CRANSTON, a city of Providence county, Rhode Island, U.S.A., adjoining the city of Providence on the south; served by the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad. The popu lation in 1920 was 29,407, of whom 7,516 were foreign-born white (2,645 from Italy) ; and in 193o Federal census 42,911. Within its area of 28.8sq.m. are an attractive water-front on Narragansett bay; farms, nurseries and market-gardens; and several villages with important manufactures, including cotton print goods, winding machinery and automatic fire extinguishers. The output of the factories in 1927 was valued at In the southern part of the city is a State farm of 667ac. (P.O. Howard) , on which are several State institutions for the de pendent and the delinquent and also the county gaol.
Cranston was settled as a part of Providence about 1640 by associates of Roger Williams. It was incorporated as a separate town in 1754. In 1868, 1873 and 1892 portions of it were re annexed to Providence. In 1910 it was chartered as a city. It was named after Samuel Cranston, governor of Rhode Island 1698-1727.