Mainly due to the confines of the city limits (fewer than 20 square miles). Nearby cities such as Pawtucket, East Providence, and Cranston blend imperceptibly into Providence. read more
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 the poverty line in 2000, the largest concentrations being found in the city's Olneyville, and Upper and Lower South Providence areas. read more
Rhode Island has a corridor of population from the large Providence area to the northwest, following Blackstone River to Woonsocket. The state has just five counties, but no county government. Only the city of Providence has a population over 100,000, with an estimated 179,000 residents. read more