetscape of much of historic downtown has retained a similar appearance since the early 20th century. Many of the state's tallest buildings are found here. At 426 feet (130 m), the city's largest structure
3910-539: Is much lower than the percentages of these groups in Rhode Island as a whole. The city also has a sizable Jewish community, estimated at 10,500 in 2012, or roughly 5% of the city's population. In 2020, people of Hispanic or Latino origin composed 43.5% of the city's population. They formed a majority of city public school students as of 2007. The majority of Hispanics in Providence are of Dominican descent. Numbering roughly 25,000 and constituting roughly half of
4025-447: Is one of the oldest medical societies in the nation. The building served as their headquarters from 1912 to 2002. The building was renovated in 2010 and is now occupied by Moran Shipping Agencies Inc. This article about a National Register of Historic Places listing in Providence , Rhode Island is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article related to a building or structure in Providence, Rhode Island
4140-434: Is the art deco Industrial National Bank Building . The building contrasts with the city's second tallest structure— One Financial Plaza —which is designed in the modernist style. Other core buildings of the Providence skyline are the postmodern 50 Kennedy Plaza and late modern Textron Tower . Downtown is also the home of the historic Providence Biltmore hotel and Westminster Arcade —the oldest enclosed shopping mall in
4255-414: Is the coldest month with a daily mean of 29.2 °F (−1.6 °C) and low temperatures dropping to 10 °F (−12 °C) or lower an average of 11 days per winter. while. Extremes range from −17 °F or −27.2 °C on February 9, 1934 to 104 °F or 40 °C on August 2, 1975; the record cold daily maximum is 1 °F (−17.2 °C) on February 5, 1918, while the record warm daily minimum
4370-407: Is the furthest point from residences and where the winds are the strongest. The 30-acre park has been open to the public since the early 1970s. In 2011, a master plan was developed with help from the planning and design firm, Cecil Group of Boston and Bioengineering Group of Salem. The City of Salem paid $ 45,000 in federal money. In the long term, the projected cost to rehabilitate just the barracks
4485-493: Is the second largest metropolitan area in New England by a large margin with over 1.6 million residents, nearly 30% larger than metro Hartford . Providence was settled in June 1636 by Puritan theologian Roger Williams and grew into one of the original Thirteen Colonies . As a minister in the Massachusetts Bay Colony , Williams had advocated the separation of church and state and condemned colonists' confiscation of land from
4600-529: The American Civil War , as many had ties to Southern cotton and the slave trade. Despite ambivalence concerning the war, the number of military volunteers routinely exceeded quota, and the city's manufacturing proved invaluable to the Union. Providence thrived after the war, and waves of immigrants brought the population from 54,595 in 1865 to 175,597 by 1900. By the early 1900s, Providence was one of
4715-530: The North End (Italian), Fox Point (Portuguese), West End (mainly Central American and Asian), and Smith Hill (Irish). There are also many dedicated community organizations and arts associations located in the city. The city gained the reputation as one of the most active and growing gay and lesbian communities in the Northeast. The rate of reported gay and lesbian relationships is 75% higher than
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4830-617: The Northeastern megacity has a large population of feral pigeons ( Columba livia ). Although expecting Providence's population genetics to be continuous with the larger megacity, Carlen & Munshi-South 2020 find Providence and Boston share one population and the rest of the region shares another. This is likely due to the intervening low urbanization zone in western Connecticut . Providence has 25 official neighborhoods, though these neighborhoods are often grouped together and referred to collectively: Geographically, Providence
4945-685: The Peabody Essex Museum . It features historic residential neighborhoods in the Federal Street District and the Charter Street Historic District . The city's population was 44,480 at the 2020 census . Salem is widely noted for the Salem witch trials of 1692, which strongly informs the city's cultural identity into the present. Some of Salem's police cars are adorned with witch logos,
5060-663: The Peirce-Nichols House and Hamilton Hall . The Witch House or Jonathan Corwin House ( c. 1642 ) is also located in the district. Samuel McIntire's house and workshop were located at 31 Summer Street in what is now the Samuel McIntire Historic District . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 18.1 square miles (47 km ), of which 8.1 square miles (21 km )
5175-647: The Puritan Great Migration . In 1639, Endecott, among others, signed the building contract for enlarging the meeting house in Town House Square for the first church in Salem. This document remains part of the town records at City Hall. He was active in the affairs of the town throughout his life. Samuel Skelton was the first pastor of the First Church of Salem , which is the original Puritan church in America. Endecott already had
5290-693: The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra , as well as groups such as The American Band , once associated with noted American composer David Wallis Reeves . Providence hosts several performing arts centers, such as the Veterans Memorial Auditorium , the Providence Performing Arts Center , and Festival Ballet Providence . The city's underground music is centered on artist-run spaces such as the now-defunct Fort Thunder and
5405-669: The War of 1812 . Following the American Revolution , many ships used as privateers were too large for short voyages in the coasting trade, and their owners determined to open new avenues of trade to distant countries. The young men of the town, fresh from service on the armed ships of Salem, were eager to embark in such ventures. Captain Nathaniel Silsbee, his first mate Charles Derby, and second mate Richard J. Cleveland were not yet twenty years old when they set sail on
5520-515: The West Indies , imported sugar and molasses from the West Indies , tea from China, and products depicted on the city seal from the East Indies —in particular Sumatran pepper. Salem ships also visited Africa in the slave trade— Zanzibar in particular. They also traveled to Russia , Japan , and Australia . The sail frigate USS Essex was built at one of Enos Briggs 's shipyards on Winter Island in 1799. The neutrality of
5635-447: The poverty line . Of residents in poverty, the largest concentrations are found in the city's Olneyville, and Upper and Lower South Providence areas. Poverty has affected children at a disproportionately higher rate, with 40.1% of those under the age of 18 living below the poverty line. These residents are concentrated west of Downtown in the neighborhoods of Hartford, Federal Hill, and Olneyville. Over one third of Providence's economy
5750-488: The triangular trade . Beginning in 1701 there was a steady political and social effort in Massachusetts to end slavery and by 1770 the practice was all but eliminated, with many slaves winning their freedom. In 1768, Samuel Hall established Salem's first print shop and founded The Essex Gazette Salem's first newspaper, and the third to emerge in Massachusetts. One of the most widely known aspects of Salem
5865-549: The 1940s, just prior to the nationwide period of rapid suburbanization . The Providence metropolitan area includes Providence, Fall River, Massachusetts , and Warwick , and is estimated to have a population of 1,622,520. In 2006, this area was officially added to the Boston Combined Statistical Area (CSA), the sixth-largest CSA in the country . In recent years, Providence has experienced a sizable growth in its under-18 population. The median age of
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#17328020869895980-432: The 1950s to the 1980s, Providence was a notorious bastion of organized crime. From 1975 until 1982, $ 606 million of local and national community development funds were invested throughout the city. In the 1990s, the city pushed for revitalization, completing a number of major development projects. Among these were the realignment of railroad tracks; the relocation of rivers, creation of Waterplace Park , and development of
6095-499: The 19th century. Boston and New York City eclipsed Salem and its silting harbor. Consequently, the city turned to manufacturing. Industries included tanneries , shoe factories, and the Naumkeag Steam Cotton Company. The Great Salem Fire of 1914 destroyed over 400 homes and left 3,500 families homeless but spared the historic concentration of Federal architecture on Chestnut Street. A memorial plaque on
6210-617: The American cause, including Francis Cabot, William Pynchon, Thomas Barnard, E. A. Holyoke, and William Pickman. During the American Revolutionary War , the town became a center for privateering. The documentation is incomplete, but about 1,700 Letters of Marque were granted during that time, issued on a per-voyage basis. Nearly 800 vessels were commissioned as privateers and are credited with capturing or destroying about 600 British ships. Privateering resumed during
6325-685: The Americas . The peninsula that would become Salem was known as Naumkeag (alternate spellings Naemkeck, Nahumkek, Neumkeage ) by the native people who lived there at the time of contact in the early 1600s. Naumkeag was a major settlement for the indigenous group that controlled territory from the Merrimack to the Mystic rivers. The English and other Europeans referred to them as the Naumkeag people . There are probable indigenous settlement sites near
6440-716: The British Crown on May 4, 1776. It was also the last of the Thirteen States to ratify the United States Constitution on May 29, 1790, once assurances were made that a Bill of Rights would become part of the Constitution. Following the war, Providence was the nation's ninth-largest city with 7,614 people. The economy shifted from maritime endeavors to manufacturing, in particular machinery, tools, silverware, jewelry, and textiles. By
6555-611: The City of Salem as a historic house museum. Hamilton Hall is located on Chestnut Street, where many grand mansions can be traced to the roots of the Old China Trade . Hamilton Hall was built in 1805 by Samuel McIntire and is considered one of his best pieces. It was declared a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service in 1970. In recent years, tourism has been an occasional source of debate in
6670-454: The City of Salem completed plans for the 30-acre (12 ha) Winter Island Park and squared off against residents who are against bringing two power-generating windmills to the tip of Winter Island. The Renewable Energy Task Force, along with the Energy and Sustainability Manager, Paul Marquis, have recommended the construction of a 1.5-megawatt power turbine at the tip of Winter Island, which
6785-549: The English settlers at this point had the numerical superiority to defeat Metacomet's indigenous coalition. It was not until 1686, when the Massachusetts Bay Colony Charter was recalled by King James II in the creation of the Dominion of New England that Wenepoykin's heirs pressed their claim to the land of Salem, for which they were paid twenty pounds. Colonists settled Naumkeag in 1626 when
6900-407: The Grinnell Corporation, the Gorham Manufacturing Company, Nicholson File, and the Fruit of the Loom textile company. The manufacturing of jewelry and costume jewelry emerged as a dominant local industry. In the 1960s, jewelry trade magazines referred to Providence as "the jewelry capital of the world." In 1922, it was affected by the 1922 New England Textile Strike , shutting down the mills in
7015-399: The Indians. For these and other "diverse, new, and dangerous opinions," he was convicted of sedition and heresy and banished from the colony. Williams and others established a settlement in Rumford, Rhode Island . The group later moved down the Seekonk River , around Fox Point and up the Providence River to the confluence of the Moshassuck and Woonasquatucket Rivers. The settlement
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#17328020869897130-418: The Rhode Island General Assembly legalized African and Native American slavery throughout the colony in 1703, and Providence merchants' participation in the slave trade helped turn the city into a major port. By 1755, enslaved people made up 8% of Providence's population, below the 10% average for colonial Rhode Island, but above the 5% average for the northern colonies. In March 1676, Providence Plantations
7245-501: The Rhode Island Reds in their last years) played at the Rhode Island Auditorium . In 1972, the team relocated to the Providence Civic Center, where they played until moving to Binghamton, New York , in 1977. Salem, Massachusetts Salem ( / ˈ s eɪ l ə m / SAY -ləm ) is a historic coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts , United States, located on the North Shore of Greater Boston . Continuous settlement by Europeans began in 1626 with English colonists. Salem
7360-407: The Second Corps of Cadets gather in front of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, where the body of their founder, Stephen Abbott, is buried. They lay a wreath, play " Taps " and fire a 21-gun salute . In another annual commemoration, soldiers gather at Old Salem Armory to honor soldiers who were killed in the Battles of Lexington and Concord . On April 14, 2012, Salem celebrated the 375th anniversary of
7475-408: The U.S. The Rhode Island School of Design Museum contains the 20th-largest collection in the United States. The Providence Athenæum is the fourth oldest library in the United States, in addition to the Providence Public Library and the nine branches of the Providence Community Library. Edgar Allan Poe frequented the library, and met and courted Sarah Helen Whitman there. H. P. Lovecraft
7590-460: The U.S. The city's southern waterfront, away from the downtown core, is the location of oil tanks, ferry and sailing docks, power plants, and nightclubs. The Russian Submarine Museum was located here until 2008, when the submarine sank. The Fox Point Hurricane Barrier is also found here, built to protect Providence from storm surge like those endured by the city during the 1938 New England Hurricane and 1954 Hurricane Carol . Providence has
7705-448: The United States was tested during the Napoleonic Wars . After the Chesapeake–Leopard affair , Congress passed the Embargo Act of 1807 . President Thomas Jefferson closed all ports, an economic blow to the seaport town of Salem. The embargo was the starting point on the path to the War of 1812 . Both the United Kingdom and France imposed trade restrictions to weaken each other's economies. This disrupted American trade and tested
7820-544: The United States' neutrality. Royal Navy ships frequently interdicted U.S. merchant ships trading with France and seized their goods, and at times would impress American sailors. The Federal period (1788–1845) marks the beginning of U.S. international relations. Salem had established trade relations with merchants in distant lands, which were a source of livelihood and prosperity for many. Charles Endicott, master of Salem merchantman Friendship , returned in 1831 to report Sumatran natives had plundered his ship, murdering
7935-402: The Witch Memorial and Burying Point Cemetery, the second oldest burying ground in the United States. The Gedney House is a historic house museum built c. 1665 and is the 2nd oldest house in Salem. One of the most popular houses in Salem is The Witch House , the only structure in Salem with direct ties to the Salem witch trials of 1692. The Witch House is owned and operated by
8050-458: The area in honor of "God's merciful Providence" which he believed was responsible for revealing such a haven for him and his followers. The city developed as a busy port, as it is situated at the mouth of the Providence River at the head of Narragansett Bay . Providence was one of the first cities in the country to industrialize and became noted for its textile manufacturing and subsequent machine tool, jewelry, and silverware industries. Today,
8165-455: The city has multiracial ancestry. American Indians and Pacific Islanders make up the remaining 0.9%. Providence has a considerable community of immigrants from various Portuguese-speaking countries, especially Portugal, Brazil, and Cape Verde . These residents are concentrated in the Washington Park and Fox Point neighborhoods. Portuguese is the city's third-largest European ethnicity, after Italian and Irish. Cape Verdeans compose 2% of
8280-444: The city of Providence is home to eight hospitals and eight institutions of higher learning which have shifted the city's economy into service industries, though it still retains some manufacturing activity. At the 2020 census , Providence had a population of 190,934, making it the third-most-populous city in New England after Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts . The Providence metropolitan area , which extends into Massachusetts,
8395-556: The city over an attempted wage cut and hours increase. The city began to see a decline by the mid-1920s as manufacturing industries began to shut down. It was deeply affected by the Great Depression , which left more than a third of the city's labor force unemployed. The subsequent Recession of 1937–1938 was immediately followed by the New England Hurricane of 1938 , which flooded downtown. The hurricane
8510-480: The city population lives below the poverty line. Recent increases in real estate values have further exacerbated problems for those at marginal income levels, mirroring a statewide housing affordability crisis. From 2004 to 2005, Providence saw the highest rise in median housing price of any city in the United States. The Providence city limits enclose a small geographical region with a total area of 20.5 square miles (53 km ); 18.5 square miles (48 km ) of it
8625-411: The city was 28 years, while the largest age cohort is 20- to 24-year-olds as of 2000. Providence has a racially and ethnically diverse population. In 2020, white Americans formed 53.1% of the population, including a sizable white Hispanic community. Non-Hispanic whites were 33.8% of the total population, down from 89.5% in 1970. Providence has had a substantial Italian American population since
8740-493: The city's Hispanic population, Providence's Dominican community is the fifth largest in the United States. Other Hispanic groups present in sizable numbers include Puerto Ricans, Guatemalans, and Colombians. Hispanics are widespread in significant numbers in most of Providence, but most concentrated in the neighborhoods of Elmwood , the West End, and Upper and Lower South Providence . African Americans constitute 16.1% of
8855-656: The city's population, with their greatest concentrations found in Mount Hope and the Upper and Lower South Providence neighborhoods. Providence has small Liberian and Haitian communities in the city. Liberians compose 0.4% of the population; the city is home to one of the largest Liberian immigrant populations in the country. Asian-Americans constitute 5.6% of Providence's population. The largest Asian groups are Cambodians (1.7%), Chinese (1.1%), Indian Americans (0.7%), Laotians (0.6%), and Koreans (0.6%). Another 6% of
8970-414: The city's population. The per capita income as of the 2000 census was $ 15,525, which is well below both the state average of $ 29,113 and the national average of $ 21,587. The median income for a household was $ 26,867, and the median income for a family in Providence was $ 32,058,. The city has one of the highest rates of poverty in the nation with 29.1% of the population and 23.9% of families living below
9085-435: The city, with some residents arguing the city should downplay witch tourism and market itself as a more upscale cultural center. In 2005, the conflict came to a head over plans by the cable television network TV Land to erect a bronze statue of Elizabeth Montgomery , who played the comic witch "Samantha" in the 1960s series Bewitched . A few special episodes of the series were actually filmed in Salem, and TV Land said that
9200-501: The diplomacy of Conant and Endecott. To recognize this peaceful transition to the new government, the name of the settlement was changed to Salem, the hellenized name of Shalem (שָׁלֵם), the royal city of Melchizedek , which is identified with Jerusalem . In 1628, Endecott ordered that the Great House be moved from Cape Ann, reassembling it on Washington Street north of Church Street. Francis Higginson wrote that "we found
9315-550: The drawbridge at the North River on North Street, preventing British Colonel Alexander Leslie and his 300 troops of the 64th Regiment of Foot from seizing stores and ammunition hidden in North Salem. Both parties came to an agreement and no blood was shed that day, but war broke out at Lexington and Concord soon after. A group of prominent merchants with ties to Salem published a statement retracting what some interpreted as Loyalist leanings and professing their dedication to
9430-546: The extraordinary profit of seven hundred per cent. The Empress of China , formerly a privateer, was refitted as the first American ship to sail from New York to China . By 1790, Salem had become the sixth-largest city in the country, and a world-famous seaport —particularly in the China Trade . It had a large cod fishing industry, conducted off the Newfoundland Banks. It exported codfish to Europe and
9545-423: The first muster on Salem Common, with more than 1,000 troops taking part in ceremonies and a parade. Samuel McIntire was one of the first architects in the United States, and his work is a prime example of early Federal-style architecture . The Samuel McIntire Historic District is one of the largest concentrations of 17th and 18th century domestic structures in America. It includes McIntire commissions such as
9660-622: The first officer and two crewmen. Following public outcry, President Andrew Jackson ordered the Potomac on the First Sumatran Expedition , which departed New York City on August 19, 1831. In another direction, diplomat Edmund Roberts negotiated a treaty with Said bin Sultan, Sultan of Muscat and Oman on September 21, 1833. In 1837, the sultan moved his main place of residence to Zanzibar and welcomed Richard Waters,
9775-582: The head of Narragansett Bay makes it vulnerable to storm surges. Hurricane Carol in 1954 and the 1938 Hurricane were particularly damaging. See or edit raw graph data . As of the 2000 United States census , Providence's population consisted of 173,618 people, 162,389 households, and 35,859 families. The population density was 9,401.7 inhabitants per square mile (3,630.0/km ), characteristic of other small cities in New England such as New Haven, Connecticut ; Springfield, Massachusetts ; and Hartford, Connecticut . The city's population peaked in
9890-606: The most coffee and doughnut shops per capita of any city in the country. Providence is also reputed to have the highest number of restaurants per capita of major U.S. cities. During the summer months, the city regularly hosts WaterFire , an environmental art installation that consists of about 100 bonfires which blaze just above the surface of the three rivers that pass through the middle of Downtown Providence. There are multiple WaterFire events that are accompanied by various pieces of classical and world music . Providence has several ethnic neighborhoods, notably Federal Hill and
10005-515: The mouths of the North, South, and Forest rivers in Salem. The contact period was a disastrous time for the Naumkeag. Many Naumkeag died in a war with the Tarrantine and as a result of a smallpox epidemic in 1617–1619, including their powerful sachem Nanepashemet . The disease had probably been contracted by members who came into contact with European fishermen or explorers. Their strength
10120-629: The national average. Former mayor David Cicilline won his election running as an openly gay man. Former Mayor Buddy Cianci instituted the position of Mayor's Liaison to the Gay and Lesbian community in the 1990s. and Providence is home to the largest gay bathhouse in New England. The city is the home of the Tony Award -winning theater group Trinity Repertory Company , the Providence Black Repertory Company , and
10235-586: The noose and instead dying an innocent man. Salem is also significant in legal history as the site of the Dorothy Talbye Trial , where a mentally ill woman was hanged for murdering her daughter because Massachusetts made no distinction at the time between insanity and criminal behavior. William Hathorne was a prosperous entrepreneur in early Salem and became one of its leading citizens. He led troops to victory in King Philip's War , served as
10350-462: The other county seat of Essex County. Salem is bordered by Beverly to the north, Danvers to the northwest, Peabody to the west, Lynn to the south, Swampscott to the southeast, and Marblehead to the southeast. The town's water rights extend along a channel into Massachusetts Bay between the water rights of Marblehead and Beverly. According to the Köppen climate classification , Salem has either
10465-505: The population (9.1% Dominican , 2.9% Puerto Rican , 0.5% Mexican , 0.3% Guatemalan ). Non-Hispanic Whites were 75.9% of the population in 2010, compared to 95.9% in 1980. There were 17,492 households, out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.5% were non-families. Of all households 34.9% were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who
10580-702: The sites of race riots in 1824 and 1831. Providence residents ratified a city charter in 1831 as the population passed 17,000. The seat of city government was located in the Market House in Market Square from 1832 to 1878, which was the geographic and social center of the city. The city offices soon outgrew this building, and the City Council resolved to create a permanent municipal building in 1845. The city offices moved into Providence City Hall in 1878. Local politics split over slavery during
10695-424: The start of the 20th century, Providence hosted some of the largest manufacturing plants in the country, including Brown & Sharpe , Nicholson File , and Gorham Manufacturing Company . The city's industries attracted many immigrants from Ireland, Germany, Sweden, England, Italy, Portugal, Cape Verde, and French Canada. These economic and demographic shifts caused social strife. Hard Scrabble and Snow Town were
10810-488: The start of the 20th century, with 14% of the population claiming Italian ancestry. Italian influence manifests itself in Providence's ' Little Italy ' in Federal Hill. Irish immigrants have also had considerable influence on the city's history, with 8% of residents claiming Irish heritage. The percentages of people claiming Irish and Italian ancestry, though high, has gone down considerably from historical highs, and
10925-560: The station's primary areas of responsibility. During its first year of operation, Salem crews performed 26 medical evacuations. They flew in all kinds of weather, and the radio direction capabilities of the aircraft were of significant value in locating vessels in distress. During World War II (1939–1945), air crews from Salem flew neutrality patrols along the coast, and the Air Station roster grew to 37 aircraft. Anti-submarine patrols flew regularly. In October 1944, Air Station Salem
11040-408: The statue commemorated the 35th anniversary of those episodes. The statue was sculpted by StudioEIS under the direction of brothers Elliott and Ivan Schwartz. Many felt the statue was good fun and appropriate to a city that promotes itself as "The Witch City", and contains a street named "Witch Way". Others objected to the use of public property for what was transparently commercial promotion. There
11155-569: The top 100 until the 20th century. As of the census of 2010, there were 41,340 people, 19,130 households, and 9,708 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,986.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,925.1/km ). There were 18,175 housing units at an average density of 2,242.7 per square mile (865.9/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 81.5% White , 4.9% African American , 0.2% Native American , 2.6% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 6.7% from other races , and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.6% of
11270-485: The two land causeways to Winter Island), and Juniper Cove. The city is further divided by Collins Cove and the inlet to the North River. The Forest River flows through the southern end of town, along with Strong Water Brook, which feeds Spring Pond at the town's southwestern corner. The town has several parks, as well as conservation land along the Forest River and Camp Lion, which lies east of Spring Pond . The city
11385-486: The wealthiest cities in the United States. Immigrant labor powered one of the nation's largest industrial manufacturing centers. Providence was a major manufacturer of industrial products, from steam engines to precision tools to silverware, screws, and textiles. Giant companies were based in or near Providence, such as Brown & Sharpe, the Corliss Steam Engine Company, Babcock & Wilcox ,
11500-532: The world over a dozen times and returned to Salem after each voyage with goods from all over the world. The original was taken by the British during the War of 1812, then stripped and sold in pieces. In 2006, with the assistance of a 1.6 million dollar grant and additional funds provided by the City of Salem, Mayor Driscoll launched The Nathaniel Bowditch , a 92-foot catamaran with a top speed of 30 knots which makes
11615-631: The year with the most days in this category was 1944 with three days, all of which were in August. Monthly precipitation in Providence ranges from a high of 4.43 inches (112.5 mm) in March to a low of 3.17 inches (80.5 mm) in July. In general, precipitation levels are slightly less in the summer months than the winter months, when nor'easters can cause significant snowfall on occasion. Hurricanes have impacted Providence, and Providence's location at
11730-408: Was $ 1.5 million. But in the short term, there are multiple lower-cost items, like a proposed $ 15,000 kayak dock or $ 50,000 to relocate and improve the bathhouse. This is a very important project since Fort Pickering guarded Salem Harbor as far back as the 17th century. In 1637, the first muster was held on Salem Common , where for the first time a regiment of militia drilled for the common defense of
11845-450: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.95. In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.2% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males. The median income for
11960-532: Was also a regular patron. The Bank Newport City Center is located near Kennedy Plaza in the Downtown district, connected by pedestrian tunnel to Waterplace Park, a cobblestone and concrete park below street traffic that abuts Providence's three rivers. Another downtown landmark is the Providence Biltmore , a historic hotel which stands adjacent to Kennedy Plaza. The southern part of the city
12075-635: Was among the wealthiest and most celebrated of post-Revolutionary merchants in Salem. Derby was also the owner of the Grand Turk, the first New England vessel to trade with China and the second, after the Empress of China, to sail from the United States. Thomas H. Perkins was his supercargo and established strong ties with the Chinese and garnered the Forbes fortune through his illegal opium sales. Salem
12190-508: Was burned to the ground by the Narragansetts during King Philip's War . Later in the year, the Rhode Island legislature formally rebuked the other colonies for provoking the war. In 1770, Brown University moved to Providence from nearby Warren . At the time, the college was known as Rhode Island College and occupied a single building on College Hill . The college's choice to relocate to Providence as opposed to Newport symbolized
12305-543: Was deep enough to host a seadrome with three sea lanes, offering a variety of take-off headings irrespective of wind direction unless there was a strong steady wind from the east. This produced enormous waves that swept into the mouth of the harbor and hampered water operations. When the seadrome was too rough, returning amphibian aircraft used the Naval Auxiliary Air Facility Beverly . Salem Air Station moved to Cape Cod in 1970. In 2011,
12420-620: Was designated as the first Air-Sea Rescue station on the eastern seaboard. The Martin PBM Mariner , a hold-over from the war, became the primary rescue aircraft. In the mid-1950s, helicopters came, as did Grumman HU-16 Albatross amphibious flying boats (UFs). The air station's missions included search and rescue, law enforcement, counting migratory waterfowl for the U.S. Biological Survey, and assisting icebound islands by delivering provisions. The station's surviving facilities are part of Salem's Winter Island Marine Park. Salem Harbor
12535-446: Was established at Juniper Point, a peninsula jutting into the harbor. Prosperity left the city with a wealth of fine architecture, including Federal-style mansions designed by one of America's first architects , Samuel McIntire, for whom the city's largest historic district is named. These homes and mansions now make up the greatest concentrations of notable pre-1900 domestic structures in the United States. Shipping declined throughout
12650-573: Was founded by Williams in 1638, as well as the Old State House which served as the state's capitol from 1762 to 1904. Nearby is Roger Williams National Memorial. The dome of the State House is the fourth-largest self-supporting marble dome in the world and the second-largest marble dome after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The Westminster Arcade is the oldest enclosed shopping center in
12765-442: Was incorporated as a city on March 23, 1836, and adopted a city seal in 1839 with the motto " Divitis Indiae usque ad ultimum sinum ", Latin for "To the rich East Indies until the last lap." Nathaniel Hawthorne was overseer of Salem's port from 1846 until 1849. He worked in the U.S. Custom House across the street from the port near Pickering Wharf, his setting for the beginning of The Scarlet Letter . In 1858, an amusement park
12880-520: Was named after "God's merciful Providence." Providence lacked a royal charter, unlike Salem and Boston. The settlers thus organized themselves, allotting tracts on the eastern side of the Providence River in 1638 allowing roughly six acres each. These home lots extended from Towne Street (now South Main Street) to Hope Street. Over the following two decades, Providence Plantations grew into
12995-501: Was one of the most significant seaports trading commodities in early American history . Prior to the dissolution of county governments in Massachusetts in 1999, it served as one of two county seats for Essex County, alongside Lawrence . Today, Salem is a residential and tourist area that is home to the House of Seven Gables , Salem State University , Pioneer Village , the Salem Maritime National Historic Site , Salem Willows Park , and
13110-468: Was particularly destructive to the struggling textile industry, with many mills never reopening following the storm. Providence's population declined from a peak of 253,504 in 1940 to only 179,213 in 1970, as the white middle class moved to the suburbs. From the 1940s to 1970s, white middle class residents vacated Providence faster than any other American city other than Detroit . The remainder of these residents were disproportionately poor and elderly. From
13225-486: Was reduced just prior to the arrival of English settlers in 1626 to what became modern-day Salem. In 1633, a second smallpox epidemic struck, killing two of Nanepashemet's successors, Montowompate and Wonohaquaham , and leaving his remaining heir Wenepoykin scarred. So it was that English settlers met little resistance on their arrival in Salem. Although Wenepoykin would join Metacomet in King Philip's War in 1675,
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