What is the abbreviation for Rhode Island, and what region is it in?

Rhode Island's two-letter postal abbreviation is RI. The U.S. Census Bureau places it in the Northeast region, in the New England division. About 1.10 million people lived there in the 2020 census, and it is the smallest state by area.

When did Rhode Island become a state, and what number state was it?

Rhode Island became the 13th state on May 29, 1790, the last of the original 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution. It had refused to send delegates to the 1787 Constitutional Convention and ratified only after the U.S. Senate passed a bill to cut off trade with it. Read more about the road to the Constitution.

Where was Rhode Island founded?

Rhode Island was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a minister banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his religious views. He settled at Providence, and the colony became known for religious freedom and the separation of church and state. A 1663 royal charter guaranteed that freedom of conscience.

Is Rhode Island an island, and where did the name come from?

Most of Rhode Island is on the mainland. The name originally belonged to Aquidneck Island, home of Newport. One explanation traces it to explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, who in 1524 compared an island near the coast to the Greek island of Rhodes; another says Dutch explorer Adriaen Block called an island "Roodt Eylandt," or "red island." In 2020 voters shortened the official name from "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" to "State of Rhode Island."

What is the capital of Rhode Island, and has it always been the capital?

Providence has been the sole capital since 1900. Before that the General Assembly rotated among several towns, and Newport and Providence shared the role of capital. The current State House, completed in 1904, has one of the largest self-supporting marble domes in the world.

What states border Rhode Island?

Rhode Island borders two states: Connecticut to the west and Massachusetts to the north and east. To the south it faces the Atlantic Ocean, and Narragansett Bay cuts deep into the middle of the state.

What are Rhode Island's nickname, motto, and symbols?

Rhode Island is known as "The Ocean State." Its motto is simply "Hope." Its state bird is the Rhode Island Red, a breed of chicken developed there, its flower is the violet, and its tree is the red maple.

How many representatives and electoral votes does Rhode Island have?

Based on the 2020 census, Rhode Island kept its 2 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, which gives it 4 votes in the Electoral College.

State Guide13th StateEst. 1790

Rhode Island RI

"The Ocean State"

The smallest state in the Union and one of its most consequential. Rhode Island invented religious freedom in America, sparked the Industrial Revolution, gave the world some of its grandest Gilded Age architecture, and was the first colony to declare independence from Britain, then the last to join the new nation it helped create.

State Debt - FY2024

$11.4 billion

Total state government debt outstanding at the close of fiscal 2024, including long-term bonds and short-term borrowing across state agencies and public universities.

Tax Revenue - FY2024

$5.3 billion

Total Rhode Island state tax collections in fiscal 2024, led by the general sales tax ($1.6B) and the individual income tax ($1.6B).

Borrowing

Rhode Island issues voter-approved general obligation bonds plus a large amount of appropriation-backed and 'moral obligation' debt through state agencies. All are sold to investors in the municipal market; the state's debt per resident is high for its size. The state reported about $485 million in interest on its debt in fiscal 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State Government Finances.

1st

Colony to declare independence (1776)

13th

State to ratify the Constitution

1,545

Square miles, smallest U.S. state

1636

Founded by Roger Williams

Rhode Island's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Hey there, Rhode Island. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, you're picking a new governor, one of your U.S. senators, both of your members of Congress, all five general officers, and every seat in the General Assembly.

This is a midterm election, halfway through the president's term, and nationally it decides who controls Congress for the next two years.

One thing's already settled: you're getting a new governor. Gov. Dan McKee lost the Democratic primary in September, the first time since 1994 a sitting Rhode Island governor lost renomination. You'll also see five bond questions that together would let the state borrow $600 million.

Key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each race. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against official sources on October 6, 2026

Key Dates

Key Dates
Voter registration deadline (already passed; Rhode Island has no Election Day registration in a midterm)	Sunday, October 4
Mail ballot applications due to your local board of canvassers by 4 p.m.	Tuesday, October 13
Early in-person voting begins	Wednesday, October 14
Election Day: polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (New Shoreham opens at 9 a.m.); mail ballots due by 8 p.m.	Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Rhode Island

If you registered by October 4, you're set. Check your registration, polling place, and sample ballot at vote.ri.gov.

Any voter can vote by mail. Apply by 4 p.m. on October 13, then return your ballot to your local board of canvassers or a drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Early in-person voting runs for the 20 days before Election Day at your city or town's board of canvassers or another designated location; hours vary by town.

On Election Day, polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Bring a photo ID, such as a Rhode Island driver's license, state voter ID card, or U.S. passport. Without one you can cast a provisional ballot. If you're in line at 8 p.m., you can vote.

Sources & Further Reading

…

Rhode Island's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

This is a midterm election, halfway through the president's term, and nationally it decides who controls Congress for the next two years.

Key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each race. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against official sources on October 6, 2026

Key Dates

Voter registration deadline (already passed; Rhode Island has no Election Day registration in a midterm)

Sunday, October 4

Mail ballot applications due to your local board of canvassers by 4 p.m.

Tuesday, October 13

Early in-person voting begins

Wednesday, October 14

Election Day: polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (New Shoreham opens at 9 a.m.); mail ballots due by 8 p.m.

Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Rhode Island

If you registered by October 4, you're set. Check your registration, polling place, and sample ballot at vote.ri.gov.

Any voter can vote by mail. Apply by 4 p.m. on October 13, then return your ballot to your local board of canvassers or a drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Early in-person voting runs for the 20 days before Election Day at your city or town's board of canvassers or another designated location; hours vary by town.

Rhode Island's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Rhode Island

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Rhode Island's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Rhode Island

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading