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| Take a virtual tour of Newport (RI) including local real estate, landmarks and schools | ||||||
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Newport RI Real Estate & Newport Rhode Island Homes for Sale
Let Newport 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.
Newport, Rhode Island is home to fabulous mansions, colonial history and great music. It prides itself on being a vibrant community offering a wide variety of year round events and activities. A unique city situated in an incomparable location on the Atlantic Coast, it offers a rich history of more than three and a half centuries.
The first English settlers arrived on Aquideck Island in 1636, accompanying Ann Hutchinson, a young woman who had been expelled from Boston for her religious beliefs, which challenged the very foundations of Puritanism. Hutchinson was inspired to make the journey by Roger Williams, a fellow religious exile from Massachusetts and founder of the Rhode Island colony. Hutchinson and her supporters purchased Aquideck Island from the Native Americans after consulting with Williams, settling in an area at the north end of the island known as Pocasett.
By 1639, however, the group had splintered and a faction led by William Coddington and Nicholas Easton moved south to found Newport. The predominantly Baptist community was quick to embrace a novel idea that would become one of America's founding principles - the separation of church and state. Consequently, Newport became one of the first secular democracies in the western world.
The community's philosophy of religious freedom attracted religious groups of great diversity, including early populations of Quakers and Jews. By 1700, in fact, a majority of residents belonged to the Society of Friends, and Quakers would dominate the city's economic, political and civic life through the rest of the century.
The city's Atlantic island locale and bustling economy were ideal for merchants, and by the 1760's iy had emerged as one of North America's five leading seaports. Commodities that were traded included rum, candles, furniture, fish, and silver, and hundreds of shops sprang up along the harbor as the economy flourished.
The progressive outlook of its citizens made the city a hotbed of revolutionary fervor, leading to three years of British occupation after the outbreak of war in 1776. More than half of the citizens fled the city at the time, although the British army was eventually forced to withdraw as patriot forces neared victory.
The city remains comitted to liberty of conscience and religion, and the present-day landscape is a rich tapestry of lovingly preserved colonial landmarks and contemporary developments. Its historic splendor, scenic harbor and thriving downtown area are enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. With a strong commitment to preserving the legacy of an illustrious past and a progressive approach to the challenges of the future, Newport today is a beacon of New England virtue.
Through this site you will find comprehensive facts about as well as extensive information on buying or selling real estate in Newport, Rhode Island. If you are looking to invest in Newport real estate you will find a variety of opportunities available to you. Newport 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. Newport, 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 Newport based on a keyword search, click on the following:
Newport new construction - RI custom homes, executive home building and development
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Newport 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.