Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is a city of 191,767 people in Providence County, Rhode Island, founded in 1636.
Why visit Providence
Townapedia lists 138 museums and landmarks, 62 parks and trails, 250 places to eat, 16 places to stay and 19 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Farm Fresh Providence Farmers Market, Lindemann Performing Arts Center, WaterFire Arts Center and All Saints Memorial Church.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 22°F, and about 37 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Providence
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Providence
Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It is the third-most populous city in New England, with a population of 190,934 at the 2020 census. The Providence metropolitan area extends into Massachusetts and has approximately 1.7 million residents, making it the 39th-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. It is the county seat of Providence County.
From the Wikipedia article Providence, Rhode Island (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do19
7 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks138
All Saints Memorial Church
Monument and historic site · Episcopal · National Register of Historic Places
Church building in Providence, Rhode Island
Pekin Street Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Historic district bounded by Pekin and Candace Streets, Douglas and Chalkstone Avenues in Providence, Rhode Island
Pine Street Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic district in Rhode Island, United States
Union Trust Company Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Providence office building
A.F. Cappelli Block
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic mixed-use commercial and residential building in Providence, Rhode Island
American Brewing Company Plant
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic industrial building in Providence, Rhode Island, USA
American Street School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic school in Providence, Rhode Island
American Supply Company Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.4 mi
United States historic place
Andrew Dickhaut Cottages Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic district à Providence, Rhode Island
Bridgham–Arch–Wilson Streets Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Historic district in Rhode Island, United States
Broadway-Armory Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic district in Providence, Rhode Island
126 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds62
Amica Mutual Pavilion
Sports field and stadium
1 LaSalle Square, Providence
50 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes250
Baja's Taqueria
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.0 mi
223 Thayer Street, Providence
Mo-Th,Su 10:00-24:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-26:00
Abu Yarub Al-Shami
Restaurant · Middle Eastern · 1.0 mi
225 Thayer Street, Providence
Su 12:00-20:30; Mo-Th 11:30-20:30; Fr-Sa 11:30-21:30
Campus Fine Wines
Brewery and winery · 1.1 mi
In-store, curbside, and delivery sales
127 Brook Street, Providence
Mo-We 11:00-22:00; Th-Sa 10:00-22:00; Su 12:00-18:00
Den Den Café Asiana
Restaurant · Korean, Japanese · 0.7 mi
161 Benefit Street, Providence
Mo-Su 11:00-22:00
Dolores
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.1 mi
100 Hope Street, Providence
Mo,We 16:00-22:00; Th-Sa 16:00-23:30; Su 11:00-15:00
East Side Pockets
Restaurant · Middle Eastern · 1.0 mi
278 Thayer Street, Providence
Mo-Sa 10:00-02:00, Su 10:00-22:00
Fish Co.
Restaurant · Seafood · 0.9 mi
15 Bridge Street, Providence
Tu-We 16:00-23:00; Th 16:00-01:00; Fr-Sa 16:00-02:00; Su 13:00-01:00
Flatbread Company
Restaurant · Pizza · 1.1 mi
161 Cushing Street, Providence
Mo-We, Su 10:30-21:00; Th-Sa 11:30-22:00
Jahunger
Restaurant · Uyghur · 1.2 mi
333 Wickenden Street, Providence
Tu-Fr 17:00-21:30; Sa 12:00-21:30; Su 12:00-19:30
238 more on the map.
History
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 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 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 a self-sufficient agricultural and fishing settlement, though its lands were difficult to farm and its borders were disputed with Connecticut and Massachusetts.
From the History section of Providence, Rhode Island on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay16
Churches and places of worship54
Bell Street Chapel
Place of worship · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
5 Bell Street, Providence
Beneficent Congregational Church
Church · Congregational · National Register of Historic Places
First Baptist Church in America
Church · Baptist · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
75 North Main Street, Providence
Central Congregational Church
Church · Congregational · 1.2 mi
296 Angell Street
Shopping40
Gas and EV charging12
Schools, colleges and libraries86
Healthcare14
Providence Community Heatlh Center: Central
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.8 mi
239 Cranston Street, Providence
Map of Providence
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 22°F | 4.0 in | 10.3 in |
| Feb | 40°F | 24°F | 3.4 in | 10.5 in |
| Mar | 48°F | 30°F | 4.9 in | 6.4 in |
| Apr | 59°F | 40°F | 4.3 in | 0.6 in |
| May | 69°F | 49°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 59°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 65°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 64°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 75°F | 56°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 64°F | 45°F | 4.2 in | 0.2 in |
| Nov | 53°F | 36°F | 4.3 in | 1.0 in |
| Dec | 43°F | 28°F | 4.7 in | 7.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Providence T F Green Ap Hcn 72507 (7 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Providence County has had 17 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-03-20: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2024-03-20: Severe Storm And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2024-01-07: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2022-05-12: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2021-08-21: Hurricane Henri (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-30: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 7 miles away.
- Brockton 27 mi northeast, about 44 min by car
- New Bedford 27 mi southeast, about 44 min by car
- Worcester 37 mi northwest, about 59 min by car
- Quincy 37 mi northeast, about 59 min by car
- Norwich 39 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- Boston 41 mi northeast, about 1 h by car
- Cambridge 41 mi north, about 1 h by car
- Willimantic 42 mi west, about 1 h by car
- Storrs 43 mi west, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Lynn 51 mi northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Providence RI skyline, Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
- Holiday Inn Providence-Downtown renovation, Jef Nickerson from Providence, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Maury Edwards - Providence Bruins, Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- First Baptist Church in America from Angell St, Filetime, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bell Street Chapel Providence RI 2012, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 3.0
- All Saints Providence, Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), CC0
- ProvidenceRI PekinStreetHD 1, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- ProvidenceRI PineStreetHD 3, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Beneficent Congregational Church, Providence ii, Filetime, CC0
- ERI6268 (5608672041), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- ERI6200 (5603106863), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- American Hockey League ERI 5470 (5523765396), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- ERI6239 (5603125987), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- ERI6269 (5608673035), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- ERI6281 (5608692191), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- American Hockey League ERI 5471 (5523175383), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- ERI6307 (5622725414), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- P-Bruins Goal Celebration, Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- American Hockey League ERI 5534 (5523816650), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- ERI6259 (5608676129), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- ERI6290 (5609270968), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- ERI6301 (5622132143), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- American Hockey League ERI 5488 (5523203639), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- ERI6275 (5608697445), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- ERI6250 (5603126673), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- American Hockey League ERI 5519 (5523216331), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- ERI6233 (5603122193), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- ERI6274 (5609264160), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- ERI6321 (5622742238), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- American Hockey League ERI 5516 (5523210471), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- ERI6214 (5603700796), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- ERI6310 (5622149555), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- ERI6288 (5608695677), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- ERI6256 (5609259828), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- ERI6313 (5622158305), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- ERI6332 (5622751686), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- ERI6226 (5603701916), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- ERI6277 (5609274284), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- ERI6230 (5603699442), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
- American Hockey League ERI 5445 (5523158881), Sarah Connors, CC BY 2.0
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