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| Take a virtual tour of Providence (RI) including local real estate, landmarks and schools | ||||||
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Providence Rhode Island (RI) Real Estate & Homes for Sale
Let Providence RI real estate assist you in finding the right property to meet your needs from local area homes for sale, foreclosure listings (bank-owned), country properties, land, condominiums and equine facilities -- all through the RI real estate Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Request relocation information, or school statistics and neighborhood demographics.
Providence, Rhode Island is the second fastest-growing city in the Northeast, and the second largest city in New England. Now a bustling center for industry, the arts, and higher education, the city boasts an illustrious history spanning more than three centuries.
In 1636, a religious exile from the Plymouth colony named Roger Williams arrived at Narragansett Bay. Williams quickly established relations with the local Narragansett Indians and secured a title in short order; the tracts of land he was accorded over the next several years made up the original Providence colony. Opportunities for agriculture and early industry were limited due to the area's rocky terrain, and the new settlement suffered an additional setback when the downtown was destroyed during King Philip's War.
The colony's tradition of independent-mindedness made it a hotbed of revolutionary fervor, however, and the notorious Gaspee affair of 1772, during which local merchants and sailors burnt the customs sloop Gaspee, was arguably the act that kick-started the American Revolution.
Over the course of the 19th century, Providence emerged as an industrial hub of the northeast, its bustling economy centered on the manufacture of machinery, silverware, jewelry and textiles. Though the decline of the textile industry set into motion a recession beginning in the 1920's, the city entered a period of economic and cultural renewal in the 1970s.
The city government opened several new parks and recreational areas, and the construction of the Providence Place Mall in 1999 provided opportunities for newfound growth and economic prosperity. A generation of renewal and reconstruction has placed Providence at the forefront of American cities. It has joined the select list of "magnet cities" that draw investment, talent and culture from distant points. Today, the city skyline is undergoing constant change and property values are on the rise.
Two of the most important factors in the health of a city are the safety of its streets and the quality of its public schools. Over the last four years, the crime rate has been lower than at any other time since the 1970s. The construction of the new state-of-the-art public safety complex is ahead of schedule. Teachers, principals and administrators are putting into practice the most progressive new methods for educating the urban population. The city has become a model district, not only in Rhode Island, but also in the nation.
The city is comprised of these 26 neighborhoods: Blackstone, Charles, College Hill, Downtown, Elmhurst, Elmwood, Federal Hill, Fox Point, Hartford, Hope, Lower South, Manton, Mount Hope, Mount Pleasant, Olneyville, Reservoir, Silver Lake, Smith Hill, South Elmwood, Upper South, Valley, Wanskuck, Washington Park, Wayland, West Broadway, and the West End.
Through this site you will find comprehensive facts about as well as extensive information on buying or selling real estate in Providence, Rhode Island. If you are looking to invest in Providence real estate you will find a variety of opportunities available to you. Providence Rhode Island real estate offers relocation information, residential real estate, new home construction and development, condominiums (condos), adult living communities (55+ communities), retirement homes and facilities, land, waterfront properties and multi-family investment properties. Providence, RI, and the surrounding areas offer vacation homes, farms, equine facilities, country properties. To search the statewide MLS (multiple listings service) also referred to as RI MLS, for properties in Providence based on a keyword search, click on the following:
Providence new construction - RI custom homes, executive home building and development
Providence waterfront - RI lake properties and riverfront properties
Click the links below to sign up for our FREE Home Search Service and receive real-time or daily updates on real estate in Providence, RI.
Providence real estate - RI landed property, Rhode Island homes
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RHODE ISLAND THE MOST -- "HOPE"
The state boasts so much history that it is practically a living museum. This tiny coastal state has one of the country's highest concentations of historic landmarks. While the Gilded Age mansions of Newport are probably the state's most famous historic attraction, remnants of a colorful past can be found in every corner of its 1200-square-mile expanse.
The state was founded by Roger Williams in 1636, who established the first permanent white settlement on land he had purchased from the local Narragansett Indians. Forced to flee Massachusetts due to persecution, Williams founded the colony as a haven for religious and political freedom, attracting settlers who would not be welcome amidst the strict religious climate of the Puritans at Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay.
On May 4, 1776, the state renounced its allegiance to Great Britain and declared independence; it was the first of the thirteen colonies to do so. At the close of the Revolutionary War, independed-minded Rhode Islanders demanded the addition of the Bill of Rights, which protects individual liberties, before the state would ratify the U.S. Constitution.
The Revolutionary War era was followed by a period of industrial expansion. Samuel Slater established the nation's first water-powered cotton mill at Pawtucket in 1793; it was this development that signaled the beginning of America's Industrial Revolution. Nehemiah and Seril Dodge established the American jewel industry in Providence in the early 1800's, placing the city at the forefront of the industrial age.
Today, the state remains a leader in American industry; Providence, the state's capital city, has emerged as a retail center and hotbed of international commerce. At the same time, the countryside offers escape for residents and seasonal visitors alike, with classic New England town squares and restored colonial-era villages. The state's 400-mile shoreline offers bountiful opportunities for sailing and fishing, while over 100 beaches feature clambakes, music festivals, picnic areas and much more. The historic city of Newport boasts a colorful history of nearly 400 years; one of America's oldest commercial seaports, Newport has become a major tourist attraction with numerous colonial landmarks, historic boatyards, village shops and the famed "summer cottages" of the early 20th century, which served as getaways for the country's most powerful families in the late Victorian era. A living shrine to America's fabled past, Newport embodies Rhode Island's historic pride, while bustling Providence and its surrounding communities supply a crucial progressive edge for the future.
State Facts:
1,214 square miles
Population: 1,067,610 (2006)
Largest cities (2005): Providence, 176,862; Warwick, 87,233; Cranston, 81,614; Pawtucket, 73,742; East Providence, 49,515
Nicknamed "The Ocean State"
400 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline
Per capita income: $27,217 (2005)
Highest point: Jerimoth Hill (812 ft)
Climate:
New England is famous for its four distinct seasons, with brisk, snowy winters giving way to colorful springs and hot, humid summers. The state's coastal location makes its climate more moderate than that of most New England states. Don't be too surprised at the occasional 60-degree day in January…or the odd snowflake in May!
Government:
The state capital is Providence, located at the head of Narragansett Bay in the north-central region of the state. The state government has three branches: Executive, headed by the governor; Legislative, comprised of the Rhode Island General Assembly; and Juducial, headed by the Supreme Court.
Taxes:
The state generally imposes an income tax on all individuals that have Rhode Island-source income. The state personal income tax is 26% of the federal income tax liability. Property taxes are determined by an annual State Valuation and vary from town to town.