South Side, Providence, Rhode Island facts for kids
The South Side is a part of Providence, Rhode Island. It's a name often used to describe a group of neighborhoods. These include Upper South Providence, Lower South Providence, Elmwood, and the West End. The name "South Providence" first appeared in the 1830s. This was when the New York, Providence and Boston Railroad opened a station there.
Many people living in the South Side are Hispanic. More than half of the residents have Hispanic family roots. This is much higher than the rest of Providence. Because of this, many children in public schools (about 64%) speak a language other than English at home. Spanish is the most common language spoken.
The South Side faces challenges with poverty. The average family income here is lower than in other parts of Providence. More than one in three families live in poverty.
A Look Back: South Side History
The South Providence area grew with many different uses. It had homes, schools, factories, and shops. One area, Allens Avenue, has been mostly industrial since the early 1900s. This means it has always been a place for businesses and factories.
The Pine/Friendship street area is in the northern part of South Providence. In June 1781, this was a camping spot for Rochambeau's troops. They camped here before their march to Yorktown during the American Revolution. In 1832, nicer homes started to be built in this area. By the late 1800s, many grand homes were built. These homes were in styles like Greek Revival and Italianate. Rich business owners, like the head of the Gorham Manufacturing Company, lived here.
In the early 1900s, better transportation made it easier for wealthy people to move. They started moving to areas further away from the city center.
In 1868, most of this area became part of Providence again. For the next 90 years, many people here were Irish Catholic. There was also a notable Jewish community. Many Roman Catholic churches are still in the area today.
After World War II, many white residents moved to the suburbs. Starting in the 1960s, Black families moved into the neighborhood. From 1980 onwards, many Hispanic families arrived. People from Native American, African, Laotian, and Vietnamese Hmong backgrounds also moved here.
Who Lives in the South Side?
As of August 2005, the people living in the South Side were:
- 52.3% Hispanic
- 24.4% African-American
- 12.2% non-Hispanic white
- 9.1% Asian
- 2% Native American
About 64% of young public school children (under six years old) spoke a language other than English at home.
The average family income in the South Side was $23,379. This was about 75% of the average for all of Providence. About 35.5% of families lived below the poverty line. This means they had very low incomes. Also, 30.3% of families received some kind of public help.
A health concern in the area was lead exposure. Nearly one in four children had been exposed to unsafe amounts of lead. This was mainly due to lead paint in older homes. Old water pipes could also be a reason.
Hospitals in the South Side
The South Side is home to several important hospitals. From west to east, they are:
- St Joseph's Hospital for Specialty Care
- Rhode Island Hospital
- Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island
- Hasbro Children's Hospital
St Joseph's Hospital for Specialty Care is a Catholic hospital. It is located on Peace Street in the Elmwood area.
Rhode Island Hospital, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, and Hasbro Children's Hospital are all very close to each other. They are in Upper South Providence. Rhode Island Hospital has 719 beds. It is a hospital for serious medical care. It is also a teaching hospital connected to Alpert Medical School.
