The One Minute Geographer: All About Rhode Island

Newport from thortonwilder.com

Rhode Island: The smallest state in area and maybe the ‘bluest’ state? Here are a series of five short posts that I’ve organized in sequence in case you missed some.

The One Minute Geographer: About Rhode Island

Population density of Rhode Island (2010 data) from Wikipedia. Names of locations added by the author.

As a rule of thumb, if at least 20% or so of a state’s population resides in one metropolitan area, it is considered a primate city. What percent of Rhode Island’s population lives in metropolitan Providence? 100%. !!!???

The One Minute Geographer: Providence and the Primate City

John F. Kennedy was a Senator from liberal Massachusetts when he ran for president. But he got the highest percentage of his vote from Rhode Island.

The One Minute Geographer: Rhode Island Politics — Democrat Heaven?

Rhode Island’s license plates call it the ‘Ocean State.’ Here’s why.

The One Minute Geographer: Rhode Island — Waterworld East

Rhode Islanders take the Penguin Plunge into frigid water for the Special Olympics. Photo by socialkat on Flickr on rimonthly.com

While Massachusetts chased out Catholics, Jews and Quakers, Rhode Island welcomed them. Rhode Island enacted early laws about religious freedom and prohibitions against slavery. They burned a British ship the year before the Boston Tea Party.