I'm going to give you a bit of information about Providence, Rhode Island today. It is only about 30 minutes north of where I live. There are a lot of great restaurants in the Federal Hill area.The photos are: 1) the Providence Skyline, 2) Waterplace Park on the Providence River (in the downtown area and home to "Waterfire" - an evening set to music with burning braziers in the waters of the Providence River), 3) looking down Westminster Street, 4) the State Capitol Building, 5) the Industrial Trust Building (known as the "Superman Building" because of its resemblance to a building in the old "Adventures of Superman" TV series starring George Reeves), and 6) the Arch on Federal Hill (with its hanging sculpture of a Pignoli Cluster, an Italian symbol of prosperity).
Providence is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, and one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the estimated third-largest city in the New England region. Despite having an estimated population of 172,459 as of 2007, it anchors the 36th largest metropolitan population in the country, with an estimated MSA population of 1,600,856, exceeding that of Rhode Island by about 60% due to its reaching into southern Massachusetts. Situated at the mouth of the Providence River, on Narragansett Bay, the city's small footprint is crisscrossed by seemingly erratic streets and a rapidly changing demographic using them.
Providence was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a religious exile from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He named the area in honor of "God's merciful Providence" which he believed was responsible for his finding such a haven to settle. After being one of the first cities in the country to industrialize, Providence became noted for its jewelry and silverware industry. Today, Providence city proper alone is home to eight hospitals and seven institutions of higher learning, which has shifted the city's economy into service industries, though it still retains significant manufacturing work. The city was once nicknamed the "Beehive of Industry", while today "The Renaissance City" is more common, though as of 2000 census, its poverty rate was still among the ten highest for cities over 100,000.
Providence is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, and one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the estimated third-largest city in the New England region. Despite having an estimated population of 172,459 as of 2007, it anchors the 36th largest metropolitan population in the country, with an estimated MSA population of 1,600,856, exceeding that of Rhode Island by about 60% due to its reaching into southern Massachusetts. Situated at the mouth of the Providence River, on Narragansett Bay, the city's small footprint is crisscrossed by seemingly erratic streets and a rapidly changing demographic using them.
Providence was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a religious exile from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He named the area in honor of "God's merciful Providence" which he believed was responsible for his finding such a haven to settle. After being one of the first cities in the country to industrialize, Providence became noted for its jewelry and silverware industry. Today, Providence city proper alone is home to eight hospitals and seven institutions of higher learning, which has shifted the city's economy into service industries, though it still retains significant manufacturing work. The city was once nicknamed the "Beehive of Industry", while today "The Renaissance City" is more common, though as of 2000 census, its poverty rate was still among the ten highest for cities over 100,000.
The area which is now Providence was first settled in June 1636 by Roger Williams, and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies of the United States. Williams secured a title from the Narragansett natives around this time and gave the city its present name. Williams also cultivated Providence as a refuge for persecuted religious dissenters, as he himself had been exiled from Massachusetts. Providence's growth would be slow during the next quarter-century—the subsuming of its territory into surrounding towns, difficulty of farming the land, and differing of local traditions and land conflicts all slowed development.
In the mid-1770s, the British government levied taxes that impeded Providence's maritime, fishing and agricultural industries, the mainstay of the city's economy. One example was the Sugar Act, which impacted Providence's distilleries and its trade in rum and slaves. These taxes caused Providence to join the other colonies in renouncing allegiance to the British Crown. In response to enforcement of unpopular trade laws, Providence residents spilled the first blood of the American Revolution in the notorious Gaspée Affair of 1772.
Though during the Revolutionary War the city escaped enemy occupation, the capture of nearby Newport disrupted industry and kept the population on alert. Troops were quartered for various campaigns and Brown University's University Hall was used as a barracks and military hospital.
Following the war, the economy shifted from maritime endeavors to manufacturing, particularly machinery, tools, silverware, jewelry and textiles. At one time, Providence boasted some of the largest manufacturing plants in the country, including Brown & Sharpe, Nicholson File, and Gorham Silverware, and was the country's ninth-largest city. The city's industries attracted many immigrants from Ireland, Germany, Sweden, England, Italy, Portugal, Cape Verde, and French Canada. Economic and demographic shifts caused social strife, notably with a series of race riots between whites and blacks during the 1820s. In response to these troubles and the economic growth, Providence residents ratified a city charter in 1831.
During the Civil War, local politics split over slavery as many had ties to Southern cotton. Despite ambivalence concerning the war, the number of military volunteers routinely exceeded quota, and the city's manufacturing proved invaluable to the Union. Postwar, horsecar lines covering the city enabled its growth and Providence thrived with waves of immigrants and land annexations bringing the population from 54,595 in 1865 to 175,597 by 1900.
The city began to see a decline by the mid-1920s as industries, notably textiles, shut down. The Great Depression hit the city hard, and Providence's downtown was subsequently flooded by the New England Hurricane of 1938. The city saw further decline as a result of nation-wide trends, with the construction of highways and increased suburbanization. From the 1950s to the 1980s, Providence was a notorious bastion of organized crime. The mafia boss Raymond L.S. Patriarca ruled a vast criminal enterprise.
New construction in Providence (August 2006): cranes seen for Waterplace Condominium towers, Westin addition, and the GTECH headquarters prior to completion
The city's eponymous "Renaissance" began in the 1970s. From 1975 until 1982, $606 million of local and national Community Development funds were invested throughout the city, and the hitherto falling population began to stabilize. In the 1990s, Mayor Vincent Cianci, Jr showcased the city's strength in arts and pushed for further revitalization, ultimately resulting in the uncovering of the city's natural rivers (which had been paved over), relocation of a large section of railroad underground, creation of Waterplace Park and river walks along the river's banks, and construction of the Fleet Skating Rink (now the Bank of America Skating Rink) downtown and the 1.4 million ft² Providence Place Mall.
New investment triggered within the city, with new construction including numerous condo projects, hotels, and a new office highrise all filling in the freed space. Despite new investment, poverty remains an entrenched problem as it does in most post-industrial New England cities. Nearly 30 percent of the city population lives below the poverty line. Recent increases in real estate values further exacerbate problems for those at marginal income levels, as Providence had the highest rise in median housing price of any city in the United States from 2004 to 2005.
In the mid-1770s, the British government levied taxes that impeded Providence's maritime, fishing and agricultural industries, the mainstay of the city's economy. One example was the Sugar Act, which impacted Providence's distilleries and its trade in rum and slaves. These taxes caused Providence to join the other colonies in renouncing allegiance to the British Crown. In response to enforcement of unpopular trade laws, Providence residents spilled the first blood of the American Revolution in the notorious Gaspée Affair of 1772.
Though during the Revolutionary War the city escaped enemy occupation, the capture of nearby Newport disrupted industry and kept the population on alert. Troops were quartered for various campaigns and Brown University's University Hall was used as a barracks and military hospital.
Following the war, the economy shifted from maritime endeavors to manufacturing, particularly machinery, tools, silverware, jewelry and textiles. At one time, Providence boasted some of the largest manufacturing plants in the country, including Brown & Sharpe, Nicholson File, and Gorham Silverware, and was the country's ninth-largest city. The city's industries attracted many immigrants from Ireland, Germany, Sweden, England, Italy, Portugal, Cape Verde, and French Canada. Economic and demographic shifts caused social strife, notably with a series of race riots between whites and blacks during the 1820s. In response to these troubles and the economic growth, Providence residents ratified a city charter in 1831.
During the Civil War, local politics split over slavery as many had ties to Southern cotton. Despite ambivalence concerning the war, the number of military volunteers routinely exceeded quota, and the city's manufacturing proved invaluable to the Union. Postwar, horsecar lines covering the city enabled its growth and Providence thrived with waves of immigrants and land annexations bringing the population from 54,595 in 1865 to 175,597 by 1900.
The city began to see a decline by the mid-1920s as industries, notably textiles, shut down. The Great Depression hit the city hard, and Providence's downtown was subsequently flooded by the New England Hurricane of 1938. The city saw further decline as a result of nation-wide trends, with the construction of highways and increased suburbanization. From the 1950s to the 1980s, Providence was a notorious bastion of organized crime. The mafia boss Raymond L.S. Patriarca ruled a vast criminal enterprise.
New construction in Providence (August 2006): cranes seen for Waterplace Condominium towers, Westin addition, and the GTECH headquarters prior to completion
The city's eponymous "Renaissance" began in the 1970s. From 1975 until 1982, $606 million of local and national Community Development funds were invested throughout the city, and the hitherto falling population began to stabilize. In the 1990s, Mayor Vincent Cianci, Jr showcased the city's strength in arts and pushed for further revitalization, ultimately resulting in the uncovering of the city's natural rivers (which had been paved over), relocation of a large section of railroad underground, creation of Waterplace Park and river walks along the river's banks, and construction of the Fleet Skating Rink (now the Bank of America Skating Rink) downtown and the 1.4 million ft² Providence Place Mall.
New investment triggered within the city, with new construction including numerous condo projects, hotels, and a new office highrise all filling in the freed space. Despite new investment, poverty remains an entrenched problem as it does in most post-industrial New England cities. Nearly 30 percent of the city population lives below the poverty line. Recent increases in real estate values further exacerbate problems for those at marginal income levels, as Providence had the highest rise in median housing price of any city in the United States from 2004 to 2005.
Today's Jumble (Sunday, 10/05/08):
SMALID = DISMAL; NAPOWE = WEAPON; FEWURC = CURFEW; BIEFLE = BELIEF; FRIMAF = AFFIRM; LORFIC = FROLIC
What the authorities gave the cruise ship stowaway.
"(AN) OFFICIAL SEND-OFF"
Today is World Teacher Day.
Other things on this day in history:
869 - The Fourth Council of Constantinople is convened to decide about what to do about Patriarch Photius of Constantinople.
1143 - The king Alfonso VII of Leon recognises Portugal as a Kingdom.
1550 - Foundation of Concepción, city in Chile.
1582 - Because of the implementation of the Gregorian calendar this day does not exist in this year in Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain.
1665 - The University of Kiel is founded.
1789 - French Revolution: Women of Paris march to Versailles in the March on Versailles to confront Louis XVI about his refusal to promulgate the decrees on the abolition of feudalism, demand bread, and have the King and his court moved to Paris.
1793 - French Revolution: Christianity is disestablished in France.
1857 - The City of Anaheim was founded.
1864 - The Indian city of Calcutta is almost totally destroyed by a cyclone; 60,000 die.
1869 - A strong hurricane devastates the Bay of Fundy region of Maritime Canada. The storm had been predicted over a year before by a British naval officer.
1877 - Chief Joseph surrenders his Nez Perce band to General Nelson A. Miles.
1895 - The first individual time trial for racing cyclists is held on a 50-mile course north of London.
1903 - Sir Samuel Griffith is appointed the first Chief Justice of Australia and Sir Edmund Barton and Richard O'Connor are appointed as foundation justices.
1905 - Wilbur Wright pilots Wright Flyer III in a flight of 24 miles in 39 minutes, a world record that stood until 1908.
1910 - Portugal overthrows its monarchy and declares itself a republic.
1914 - World War I first aerial combat resulting in a kill.
1915 - Bulgaria enters World War I as one of the Central Powers.
1921 - Baseball: The World Series was broadcast on the radio for the first time.
1930 - British Airship R101 crashed in France en-route to India on its maiden voyage.
1936 - The Jarrow March sets off for London.
1944 - Canadian Air Force pilots shoot down the first German jet fighter over France.
1944 - Suffrage is extended to women in France.
1945 - Hollywood Black Friday: A six month strike by Hollywood set decorators turns into a bloody riot at the gates of Warner Brothers' studios.
1947 - The first televised White House address is given by U.S. President Harry S. Truman.
1948. - The 1948 Ashgabat earthquake kills 110,000.
1953 - The first documented recovery meeting of Narcotics Anonymous is held.
1966 - Near Detroit, Michigan, there is a partial core meltdown at the Enrico Fermi demonstration nuclear breeder reactor.
1968 - Police baton civil rights demonstrators in Derry, Northern Ireland - considered to mark the beginning of The Troubles.
1969 - The first episode of the famous comedy show Monty Python's Flying Circus aired on BBC.
1970 - PBS became a television network.
1970 - Montreal, Quebec: British Trade Commissioner James Cross is kidnapped by members of the FLQ terrorist group.
1973 - Signature of the European Patent Convention.
1974 - Guildford pub bombing by the IRA leaves 5 dead and 65 injured.
1981 - Raoul Wallenberg becomes an honorary U.S. citizen.
1984 - Marc Garneau becomes the first Canadian in space, aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger.
1986 - Israeli secret nuclear weapons were revealed. The British newspaper The Sunday Times ran Mordechai Vanunu's story on its front page under the headline: "Revealed — the secrets of Israel's nuclear arsenal."
1988 - The Chilean opposition coalition Concertación (center-left) defeat Augusto Pinochet in his re-election intentions. Next year a general election was called.
1990 - After one hundred and fifty years The Herald broadsheet newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, is published for the last time as a separate newspaper.
1991 - An Indonesian military transport crashes after takeoff from Jakarta killing 137.
1991 - The first official version of the Linux kernel, version 0.02, is released.
1999 - The Ladbroke Grove rail crash in west London kills 31 people.
2000 - Mass demonstrations in Belgrade lead to resignation of Serbian strongman Slobodan Milošević. These demonstrations are often called the Bulldozer Revolution.
2001 - Robert Stevens becomes the first victim in the 2001 anthrax attacks.
2001 - Tom Ridge resigns as Governor of Pennsylvania to become President Bush's Homeland Security Advisor.
1143 - The king Alfonso VII of Leon recognises Portugal as a Kingdom.
1550 - Foundation of Concepción, city in Chile.
1582 - Because of the implementation of the Gregorian calendar this day does not exist in this year in Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain.
1665 - The University of Kiel is founded.
1789 - French Revolution: Women of Paris march to Versailles in the March on Versailles to confront Louis XVI about his refusal to promulgate the decrees on the abolition of feudalism, demand bread, and have the King and his court moved to Paris.
1793 - French Revolution: Christianity is disestablished in France.
1857 - The City of Anaheim was founded.
1864 - The Indian city of Calcutta is almost totally destroyed by a cyclone; 60,000 die.
1869 - A strong hurricane devastates the Bay of Fundy region of Maritime Canada. The storm had been predicted over a year before by a British naval officer.
1877 - Chief Joseph surrenders his Nez Perce band to General Nelson A. Miles.
1895 - The first individual time trial for racing cyclists is held on a 50-mile course north of London.
1903 - Sir Samuel Griffith is appointed the first Chief Justice of Australia and Sir Edmund Barton and Richard O'Connor are appointed as foundation justices.
1905 - Wilbur Wright pilots Wright Flyer III in a flight of 24 miles in 39 minutes, a world record that stood until 1908.
1910 - Portugal overthrows its monarchy and declares itself a republic.
1914 - World War I first aerial combat resulting in a kill.
1915 - Bulgaria enters World War I as one of the Central Powers.
1921 - Baseball: The World Series was broadcast on the radio for the first time.
1930 - British Airship R101 crashed in France en-route to India on its maiden voyage.
1936 - The Jarrow March sets off for London.
1944 - Canadian Air Force pilots shoot down the first German jet fighter over France.
1944 - Suffrage is extended to women in France.
1945 - Hollywood Black Friday: A six month strike by Hollywood set decorators turns into a bloody riot at the gates of Warner Brothers' studios.
1947 - The first televised White House address is given by U.S. President Harry S. Truman.
1948. - The 1948 Ashgabat earthquake kills 110,000.
1953 - The first documented recovery meeting of Narcotics Anonymous is held.
1966 - Near Detroit, Michigan, there is a partial core meltdown at the Enrico Fermi demonstration nuclear breeder reactor.
1968 - Police baton civil rights demonstrators in Derry, Northern Ireland - considered to mark the beginning of The Troubles.
1969 - The first episode of the famous comedy show Monty Python's Flying Circus aired on BBC.
1970 - PBS became a television network.
1970 - Montreal, Quebec: British Trade Commissioner James Cross is kidnapped by members of the FLQ terrorist group.
1973 - Signature of the European Patent Convention.
1974 - Guildford pub bombing by the IRA leaves 5 dead and 65 injured.
1981 - Raoul Wallenberg becomes an honorary U.S. citizen.
1984 - Marc Garneau becomes the first Canadian in space, aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger.
1986 - Israeli secret nuclear weapons were revealed. The British newspaper The Sunday Times ran Mordechai Vanunu's story on its front page under the headline: "Revealed — the secrets of Israel's nuclear arsenal."
1988 - The Chilean opposition coalition Concertación (center-left) defeat Augusto Pinochet in his re-election intentions. Next year a general election was called.
1990 - After one hundred and fifty years The Herald broadsheet newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, is published for the last time as a separate newspaper.
1991 - An Indonesian military transport crashes after takeoff from Jakarta killing 137.
1991 - The first official version of the Linux kernel, version 0.02, is released.
1999 - The Ladbroke Grove rail crash in west London kills 31 people.
2000 - Mass demonstrations in Belgrade lead to resignation of Serbian strongman Slobodan Milošević. These demonstrations are often called the Bulldozer Revolution.
2001 - Robert Stevens becomes the first victim in the 2001 anthrax attacks.
2001 - Tom Ridge resigns as Governor of Pennsylvania to become President Bush's Homeland Security Advisor.
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