Providence - Providence (English spelling)

It is the largest city in the state of Rhode Island, facing Narragansett Bay in the northern part of the state, and is the state capital. It has a population of 173,618 (2000). It has the third best port in New England and plays an important role as a center of commerce, industry, education, and culture. The city has seen remarkable industrial development, and has long been known as a town of precious metal accessories such as rings and necklaces, and silverware. Nearly 1,000 companies in electrical, mechanical, rubber, electronic, printing, and publishing industries are concentrated in the city. In 1636, Roger Williams immigrated from the Massachusetts Colony in search of religious freedom and founded the town. His sympathizers joined him one after another, and in 1644, he received permission to establish the Providence Colony. Initially, it developed mainly as an agricultural industry, but in the 18th century it became a center of trade with foreign countries, especially the West Indies, and in the 19th century, the textile industry developed significantly. It was incorporated as a city in 1832, and by 1890, its population had risen to 132,146, one-third of the state's population. Since 1854, it had been the joint capital of the United States with Newport, but in 1900, it secured its status as the state capital on its own. Along with industry, education has long been a priority, and the city is home to many universities, including Brown University (founded in 1764), an Ivy League university, and the University of Rhode Island (founded in 1854), as well as many well-known cultural and educational facilities, such as the John Carter Brown Library. Many old colonial-era buildings, such as the Old Market House and the Old Capitol, blend in with modern buildings, and there are many recreational areas and facilities dotted around the area where you can enjoy swimming, golf, skiing, and yachting.

[Kazuyo Sakuno]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

アメリカ合衆国、ロード・アイランド州北部、ナラガンセット湾に面する同州最大の都市で、州都。人口17万3618（2000）。ニュー・イングランド地方第三の良港を有し、商工業、教育・文化の中心として重要な役割を果たしている。とくに工業の発達は目覚ましく、古くから指輪やネックレスなどの貴金属装身具や銀器の町として広く知られており、電気、機械、ゴム、電子機器、印刷・出版など1000近い各種企業が市域に集中する。1636年にマサチューセッツ植民地からロジャー・ウィリアムズが宗教的自由を求めて移住して町を建設し、彼の同調者が次々に加わり、44年プロビデンス植民地設置の許可を得た。当初は農業を主体として発展したが、18世紀には外国、とくに西インド諸島との交易の中心となり、19世紀に入ると繊維工業の発達が顕著となった。1832年には市制を敷き、人口も1890年には州の3分の1を占める13万2146に上った。1854年以来ニューポートと連合州都を形成していたが、1900年には単独で州都の地位を確保した。工業とともに古くから教育を重視し、アイビー・リーグの一つであるブラウン大学（1764創立）や、ロード・アイランド大学（1854創立）など多くの大学や、ジョン・カーター・ブラウン図書館などの広く名の知れた文化・教育施設が少なくない。旧マーケット・ハウスや旧議事堂など、植民地時代の多くの古い建造物が近代的ビルと調和を保ち、水泳、ゴルフ、スキー、ヨットなどが楽しめるレクリエーション地域や施設も周囲に多く点在する。

［作野和世］

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