Rhode Island, nicknamed The Ocean State, is the smallest state in the U.S. and the 8th least populated. Located in New England, it was one of the original 13 colonies. Rich in history, and with a strong maritime theme, apartments here are likely to be very stylish. Common sizes are 1 or 2 bedrooms, with 1 or 2 bathrooms. In some areas, old brick buildings have been converted to lovely loft apartment homes.
Rhode Island is divided into 5 counties, which do not have their own governments. In this state, local governments operate at the municipal level. The largest and most populated County is Providence County, which is where the city of Providence is located. This county is home to the state government, and many apartments are in fabulous old buildings which have been converted to residential units. The city of Newport is located in Newport County and is famous for its incredible mansions. It is known as a playground for the rich and famous, but Newport is also a great place to raise a family. Apartments in Newport may be in historic buildings which are typically very charming and graceful in appearance. They may also be larger than apartments in other parts of the state. Kent County, Washington County and Bristol County are the other three counties in Rhode Island. Apartments in these three counties are scarcer, and are often duplexes.
Historically, fishing and textiles were the major industries in Rhode Island. But the state has grown into several other industries in modern times. Health services and education are now the largest employment sectors. Teachers here are among the highest-paid anywhere in the country, and the schools are excellent. Rhode Island is home to the headquarters of 2 Fortune 500 companies: CVS Caremark and Textron. The U.S. military is also a major employer. Newport County is home to the Naval Undersea Warfare Center and the Naval War College.
