Providence is located in Providence County and it is the county seat. It lies at the head of Narragansett Bay, about 25 miles from the Atlantic and about 45 miles southwest of Boston. Providence is the home of Brown University.

The population estimate for July 1, 1998 was 150,890, a decrease of 9,838 since 1990.

Providence is the capital of Rhode Island and the largest city in the state. The city is situated on seven hills and covers an area of nearly 20 square miles.

Providence was founded by Roger Williams in 1636, following his exile from Massachusetts. He believed Divine Providence had brought him there, so he named it Providence.

Currently undergoing urban revitalization, Providence is part of the Providence-Fall River-Warwick metro area.