|
On the state flag,
adopted in 1897, 13 stars represent the original 13 colonies. The
state motto, Hope, appears on a ribbon below an anchor, a symbol
of hope. The state seal, adopted in 1896, has a design similar to
that of the flag. The date 1636 is the year Roger Williams founded
Providence, Rhode Island's first permanent European settlement.
Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States. It covers
only 1,213 square miles (3,142 square kilometers) and is a little
more than half the size of Delaware, the second smallest state. In
spite of its size, Rhode Island is an important industrial state.
It ranks high among the states in the production of jewelry. Rhode
Island's official nickname is The Ocean State. But because of its
size, the state has traditionally been called Little Rhody.
Providence is the capital and largest city of the state. |
