State of Rhode Island
I'm encroaching on Paul's territory here, but I just learned a weird factoid about Rhode Island geography so I thought I'd share. And I'm sure many of you will also know this, but if it was new to me I'm hoping it may be new to a few of you as well.
The factoid: Most of Rhode Island is not Rhode Island. It's the Providence Plantations.
Rhode Island's full name is "The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations," which makes it the longest state name in the U.S. But technically, Rhode Island is just a single island in Narragansett Bay. The island is also known as Aquidneck Island. The mainland part of the state is the Providence Plantations.
In 1975, State Sen. Ambrose Campbell introduced a bill to officially shorten the name to "The State of Rhode Island," but the bill didn't pass. So the full, long name remains.
The factoid: Most of Rhode Island is not Rhode Island. It's the Providence Plantations.
Rhode Island's full name is "The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations," which makes it the longest state name in the U.S. But technically, Rhode Island is just a single island in Narragansett Bay. The island is also known as Aquidneck Island. The mainland part of the state is the Providence Plantations.
In 1975, State Sen. Ambrose Campbell introduced a bill to officially shorten the name to "The State of Rhode Island," but the bill didn't pass. So the full, long name remains.
Minneapolis Star Tribune - Apr 10, 1975
Santa Cruz Sentinel - Jul 17, 1975
Comments
Glad you are now hip to our true state name, Alex. And as you might suspect, esp. given RI's historical involvement in the slave trade, there is intermittent agitation to eliminate to "plantations" part, despite that word's entirely different meaning in this case: ie, there were no southern-style "plantations" in RI.
Posted by Paul on 10/03/17 at 06:43 AM
That's very interesting. I didn't know that about RI. I'll put a note in the Suggestion Box to have the name shortened after we invade. Or changed entirely.
Posted by Amanda on 10/03/17 at 09:36 PM
"...there were no southern-style "plantations" in RI."
Since when has logic and reality prevented snowflakes from being offended? I remember a few years back the hullabaloo over the terms master and slave in regards to computer architectures.
Since when has logic and reality prevented snowflakes from being offended? I remember a few years back the hullabaloo over the terms master and slave in regards to computer architectures.
Posted by RobK on 10/04/17 at 10:59 AM
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Category: Geography and Maps | 1970s