In addition to Brown university, Providence has within its limits the Rhode Island college of education (1854) the Rhode Island school of design, affiliated with Brown (1876) ; Provi dence college (Roman Catholic; 1919) ; the Rhode Island insti tute for the deaf (1876) ; and several private secondary schools of high standing. The public-school system has profited in various ways by the presence of Brown university, and has been a pioneer in such educational schemes as transition classes between kinder garten and primary grades and open-air classes for delicate children. There are four daily newspapers. The Journal (Inde pendent) was established in 1829. Among the numerous charitable institutions are the Butler Hospital for the Insane, one of the oldest institutions of its kind in the country (established by a bequest of Nicholas Brown in 1841), and the Dexter Asylum for the Poor, endowed by the Dexter fund, which limits its benefici aries to those who have a legal settlement in Providence (i.e., have paid taxes for five years on $200 worth of property) and consequently is very restricted in its application. The privately supported welfare agencies and philanthropic organizations unite in a joint annual campaign for funds.
Providence river and harbour have been under improvement by the United States since 1852. The channel to the ocean is 3o ft. deep at mean low water and from 600 to 1,800 ft. wide. A State pier (built in 1913) and a municipal wharf provide modern terminal facilities for the public on equal terms, and there are 5 wharves owned by steamship lines, 1 o by the railroad, and 43 by other private interests. Providence is the principal port of southern New England. Its water-borne commerce averaged tons annually for the years 1920-25, and in 1926 amounted to tons (valued at $437,480,000), of which 736,544 tons represented foreign trade (92% imports of petroleum and petroleum products). The great bulk of the domestic com merce consists of incoming coal, lumber, crude and fuel oil and petroleum products. Providence is one of the leading centres of the country for the manufacture of jewellery, silverware, worsteds, textile machinery and tools. Its aggregate factory output in 1925 was valued at $212,117,987, of which $38,888,861 represented worsteds, $29,823,076 jewellery (18% of the total made in the United States), and $7,730,531 the dyeing and finishing of textiles. Among the long-established firms of national reputation are the Gorham Manufacturing Company, which introduced the jewellery and silverware industry; the American Screw Company, the Brown and Sharpe Manufacturing Company and the Nicholson File Company. Here the famous Corliss engines were first made
in 1847. The city operates under the original charter of 1832, with various amendments, providing for a mayor and council form of government. The franchise is limited to persons who pay a tax on $134 worth of real property or $200 worth of personal prop erty. A town meeting is still held annually for the administration of the Dexter fund. The assessed valuation for 1927 was $630, 340,520. Bank debits in 1926 aggregated $1,958,125,000.
Providence was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams after his banishment from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He bought a tract of land from the Narragansett sachems Canonicus and Mian tonomo, built a house opposite the confluence of the Moshassuck and the Woonasquatucket rivers (5o ft. east of North Main street), and with a few followers who had accompanied him into exile promptly set up a town government. In 1637, after the arrival of a few more settlers, a plantation covenant was adopted, embodying the novel principle of complete separation of religious and civil affairs. Providence was incorporated as a town by the colonial assembly in 1649, and was chartered as a city in 1832. The name was chosen by Roger Williams in recognition (he says) of "God's merciful providence unto me in my distress." Between 1730 and 1760 its area was reduced from 37o sq.m. to 5.5 sq.m. by the setting off of Scituate, Gloucester, Smithfield, Cranston, Johnston and North Providence, some of which were further subdivided subsquently ; and since 186o the 5.5 sq.m. have been increased to over 18 by re-annexations of contiguous terri tory. During King Philip's War, in 1676, the town was attacked by Indians and the northern half was burned. In June 1772, a British schooner, the "Gaspee," running aground at what has since been known as Gaspee point, was captured and burned by Abraham Whipple (1733-1819) according to a plan devised by John Brown (1736-1828), one of the town's prominent merchants. During the Revolution, Providence was a centre of privateering, and in consequence of the occupation of Newport by the British, took over much of the foreign commerce of that port. It re mained an important port for 4o or so years, but after 1830 manufactures became the dominating interest. Since 1900 its water-borne commerce has again increased, more than doubling in volume in the first quarter of the century. Providence shared with Newport the honour of being the seat of the State govern ment until 1900; since 1900 it has been the sole capital.