Providence County

Providence County, Rhode Island consists of 413 square miles with Massachusetts to its North and East border, Kent County, RI to its South, and the state of Connecticut to its West.  The county seat is The City of Providence, which is home to the majority of the residents of Providence County.

Providence is also the capital of Rhode Island, the most populous city in Rhode Island, and one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the estimated third-largest city in the New England region.

Rhode Island divides its five counties into four Superior Court jurisdictions: Kent, Washington, Newport, and Providence/Bristol (with Providence/Bristol comprising one jurisdiction). Rhode Island's unified state court system, the Superior Court, has original jurisdiction in all County felony proceedings, in civil suits where claims exceed $10,000, and in matters of equity.  The Superior Court also hears appeals on civil and criminal cases from the County District Court. (Civil suits with claims from $5,000-$10,000 may be heard by the Superior Court or County District Court). Any appeal from a decision rendered in Superior Court is taken directly to the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

If you have a personal injury case, a judge will hear your claim in civil court. This FAQ's section gives you information about civil lawsuits. If you are confused about the terms you hear while in court, you may find this list of common legal terms handy. Once you've gone through a trial, you may have the right to appeal your personal injury case to the Rhode Island Superior Court or the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

Providence County had an estimated population of 635,596 in 2006, according to the US Census Bureau. This was a 2.3% increase from the year 2000. There were 255,980 housing units in Providence Co., with an estimated 2.48 persons per household. Providence County is the largest county in the state of Rhode Island (by population); and it was ranked first in the state for population growth during the 1990s

English clergyman Roger Williams and a small band of his followers established Rhode Island’s first permanent settlement, called Providence Plantations, at Providence in 1636. Today, The Rhode Island Historical Society is located in Providence.

Colleges in Providence County include Brown University, Bryant College, Johnson & Wales University, and Providence College, Rhode Island College, and the Rhode Island School of Design.

 Ross Trail beckons by day or by moonlight.  Wilson Reservoir Dam, Dry Arm Brook, and the YWCA Beach draw outdoor enthusiasts year-round for hiking, picnicking, or paddling.  The Bank of America City Center offers winter ice-skating.  The Ryan Center and the newly renovated Dunkin’ Donuts Center ("The Dunk") offer full schedules of top-notch sports events and artistic venues.

Providence also sports a Wintertime Farmers' Market - fresh local food all winter long, plus jams, jellies, herbs, and cut flowers.

Providence County Accidents News

When TV host Allen Funt told unsuspecting people in the 1960s to “Smile, you're on Candid Camera,” the inevitable result was a lot of laughter and a sigh of relief.

Carnegie: Deborah Paige, 48, of Carnegie, was charged Friday with three counts of possession of crack cocaine, three counts of possession of crack cocaine with intent to deliver,

Nycole Rivera and Miguel Arroyo, Littlestown, a son Nov. 11, 2008, at Hanover Hospital. Paula Ness and Michael Keiser, Hanover, a son, Nov. 12, 2008, at Hanover Hospital.

The philosophy of hospice is not to prolong life, nor to hasten death. Hospice addresses comfort and symptom needs, and provides holistic support to individuals and their families.