Rhode Island

Population
	2000	2008
Population	1,048,319	1,050,788
State Rank	43	43
Median Age	36.7	38.8
Total 8 year-olds	14,628	11,987
Boys	7,558	6,103
Girls	7,070	5,884
Total 9 year-olds	15,084	12,278
Boys	7,764	6,163
Girls	7,320	6,115
Total 10 year-olds	15,217	12,460
Boys	7,780	6,421
Girls	7,437	6,039
Total 11 year-olds	14,348	12,537
Boys	7,465	6,411
Girls	6,883	6,126
Total 12 year-olds	14,228	12,761
Boys	7,245	6,557
Girls	6,983	6,204

How People Get to Work:
Drive Alone	80%	81%
Car Pool	10%	8%
Public Transportation	3%	3%

Geography
Capital	Providence
Largest City	Providence
Second Largest City	Warwick
Persons per square mile	1,003

Business
	2000	2007
Dentist Offices	416	408
Amusement Parks	4	3
FastFood Restaurants	941	1,229
Toy Stores	47	42
Video/Disc Rental Stores	66	65
Zoos & Botanical Gardens	1	1
Candy & Nut Stores	22	15
Pet & Pet Supply Stores	34	46
Ice Cream & Frozen Dessert Makers	6	2

Note: As is the case with all surveys, statistics from sample surveys are subject to sampling and nonsampling error.

A value of NA indicates that data are not available for the indicated time period, or is not applicable for the current region.

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History

Date of Statehood: May 29, 1790
Population 1800: 69,122
Population 1860: 147,545
Population 1900: 428,556
Population 1950: 791,896

I never knew that! *

Nickname: Ocean State
Flower: Violet
Tree: Red Maple
Bird: Rhode Island Red
Fruit: Rhode Island Greening Apple
Drink: Coffee Milk
Fish: Striped Bass
Yacht: Courageous

Teachers: Download the Picture Your State lesson plan. [pdf]

Who told you this stuff?

The U.S. Census Bureau takes a census of the population every 10 years, and censuses of economic activity and governments every five years. And every year, the Census Bureau conducts more than 100 other surveys. Data on this page come from Population Estimates, the Census of Population and Housing, the American Community Survey, and County Business Patterns.

How are these data collected?

The U.S. Census Bureau sends questionnaires in the mail or contacts businesses and households to participate in its surveys.

* State symbol information was obtained from various non-Census Bureau resources including state web sites, educational web sites, and commercial entities.