RHODE ISLAND - Rhode Island, the smallest state in the union, has a name that seems straightforward, but its origins are a fascinating story of two separate and distinct colonial settlements. The state's official name, which it held until 2020, was the "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations." Understanding this full title is the key to uncovering the original names and the unique history of how this fiercely independent colony was formed.
The Two Origins: An Island and a Plantation
The colony was born from two separate havens for religious and political dissenters, each with its own name and founder.
- Rhode Island (The Island of Aquidneck): The "Rhode Island" part of the name refers to the largest island in Narragansett Bay, now officially named Aquidneck Island, where the cities of Newport, Middletown, and Portsmouth are located.
The origin of the "Rhode Island" name is debated, but the most common theory attributes it to the Dutch explorer Adriaen Block in 1614. He described an island with a reddish appearance, likely due to its red clay shores, and named it "Roodt Eylandt," which is Dutch for "Red Island." This name was later anglicized to Rhode Island by English settlers.
- Providence Plantations: The "Providence Plantations" part of the name comes from the first permanent European settlement in the state, founded by Roger Williams in 1636. Williams, a theologian and champion of religious freedom, was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his radical beliefs. He and his followers established a settlement at the head of Narragansett Bay, which he named "Providence Plantations" in gratitude to God's divine providence for providing him with a haven.
Uniting for a Charter: "Rhode Island and Providence Plantations"
In the 1640s, the various independent-minded towns in the region, including Providence, Portsmouth, and Newport, sought to unify under a single charter to protect themselves from the territorial claims of the larger, more powerful Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth colonies.
In 1663, they successfully obtained a Royal Charter from King Charles II of England, which officially united the settlements into a single colony with the formal name, the "Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations." This name reflected the union of the island settlements (Rhode Island) and the mainland settlements (Providence Plantations).
For over 350 years, the state has carried this long and historic name. It wasn't until a statewide vote in 2020 that the official name was shortened to simply the "State of Rhode Island." While the "Providence Plantations" has been officially retired, the original full name remains a powerful reminder of the state's unique origins, born from two separate settlements founded in the passionate pursuit of religious and political liberty.
Sources:
- The Office of the Rhode Island Secretary of State
- The Rhode Island Historical Society
- Encyclopedia Britannica
- The National Park Service (for Roger Williams National Memorial)
- Historical accounts of the Rhode Island colony
