The smallest state in the Union, Rhode Island has nevertheless made history through the courage and convictions of its citizens. It was one of the 13 original colonies, settled by religious refugees under the leadership of Roger Williams, who had been banished from the neighboring Massachusetts Bay Colony. More liberal in its views than most of the other colonies, Rhode Island was host to the first Baptist church, the first Jewish synagogue, and one of the first Quaker meetinghouses.
Because Narragansett Bay reaches far into the heart of the state, Rhode Island has an especially long coastline. The huge ocean frontage and the warming effects of the Gulf Stream give the state a pleasant climate, which, coupled with the great scenic beauty of the bay and offshore islands, creates a popular summer resort.
Rhode Island has been a seafaring state since colonial times. The Newport Naval Base and the Naval Construction Battalion Center (Seabees) at Davisville carry on the state's important nautical traditions. International yacht races are held in Narragansett Bay, and small pleasure boats of all sorts share the deep water with warcraft.
The state's full official name is State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. This name dates from 17th-century colonial times and is derived from the large island (Rhode, or Aquidneck, Island) in Narragansett Bay and from Providence, the state's first settlement. Some historians think the name probably came from the Dutch roodt eylandt (red island), referring to the red clay shores. Another version of the origin of the name is that the explorer Giovanni da Verrazano compared Block Island to the Greek island of Rhodes. Little Rhody, a popular nickname for Rhode Island, reflects its size. Today the more common nickname is the Ocean State.
Rhode Island lies in the northeastern part of the United States. It is bordered on the west by Connecticut and on the north and east by Massachusetts. The southern edge of the state fronts on the Atlantic Ocean. When the many bays, coves, and offshore islands are included, the state's total coastline measures more than 400 miles (640 kilometers). Narragansett Bay forms a deep 28-mile (45-kilometer) wedge into the state. The state's many islands include Rhode, Conanicut, Block, Prudence, Dutch, and Hog. The greatest length of Rhode Island from north to south is 48 miles (77 kilometers). The state's greatest width from east to west is 37 miles (60 kilometers). The total area of Rhode Island is 1,214 square miles (3,144 square kilometers), including 165 square miles (427 square kilometers) of inland water surface.
