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Our Providence, RI real estate website provides a wealth of information for home buyers and home sellers. Below, you will find information on the history and culture of Providence as well as links to more detailed information such as demographics and schools. You may view a virtual tour, search homes for sale, and access information on different types of properties such as condos, farms, foreclosures, and vacation homes. This website will give you everything you need to buy or sell a home in Providence, RI.
Virtual Homes is a full-service residential real estate company dedicated to providing a wealth of real estate and local community information to home buyers and home sellers. Our agents are ready to assist you with all of your real estate needs.
Providence RI Community Profile & History
Providence, Rhode Island is the second fastest-growing city in the Northeast, and the second largest city in New England. Now a bustling center for industry, the arts, and higher education, the city boasts an illustrious history spanning more than three centuries.
In 1636, a religious exile from the Plymouth colony named Roger Williams arrived at Narragansett Bay. Williams quickly established relations with the local Narragansett Indians and secured a title in short order; the tracts of land he was accorded over the next several years made up the original Providence colony. Opportunities for agriculture and early industry were limited due to the area's rocky terrain, and the new settlement suffered an additional setback when the downtown was destroyed during King Philip's War.
The colony's tradition of independent-mindedness made it a hotbed of revolutionary fervor, however, and the notorious Gaspee affair of 1772, during which local merchants and sailors burnt the customs sloop Gaspee, was arguably the act that kick-started the American Revolution.
Over the course of the 19th century, Providence emerged as an industrial hub of the northeast, its bustling economy centered on the manufacture of machinery, silverware, jewelry and textiles. Though the decline of the textile industry set into motion a recession beginning in the 1920's, the city entered a period of economic and cultural renewal in the 1970s.
The city government opened several new parks and recreational areas, and the construction of the Providence Place Mall in 1999 provided opportunities for newfound growth and economic prosperity. A generation of renewal and reconstruction has placed Providence at the forefront of American cities. It has joined the select list of "magnet cities" that draw investment, talent and culture from distant points. Today, the city skyline is undergoing constant change and property values are on the rise.
Two of the most important factors in the health of a city are the safety of its streets and the quality of its public schools. Over the last four years, the crime rate has been lower than at any other time since the 1970s. The construction of the new state-of-the-art public safety complex is ahead of schedule. Teachers, principals and administrators are putting into practice the most progressive new methods for educating the urban population. The city has become a model district, not only in Rhode Island, but also in the nation.
The city is comprised of these 26 neighborhoods: Blackstone, Charles, College Hill, Downtown, Elmhurst, Elmwood, Federal Hill, Fox Point, Hartford, Hope, Lower South, Manton, Mount Hope, Mount Pleasant, Olneyville, Reservoir, Silver Lake, Smith Hill, South Elmwood, Upper South, Valley, Wanskuck, Washington Park, Wayland, West Broadway, and the West End.
Providence Rhode Island Community Information
Providence Community Demographics and Local Resources
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Providence Schools
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Providence RI Real Estate Information
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Different financing alternatives are available depending on whether you are purchasing a single family, condo, multi-family, or investment property. Understanding the pros and cons of each may help you decide which option is the best for you. Speak to our buyer agent professionals and mortgage partners to understand and evaluate your options.