What is the capital of Rhode Island, the smallest U.S. state by area?

The capital of Rhode Island, the smallest U.S. state by area, is Providence.

Providence was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, who had been banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Williams established the settlement with an emphasis on religious liberty and named it Providence, expressing gratitude for what he viewed as divine protection.

The city became Rhode Island’s permanent capital in 1900. Before then, the state legislature met in several locations, including Newport and Providence. Providence is located at the head of Narragansett Bay, where the Providence River meets the bay.

Newport remains one of Rhode Island’s best-known historic cities, but it is not the state capital. Providence is also the state’s largest city and a major center for education, government, and health care.