Charles, Providence, Rhode Island facts for kids
Charles is a neighborhood in northern Providence, Rhode Island. It's part of an area sometimes called the North End, along with Wanskuck. To the west, Charles is separated from Wanskuck by Route 146. The Chad Brown neighborhood is to the south, separating Charles from Smith Hill. To the east, the West River and Interstate 95 form its border. The city limits of North Providence are to the north.
History of Charles Neighborhood
For a long time, Charles was not very populated. This was because it was hard to get to from other parts of Providence. But in 1706, a road called Wanskuck Road (now Branch Avenue) was finished.
In 1765, this isolated North End area, which includes Charles, became part of the nearby town of North Providence.
By the 1800s, things started to change. Better roads and being close to the West River made companies want to move here. For example, the Silver Spring Bleaching and Dyeing Company came to the area.
With new jobs, many people moved in. These new residents needed homes. By the end of the 1800s, the neighborhood was full of homes for families. Many immigrants from Ireland, England, Germany, Scotland, and Italy moved here. Italian families were the largest group. Because of this fast growth, North Providence decided to return the North End to Providence in 1874.
Getting around Providence became even easier in 1895 when streetcar service started. By the 1930s, Charles was a busy place where many working and middle-class families lived.
Later in the 1900s, many of the industries left the area. However, Providence has tried to help by making parts of Charles into an industrial park. This helps bring new businesses to the area.
Who Lives in Charles?
Charles is mostly a neighborhood where people live and where businesses are located. Many people own their homes here.
The neighborhood is quite diverse. About 52.7% of people living here have Italian family backgrounds. About 16% of residents are Hispanic, and 8% are African-American. It's interesting that one out of every three children under six years old speaks a language other than English at home.
The average family income in Charles is about $36,966. This is a bit higher than the average for all of Providence. About 16% of families have less money, and 7% of families receive some kind of public help.
Parks and Green Spaces
The Charles neighborhood has four nice green spaces for everyone to enjoy:
- Ascham Field - This is a 1.72 acre (about 7,000 square meters) sports field.
- Hopkins Square - This is a 1 acre (about 4,000 square meters) open area. It's located where Branch Avenue and Charles Street meet. You can find a statue of Esek Hopkins here.
- Prete-Metcalf Field - This is a large 11.36 acre (about 46,000 square meters) area. It has sports fields and paths for walking.
- St Ann's Plaza - This is a small open area at the corner of Branch Avenue and Hawkins Street.
There is also a natural area called the Canada Pond Management area. It's in the northwest part of Charles and also goes into North Providence, Rhode Island.
