Every Rhode Islander eventually has one of those unforgettable encounters… You’re speaking with an out of stater and you suddenly realize they haven’t the slightest idea of where Rhode Island is. You find yourself trying to explain that no, Rhode Island and Long Island are not the same place. Little Rhody is a state! It’s just not easy to find on the map, but it’s there, nestled between Massachusetts and Connecticut, and of course the sea. You suddenly realize that growing up in the Ocean State has offered you the chance to live a very unique life that few can possibly understand. For those that are familiar, but not from Rhode Island, you might even find yourself desperately trying to explain just how small the state really is! These 15 facts will help put the size of the nation’s smallest but most charming state into perspective.
- Rhode Island is so small it can fit into the state of Texas 221 times!
Flickr/Tim Patterson Rhode Island might just be a tiny speck compared to bigger states like Texas, but it is filled with wonderful things.
- Rhode Islanders consider any drive lasting more than 15 minutes a road trip.
Flickr/Joe St.Pierre “Let’s pack up some snacks, we’re visiting your Aunt in Westerly and it’s going to be a long drive.”
- It’s also so small that Delaware, the second smallest state, is still more than twice the size!
Flickr/MPD01605 Follow Rhode Island is only 1,212 square miles, while Delaware is a whopping 2,491! Though both states might seem small to the rest of the nation, the size difference is almost unimaginable for Rhode Islanders.
- Rhode Island is so small that there are at least four cities and towns across the country that are bigger!
Flickr/Thomas Hawk Little Rhody really feels like one big small town in its entirety.
- The whole state only needs one area code.
Flickr/Linh Nguyen The smallest state is often called “the 401” for just this reason.
- As if it couldn’t seem any smaller, almost 15% of the state’s square mileage actually consists of bays and doesn’t even include land!
Flickr/Peter Rintels No wonder it’s officially nicknamed the Ocean State.
- Think it’s big enough to house major sports teams? Think again.
Flickr/Keith Allison Local sports fans root for teams out of Boston, such as the New England Patriots. Honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way! Go Pats!
- Rhode Island is so small that the locals visit Massachusetts for some of their most popular attractions!
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM La Salette, Fenway, Purgatory Chasm, Gillette, the list goes on and on.
- If you want to know how small Rhode Island is, just try and find it on the map without any help.
Wikipedia This picture really speaks for itself.
- Rhode Island is so small the state only has 39 total cities and towns.
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM That’s less than a dozen than the next smallest state.
- You can easily drive across the entire state in an hour.
Flickr/likeaduck You can probably even stop for gas and coffee and still make it.
- Rhode Island is so small that you literally can’t go anywhere in state without seeing someone you know.
Flickr/Mike Senese It’s important to stay neighborly because you never know where you’ll run into someone.
- The average hiker would just need 3-5 days to walk across the entire state.
Flickr/sunrisesoup The North South Trail goes across the state and is a popular trail in nice weather.
- While most states rely on county government, Rhode Island uses local municipal governments in each city and town.
Flickr/cmh2315fl There aren’t that many cities and towns so why not?
- It’s so small out-of-staters often confuse it with Long Island, or think it’s an extension of Massachusetts, or Connecticut.
Flickr/Caio Jhonny No. It’s not Long Island. It’s Rhode Island! You know, one of the original colonies.
Though Little Rhody might be small, it is definitely filled with amazing attractions, a gorgeous coastline, and charming locals. To learn more about the smallest state, click here.
Flickr/Tim Patterson
Rhode Island might just be a tiny speck compared to bigger states like Texas, but it is filled with wonderful things.
Flickr/Joe St.Pierre
“Let’s pack up some snacks, we’re visiting your Aunt in Westerly and it’s going to be a long drive.”
Flickr/MPD01605 Follow
Rhode Island is only 1,212 square miles, while Delaware is a whopping 2,491! Though both states might seem small to the rest of the nation, the size difference is almost unimaginable for Rhode Islanders.
Flickr/Thomas Hawk
Little Rhody really feels like one big small town in its entirety.
Flickr/Linh Nguyen
The smallest state is often called “the 401” for just this reason.
Flickr/Peter Rintels
No wonder it’s officially nicknamed the Ocean State.
Flickr/Keith Allison
Local sports fans root for teams out of Boston, such as the New England Patriots. Honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way! Go Pats!
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
La Salette, Fenway, Purgatory Chasm, Gillette, the list goes on and on.
Wikipedia
This picture really speaks for itself.
That’s less than a dozen than the next smallest state.
Flickr/likeaduck
You can probably even stop for gas and coffee and still make it.
Flickr/Mike Senese
It’s important to stay neighborly because you never know where you’ll run into someone.
Flickr/sunrisesoup
The North South Trail goes across the state and is a popular trail in nice weather.
Flickr/cmh2315fl
There aren’t that many cities and towns so why not?
Flickr/Caio Jhonny
No. It’s not Long Island. It’s Rhode Island! You know, one of the original colonies.
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