East Providence, Rhode Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
East Providence, Rhode Island
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| City of East Providence | |||
World War I Memorial and Taunton Plaza
|
|||
|
|||
Location in Providence County and the state of Rhode Island.
|
|||
 East Providence, Rhode Island
Location in Rhode Island
East Providence, Rhode Island
Location in the United States
|
|||
| Country |  United States |
||
| State |  Rhode Island |
||
| County | Providence County | ||
| Incorporated (town) | 1862 | ||
| Incorporated (city) | 1958 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Mayor-council | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 16.61 sq mi (43.01 km2) | ||
| • Land | 13.28 sq mi (34.41 km2) | ||
| • Water | 3.32 sq mi (8.60 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 62 ft (19 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
|
|||
| • Total | 47,139 | ||
| • Density | 3,548.55/sq mi (1,370.08/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) | ||
| ZIP code |
02914, 02915, 02916
|
||
| Area code(s) | 401 | ||
| FIPS code | 44-22960 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1219590 | ||
| Website | eastprovidenceri.net | ||
East Providence is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. It's located on the eastern side of the Providence River. In 2020, about 47,139 people lived here. This makes it the fifth-largest city in Rhode Island.
East Providence was first set up as a town in 1862. It officially became a city in 1958.
Contents
Geography of East Providence
East Providence is located between two rivers: the Providence River and the Seekonk River. These rivers are on its western side. To the east, it borders the Seekonk area of Massachusetts.
The city covers about 16.6 square miles (43.01 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 13.4 square miles (34.41 square kilometers). The rest, about 3.2 square miles (8.60 square kilometers), is water.
Villages in East Providence
East Providence includes several smaller communities, often called villages:
- East Providence Center
- Riverside
- Rumford
How East Providence is Governed
The city of East Providence is run by a mayor and a city council. Both the mayor and the five city council members are chosen by voters every four years. The city council members are elected from different areas, called wards, and one is elected from the city as a whole.
The Mayor's Role
The mayor is the main leader of East Providence. They manage the city's daily activities and make sure city rules are followed. The mayor also chooses the heads of most city departments. The current mayor is Roberto DaSilva.
Before 2019, a city manager ran the daily operations. The mayor was mainly the leader of the city council.
The City Council's Role
The city council makes all the city's laws, called ordinances. They also help set the city's budget, which is how the city plans to spend its money. The council also checks on how the city is being run.
The city council chooses a president and vice-president to lead their meetings. They also appoint the city clerk, who keeps official records.
City Council Members (as of 2019)
- Robert Rodericks—At-Large (council vice-president)
- Robert Britto—Ward 1 (council president)
- Anna Sousa—Ward 2
- Nathan Cahoon—Ward 3
- Ricardo Mourato—Ward 4
City Courts
East Providence has two types of city courts:
- Municipal Court: This court handles cases about breaking city rules, housing problems, and small traffic tickets.
- Probate Court: This court deals with things like wills, changing names, and legal guardianships.
Judges for both courts are chosen by the mayor and approved by the city council. They serve for two years.
Running the Schools
The city also has an elected school committee. This committee manages the school system. They set school policies and decide how the school budget is spent. They also choose and oversee the Superintendent of Schools.
People of East Providence
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 2,668 | — | |
| 1880 | 5,056 | 89.5% | |
| 1890 | 8,422 | 66.6% | |
| 1900 | 12,138 | 44.1% | |
| 1910 | 15,808 | 30.2% | |
| 1920 | 21,793 | 37.9% | |
| 1930 | 29,995 | 37.6% | |
| 1940 | 32,165 | 7.2% | |
| 1950 | 35,871 | 11.5% | |
| 1960 | 41,955 | 17.0% | |
| 1970 | 48,207 | 14.9% | |
| 1980 | 50,980 | 5.8% | |
| 1990 | 50,380 | −1.2% | |
| 2000 | 48,688 | −3.4% | |
| 2010 | 47,037 | −3.4% | |
| 2020 | 47,139 | 0.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, East Providence had 47,139 people living there. The city is home to many different groups of people. About 77% of residents are white. There are also African American, Asian, Native American, and other racial groups. About 7% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in East Providence is about 44.9 years old. About 16.7% of the population is under 18 years old.
Ancestry and Backgrounds
Many people in East Providence have family roots from other countries. There are large communities from Portugal, the Azores, Madeira, and Cape Verde. About 24% of residents have Portuguese ancestry. Other common ancestries include Irish (18%) and Italian (11%).
Education in East Providence
East Providence has many schools for students. There are 13 public schools and five non-public (private) schools.
Public Schools
Elementary Schools
- Agnes B. "Hennessey"
- Alice M. "Waddington"
- Emma G. "Whiteknact"
- James R.D. "Oldham"
- Kent Heights
- Myron J. "Francis"
- Orlo Avenue School
- Silver Spring
Middle Schools
- Edward R. Martin Middle School
- Riverside Middle School
High School
- Grove Ave. Educational Development Center
- East Providence High School
- East Providence Career & Technical Center
Non-Public Schools
Elementary and Junior-High Schools
- St. Mary "Bayview" Academy
- Sacred Heart School
- St. Margaret School
- Ocean State Montessori School
- The Gordon School
- Providence Country Day (P.C.D.)
- The Wolf School
High Schools
- St. Mary "Bayview" Academy
- Providence Country Day (P.C.D.)
Music and Arts in East Providence
East Providence has a connection to music history! In 1977, the famous band The Beach Boys played a concert nearby. About 40,000 people came to see them. East Providence helped by providing parking for the big event.
In 2017, The Beach Boys came back to East Providence for a special ceremony. The mayor gave them the "Key to the City." A street was even renamed "Beach Boys Way" to remember the concert.
Historic Places in East Providence
East Providence has many buildings and places that are important to history. These places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Some of them include:
- Bicknell–Armington Lightning Splitter House
- Boston and Providence Railroad Bridge
- Bridgham Farm
- Carpenter, Lakeside, and Springvale Cemeteries
- Crescent Park Looff Carousel, (National Historic Landmark)
- Elm Tree Plat Historic District
- Nathaniel Daggett House
- James Dennis House
- District 6 Schoolhouse
- Little Neck Cemetery
- Newman Cemetery
- Newman Congregational Church
- Oddfellows' Hall
- Pomham Rocks Light
- Rose Land Park Plat Historic District
- Richmond Paper Company Mill Complex
- Rumford Chemical Works and Mill House Historic District
- Rumford Historic District
- Squantum Association
- St. Mary's Episcopal Church
- Phillip Walker House
- Whitcomb Farm
- World War I Memorial
Media in East Providence
Newspapers
- The East Providence Post (weekly)
- The East Providence Reporter (monthly)
Radio
- 1110/WPMZ: A Spanish-language radio station called “Poder.”
Famous People from East Providence
Many well-known people have connections to East Providence:
- Arunah Shepherdson Abell (1806–1888), a newspaper publisher.
- Ben Sears, a baseball pitcher.
- Rebecca DiPietro, a model and TV personality.
- John Michael Greer, an author.
- Elisabeth Hasselbeck, a TV personality from shows like Fox & Friends and The View.
- Jimmy Hatlo, a cartoonist.
- Claudia Jordan, a model and TV personality from shows like Deal or No Deal.
- Jennifer Lee, a writer and co-director for movies like Frozen.
- Davey Lopes, a baseball player and coach.
- Jamie Silva, a football safety.
- Meredith Vieira, a TV host from shows like Millionaire and Today.
- Ron Wilson, an ice hockey player and coach.
See also
In Spanish: East Providence para niños
