 Flag of Rhode Island
Rhode Island, officially named the
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, is a state in
the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest
U.S. state by area. Rhode Island shares borders with
Connecticut to the west, and
Massachusetts
to the north and east, as well as
New York
by sea to the southwest.
Despite being called Rhode Island in common usage, most of the
state lies on the North American mainland. Providence Plantations
refers to the mainland, while Rhode Island is actually the
official name for Aquidneck Island (now composed of the city of
Newport, and the towns of Middletown and Portsmouth).
Having a history of staunch independence, Rhode Island was the
first of the thirteen original American colonies to declare
independence from British rule and the last to ratify the United
States Constitution.
Rhode Island has long held the nickname of "Little Rhody", though
the state has officially adopted the nickname of "the Ocean
State", as nearly one tenth of Rhode Island's inland area is
covered by salt water, and no part of the state is more than a
45-minute drive from the water's edge. |
