Twenty Things You Probably Didn't Know About Rhode Island | The Odyssey Online
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Twenty Things You Probably Didn't Know About Rhode Island

The country’s smallest state (and my new home) is a lot more awesome than you think!

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Twenty Things You Probably Didn't Know About Rhode Island
Wikipedia
  1. A water ice stand called Del’s is a Rhode Island favorite. With fresh made ice in traditional lemon or watermelon flavors or a plethora of other options, stopping at ‘the sign of the lemon’ is sure to make any day better.
  2. The official state drink is called coffee milk. A mix of coffee syrup and milk in a manner similar to chocolate milk, this concoction can be found in all Rhode Island grocery stores.
  3. Rhode Island was one of the only states that never approved prohibition.
  4. There is a more eclectic mix of delectable food in Providence than in most other cities.Italian. Vietnamese. Thai. American. Seafood. Mexican. No matter what type of food you are craving, Providence is guaranteed to have it.
  5. You can drive across the state in an hour. Yep, Rhode Island is that small. Some people commute longer distances to work each day than the length of the state. Places that are more than thirty minutes away seem like an eternity for Rhode Islanders.
  6. Tomato pie is bigger than pizza. Like pizza but without the cheese, tomato pie is a Rhode Island favorite. Most Rhode Island natives would take tomato pie over pizza any day.
  7. A large blue bug permeates over Providence (the state’s capital and largest city). Visible from both sides of I-95 passing through Providence, this big blue bug is New England pest control’s mascot.
  8. WaterFire is one of the coolest events to ever exist! Every other Saturday night from the late spring to early fall, the rivers of Providence are lined with burning piles of wood and intense, instrumental music. If you’re ever in Providence on a summer Saturday night, check out WaterFire and I can guarantee you will be astonished.
  9. Job Lot is an amazing discounted store. A mini version of BJ’s, Ocean State Job Lot is every Rhode Islander’s go-to for everything from clothes to household items.
  10. The word 'wicked' is used a lot. If you hang around a native Rhode Islander for a long time, you are guaranteed to hear the phrase “wicked good” on more than one occasion.
  11. The whole state has one area code and it is 401. Because of Rhode Island’s sole area code, telephone numbers are listed without the area code. On many landlines, you do not even have to dial the area code to make a phone call. Convenient, right?!
  12. Rhode Island was the first state to have freedom of religion. Roger Williams founded Rhode Island as a state that went against the norm of an alignment of the church and state. Rhode Island would become a refuge for people prosecuted for their religious beliefs.
  13. Taylor Swift owns a vacation house in the southern part of the state (in Watch Hill, RI). If you follow Taylor on Instagram, the crazy Fourth of July party she posted many pictures of this year likely took place at her Rhode Island abode.
  14. The drivers are notorious for being aggressive and bad. Having family in Rhode Island, I have experienced multiple near-accidents due to drivers cutting my family off.
  15. Family Guy took place here! The town of Quahog, where the show takes place, is not actually a real town; however, many of the places where scenes occur are based on real locations in Rhode Island. For instance, the Happy-Go-Lucky Factory where Peter Griffin works is based on the Hasbro Factory a few miles from Providence.
  16. Potholes are everywhere in the state. If you drive for just a few minutes in the state, you are bound to drive through a pothole (hopefully not one that gives you a flat tire!).
  17. Coffee is taken VERY seriously. There are more coffee shops on the East Side of Providence, where I go to school, than within fifteen miles of my house in Pennsylvania.
  18. Rhode Island has huge population density. With an estimated 1,050,292 people crammed into a state that is only 48 miles long and 37 miles wide, Rhode Island is the second most densely populated state (second only to New Jersey).
  19. Rhode Islanders employ various unique phrases. For instance, sandwiches are called "grinders," water fountains are "bubblers," and milkshakes are "cabinets."
  20. The full name of Rhode Island is Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. This makes the state’s official name the longest in the country.
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