All About Rhode Island

Officially named "the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations," Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States of America. Its land area is 1,545 square miles, and its borders consist of Massachusetts to the north and east and Connecticut to the west. As of 2009, the estimated population of Rhode Island was 1,053,209. Even though it is the smallest state and ranks just 43rd in terms of total population, it is actually ranked second (behind only New Jersey) in terms of population density at 1,012.3 persons per square mile.

The history of Rhode Island is an old, rich one that dates back to colonial times. Roger Williams, after being banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1636 for his religious views, settled at the tip of Narragansett Bay after the land was granted to him by the native Narragansett tribe. Williams declared it a place of religious freedom and named the site Providence, which is now the capital of the state. Rhode Island joined the Union on May 29, 1790.

Rhode Island, known affectionately as "Little Rhody" and "the Ocean State," is known for several famous people, such as local boxers Vinny Pazienza and Peter Manfredo, film music composer Bill Conti of the "Rocky" films, R&B singer Jon B, film writers/directors Bobby & Peter Farrelly of "Dumb & Dumber" and other smash-hit comedies, TV personality Elisabeth Hasselbeck, "Family Guy" creator/writer/voice actor and Rhode Island School of Design graduate Seth MacFarlane, and actor James Woods.

Several prominent colleges and universities are based out of Rhode Island; these include Ivy League member Brown University, Bryant University, Johnson & Wales University, Providence College, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Roger Williams University, Salve Regina University, the University of Rhode Island (URI) and Rhode Island College.

Popular sports teams from the state include the Pawtucket Red Sox (farm team to the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball), the Providence Bruins (farm team to the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League), and several college-level teams that include the Providence College (PC) Friars, the Brown Bears and the University of Rhode Island (URI) Rams.

Numerous movies and television shows have Rhode Island ties, references and location shots; these include "High Society," set in Newport, RI; the film adaptation of "The Great Gatsby," which was also filmed in Newport; several films by the Farrelly brothers; and the hit TV show "Family Guy" is also based out of a fictional Rhode Island town named Quahog, which regularly features and lampoons local events, places and celebrities.