Providence metropolitan area

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Providence Metropolitan Area

| official_name = Providence–Warwick, RI-MA Metropolitan Statistical Area

| settlement_type = Metropolitan Statistical Area

| image_skyline = Providence Rhode Island skyline 2017.jpg

| image_size = 300px

| image_alt =

| image_caption = The skyline of Providence, Rhode Island

| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=240|zoom=8|frame-coord={{Coord|41.6500|-71.2500}}

}}

| map_alt = Map of Greater Providence

| map_caption = Map of Providence–Warwick, RI–MA MSA

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = File:Flag of United States.svg United States

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_name1 = File:Flag of Rhode Island.svg Rhode Island
File:Flag of Massachusetts.svg Massachusetts

| subdivision_type2 = Largest city

| subdivision_name2 = Providence, RI

| subdivision_type3 = Other cities

| subdivision_name3 = - New Bedford, MA
- Fall River, MA
- Warwick, RI
-

Pawtucket, RI
- Cranston, RI

| established_title =

| established_date =

| unit_pref = US

| area_footnotes =

| area_total_sq_mi = 1,635.76

| elevation_max_footnotes =

| elevation_max_ft = 812

| elevation_max_m = 247.5

| elevation_min_footnotes =

| elevation_min_ft = 0

| elevation_min_m = 0

| population_as_of = 2005 est.

| population_footnotes =

| population_total = 1,612,989

| population_density_sq_mi = 1,006.21

| population_density_km2 = 380.78

| population_rank = 38th in the U.S.

| demographics_type2 = GDP

| demographics2_footnotes = {{Cite web|title=Total Gross Domestic Product for Providence-Warwick, RI-MA (MSA)|url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NGMP39300|work=Federal Reserve Economic Data |publisher=Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis}}

|demographics2_title1 = MSA

|demographics2_info1 = $105.561 billion (2022)

| timezone1 = EST

| utc_offset1 = −5

| timezone1_DST = EDT

| utc_offset1_DST = −4

| postal_code_type =

| postal_code =

| area_code_type =

| area_code =

| iso_code =

| website =

}}

The Providence metropolitan area (Providence MSA) is a region extending into eight counties in two states. Its core is in the states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts;{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/UA20/UA_2020_WallMap.pdf|title=2020 Census Urban Areas of the United States and Puerto Rico|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=July 28, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2010-06-28/pdf/2010-15605.pdf|title=Federal Register/Vol. 75, No. 123/Monday, June 28, 2010/Notices|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=July 28, 2023}} its largest city is Providence, Rhode Island. With an estimated population of 1,622,520, exceeding that of Rhode Island by slightly over 60%, the Providence MSA is the 38th largest metropolitan area in the United States.{{cite web |title=Update of Statistical area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/bulletins/fy2007/b07-01.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070604212956/http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/bulletins/fy2007/b07-01.pdf |archive-date=June 4, 2007 |access-date=June 11, 2007 |publisher=White House |pages=52,108,150}}{{cite web |title=Providence Metropolitan Area:2000–2005 Population & Migration |url=http://www.demographia.com/db-prvmigra.htm |access-date=June 11, 2007 |publisher=demographia.com}} The MSA covers all of Rhode Island and Bristol County, Massachusetts, with an average population density of 2300 per mi² (888 per km²).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/Estimates%20pages_final.html |title=July 1, 2005 Population Estimates|access-date =March 22, 2007|publisher=US Census Bureau}}{{cite web|url=http://www.publicpurpose.com/pp82-prv.pdf|title=Providence: Least Sprawling Metropolitan Area: Colorado Springs Sprawls less than Portland|author=Wendell Cox|publisher=publicpurpose.com|access-date=June 11, 2007}}{{cite web|url=http://stats.bls.gov/oes/current/msa_def.htm#77200 | work=stats.bls.gov|title = May 2006 OEC Metropolitan Statistical Area definitions|access-date=June 9, 2007}}

The region's Gross Metropolitan Product is the country's 42nd largest at $64.7 billion, just above the Gross State Product of the entire state of Hawaii.{{cite web |url=http://www.usmayors.org/metroeconomies/0608/GMP_Report__June_2008.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2006-09-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228054104/http://www.usmayors.org/metroeconomies/0608/GMP_Report__June_2008.pdf |archive-date=December 28, 2008 |df=mdy-all }} pages 15 and 40 Since 2006, the Providence metropolitan area has been officially included in the Greater Boston Combined Statistical Area (CSA), the sixth-largest CSA in the country, with over eight million residents.

Boundaries

=Metropolitan statistical area=

The Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Metropolitan Statistical Area (defined at the county level by the US Census Bureau) contains all five counties in Rhode Island and one county in Massachusetts, namely:

Its principal cities are:

=NECTA=

The Providence-based NECTA (defined at the municipal level by the Office of Management and Budget) does not include the separate New Bedford NECTA, but they are unified in a Combined NECTA.{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metrodef.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508190341/http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metrodef.html|url-status=dead|title=Current Lists of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas and Definitions|archive-date=May 8, 2012}}

The Providence-Fall River-Warwick RI-MA NECTA includes:

All cities and towns in Rhode Island except Westerly
In Worcester County, Massachusetts: Blackstone and Millville
In Norfolk County, Massachusetts: Bellingham and Plainville
In Bristol County, Massachusetts: North Attleborough, Attleboro, Seekonk, Rehoboth, Swansea, Somerset, Fall River, and Westport

Transportation

File:Providence_station_tracks.jpg]]

= Rail =

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) operates commuter rail in the region, with the Providence branch of the Providence/Stoughton Line connecting the metropolitan area to Boston. Existing Providence line stations in Providence, South Attleboro, and Attleboro were supplemented by an extension to T.F. Green Airport in Warwick and Wickford Junction in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, completed in 2012. A new Pawtucket/Central Falls station on the Providence Line opened in January 2023.

The Fall River/New Bedford Line opened to the South Coast cities in March 2025. The proposed second phase of the South Coast Rail project would add Battleship Cove station and a different routing to Boston.

Amtrak provides regional rail service over the Northeast Corridor to the Providence and Kingston train stations. Northeast Regional trains stop at both stations, while Acela service is available in Providence.

= Bus transit =

Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA), which has its hub in downtown Providence, manages local bus transit for the state, serving 35 out of 39 Rhode Island communities as well as South Attleboro and Seekonk, Massachusetts. RIPTA operates 55 bus lines as well as Flex service and paratransit service.{{cite web|title=About|url=http://www.ripta.com/about|website=RIPTA|publisher=Rhode Island Public Transit Authority|access-date=4 September 2015}} Ferry services link Block Island, Prudence Island, and Hog Island to the Rhode Island mainland. Additionally, there is a seasonal ferry service between Providence and Newport from late May to mid-October. Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) provides local bus service in the Massachusetts locales of Fall River and New Bedford. The Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) serves much of the Massachusetts portion of the metropolitan area, and areas eastward to the South Shore.

= Air transport =

File:Skywalk_PVD_-_To_Rental_Cars_(38830799634).jpg in Warwick]]

The major airport is T. F. Green Airport in Warwick, (though its airport code is PVD) though Logan International Airport in Boston is also used. The MBTA Providence/Stoughton Line passes through T.F. Green and connects the airport to Providence and Boston, offering additional airport flexibility in the Greater Boston Area.

= Roads =

Two interstates connect major population centers in the region: 95, which runs diagonally across Rhode Island and connecting with Boston and New York City, and 195, which runs east from Providence into Fall River and New Bedford. The auxiliary interstate 295 provides a bypass around Providence.

Additional highways serving the area include Route 146 (connecting Providence and Worcester), Route 138 (serving Newport), Route 24 (connecting Fall River and Newport with the Boston area), Route 4 (serving the Wickford area), Route 99 (connecting Route 146 with Woonsocket) and Route 140 (connecting Route 24 with New Bedford).

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1900= 623832

|1910= 794906

|1920= 895577

|1930= 981085

|1940= 998794

|1950= 1063384

|1960= 1257976

|1970= 1391026

|1980= 1421795

|1990= 1509789

|2000= 1582997

|2010= 1600852

|2020= 1676579

|estyear= 2022

|estimate= 1673802

|align-fn=center

|footnote=data source:{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t3/index.html|title=Ranking Tables for Metropolitan Areas (PHC-T-3)|first=US Census Bureau Systems Support|last=DIvision|website=www.census.gov}}{{cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2010-2019/metro/totals/cbsa-met-est2019-annres.xlsx|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2020|access-date=April 27, 2020}}

}}

Significant Lusophone populations exist across the region, particularly the area from East Providence to New Bedford. The two Bristol counties (RI and MA) are the only counties in the U.S. in which Portuguese-Americans are the largest ancestry group.{{Cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFIteratedFacts?_event=&geo_id=05000US25005&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US25%7C05000US25005&_street=&_county=Bristol+County&_cityTown=&_state=&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=050&_submenuId=factsheet_2&ds_name=DEC_2000_SAFF&_ci_nbr=552&qr_name=DEC_2000_SAFF_A1050®=DEC_2000_SAFF_A1050%3A552&_keyword=&_industry=|title=Bristol County, Massachusetts – Select a Race, Ethnic, or Ancestry Group – American FactFinder|access-date=April 17, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103060929/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFIteratedFacts?_event=&geo_id=05000US25005&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US25%7C05000US25005&_street=&_county=Bristol+County&_cityTown=&_state=&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=050&_submenuId=factsheet_2&ds_name=DEC_2000_SAFF&_ci_nbr=552&qr_name=DEC_2000_SAFF_A1050®=DEC_2000_SAFF_A1050%3A552&_keyword=&_industry=|archive-date=November 3, 2011|url-status=dead}}

References

Category:Metropolitan areas of Rhode Island

Category:Metropolitan areas of Massachusetts

Category:Geography of Greater Boston

Category:Providence, Rhode Island

Category:Regions of Massachusetts

Category:Northeast megalopolis