Fox Point, Providence, Rhode Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fox Point
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Wickenden Street
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Location of Fox Point within Providence
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Rhode Island |
| City | Providence |
Fox Point is a neighborhood in the East Side of Providence, Rhode Island. It is located where the Providence and Seekonk rivers meet. This area is also near Interstate 195 and the College Hill and Wayland neighborhoods. Fox Point is the most southern part of the East Side in Providence.
Many of the homes in Fox Point are very old, some built in the 1700s and 1800s. These buildings show off different styles like Federal, Greek Revival, and Italianate architecture. You can see these older homes especially west of Governor Street. Newer buildings are more common on Ives and Gano Streets.
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History of Fox Point
Fox Point started as farmland a long time ago. But things changed when Providence's first port was built at India Point in 1680. This port quickly became a busy place for trade. Ships carried goods like sugar cane and rum between New England, the West Indies, and West Africa.
The neighborhood got its name from Tockwotten Hill. This hill was mostly flattened in the 1800s as part of a big building project. The dirt from the hill was used to fill in part of the Seekonk River. This new land is now where Gano Street is located. After the streets were planned, Fox Point grew into a place where people lived.
Fox Point became a good spot for factories and businesses. This happened when the Boston and Providence Rail Road was finished. Also, steamships started traveling regularly to other ports along the East Coast. These new jobs brought many immigrants to the area.
The first group of immigrants were Irish families. Later, many Portuguese and Cape Verdeans moved to Fox Point in the late 1800s. For much of the 1900s, Fox Point was a diverse neighborhood. It was home to people from Cape Verde, Portugal, Ireland, and Lebanon. The area had many grocery stores, community centers, and restaurants.
By the 1980s, some residents and businesses had to move out. This was due to new developments and more students from nearby Brown University living off-campus.
Who Lives in Fox Point?
According to the Providence Plan, a group that helps improve city life, most people in Fox Point are white (about 78.6%). This is higher than the average for the whole city. About 6.4% of residents are Asian. Smaller numbers of African-Americans and Hispanic people also live here.
The average family income in Fox Point is around $55,315. This is higher than the city's average income. About 8% of families live below the poverty line. A small number of households (2%) get public assistance.
Parks and Green Spaces
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India Point Park
India Point Park is a beautiful park located along the northern shore of Narragansett Bay. It's where the Seekonk and Providence Rivers meet. This park is special because it's the only large area along the Bay in Providence that is kept open for everyone to enjoy. A local group called Friends of India Point Park helps take care of it.
Roger Williams Square and Slate Rock Park
There was once a very important rock on the west side of the Seekonk River. This rock, called Slate Rock, was where the Narragansett people supposedly welcomed Roger Williams in 1636. They greeted him with the famous words "What cheer, netop?" and showed him where to settle.
Sadly, city workers accidentally blew up the historic rock in 1877. They were trying to uncover a buried part of it but used too much dynamite. Pieces of the rock were later sold as souvenirs. Today, a monument in Slate Rock Park at Roger Williams Square remembers this important site.
Gano Street Park
Gano Street Park is located along the Seekonk River. It has several sports fields where you can play. There is also a special area for dogs to play.
Schools in Fox Point
Fox Point has two schools for kids. One is the French-American School. This is a private school that teaches students from kindergarten to eighth grade in both French and English. It is located at 75 John Street.
The other school is the Vartan Gregorian Elementary School. This school is part of the Providence public school system. It teaches students from kindergarten to fifth grade. You can find it at 455 Wickenden Street, near the Fox Point Boys and Girls Club.
Famous People from Fox Point
- George M. Cohan was a very famous American actor, singer, dancer, composer, playwright, and producer. He was born on Wickenden Street in Fox Point. There is even a street named George M. Cohan Boulevard in his honor.
