What is the capital of Rhode Island?

The capital of Rhode Island is Providence. The city was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams. With a population of 177,994 as of the 2010 census, it is the third-largest city in New England. The metropolitan area of Providence has a population of more than 1.6 million.

The city derives its name from the religious sentiment, "God's merciful providence." The city is 25.5 square miles with 18.5 square miles of land. As of 2013, it had a population density of 9,950 people per square mile. Some notable places in Providence include the First Baptist Church in America, which is the oldest Baptist church in the country, the Roger Williams National Memorial and Brown University.