Rhode Island

Providence

660,741
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Providence

Providence, Rhode Island, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 24,391. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 660,741.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 23 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Antinomian Controversy Militia Action 1638, Battle of Nipsachuck, Battle of Nipsachuck 1675, and 446 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020660,741
2010626,667
2000621,602
1990596,270
1980571,349
1970580,261
1960568,778
1950574,973
1940550,298
1930540,016
1920475,190
1910424,353
1900328,683
1890255,123
1880197,874
1870149,190
1860107,799
185087,526
184058,073
183047,018
182035,736
181030,769
180025,854
179024,391
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Providence

Military engagements that took place in Providence, Rhode Island.

Antinomian Controversy Militia Action 1638
1638
Battle of Nipsachuck
1675
Battle of Nipsachuck 1675
1675
Battle of Nipsachuck (KPW, 1675)
1675
Battle of Bloody Brook — Swamp Fight (Rhode Island)
1675
Sacking of Providence (King Philip's War)
1676
Battle of Nipsachuck Swamp
1676
King Philip's War – Battle of Nine Men's Misery 1676
1676
Nipsachuck Swamp Fight
1676
Pierce's Fight 1676
1676
Ambush at Captain Pierce's Fight (1676)
1676
Attack on Providence Rhode Island 1676
1676
Attack on Providence 1676
1676
Battle of Nipsachuck (Second Engagement)
1676
Capture of Annawon (Last KPW Battle)
1676
Raid on Providence RI (King Philip's War)
1676
Pierce's Fight
1676
Battle of Nipsachuck (Second)
1676
Battle of Cedar Swamp 1676
1676
Battle of Bunker Hill – Rhode Island contingent
1775
Providence Arsenal Attack (Dorr's Rebellion)
1842
Dorr Rebellion — Battle of Chepachet 1842
1842
Chepachet Standoff (Dorr's Rebellion)
1842

Historic places in Providence

National Register of Historic Places listings in Providence, Rhode Island.

Sixth District Courthouse
Providence
Ives, Thomas P., House
Providence
Heaton and Cowing Mill
Providence
Waterman-Winsor Farm
Smithfield
Wesleyan Avenue Historic District
Providence
Arnold-Palmer House
Providence
Rochambeau Branch-Providence Public Library
Providence
St. Paul's Church
Pawtucket
Berkeley Mill Village
Cumberland (Berkeley)
Providence City Hall
Providence
Allen, Candace, House
Providence
Hearthside
Lincoln
Edgewood Historic District-Anstis Greene Estate Plats
Cranston
Trinity Church
Pawtucket
St. Andrews Episcopal Chapel
Woonsocket
Sprague, Gov. William, Mansion
Cranston
Allenville Mill
Esmond
Jones Warehouses
Providence
Grace Church
Providence
Clemence-Irons House
Johnston
Market House
Providence
Covell Street School
Providence
Brick Schoolhouse
Providence
Smith Hill Branch-Providence Public Library
Providence
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Everything a full report reveals about Providence County, Rhode Island

This page charts the census history of Providence County, Rhode Island. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Providence

When does Providence first appear in the US census?
Providence, Rhode Island first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 24,391.
What is the population of Providence?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Providence had a recorded population of 660,741.
Were any battles fought in Providence?
23 documented military engagements took place in Providence, including Antinomian Controversy Militia Action 1638, Battle of Nipsachuck, Battle of Nipsachuck 1675.
How many historic places are in Providence?
446 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Providence, Rhode Island.
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