What would you say have been the largest ethnic influences on RI?..and how? (Providence: 2009, live in)

[Tiger Beer]

What would you say have been the largest ethnic influences on RI?..and how?

For example, Italian or Irish or even Puerto Rican or Korean, who knows...whatever...either now or historically...

[terrasurf]

Lots of interactive immigration maps here:

Interactive Map Showing Immigration Data Since 1880 - Interactive Graphic - NYTimes.com

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by terrasurf

Lots of interactive immigration maps here:

Interactive Map Showing Immigration Data Since 1880 - Interactive Graphic - NYTimes.com

Great map...thanks...I'll be up all night now exploring it...thanks again.

[Rnrboy]

People always seem to forget that the English are still the fourth largest ethnic group in Rhode Island. A lot of the old farms in South County can be traced back to their original English immigrants.

[dgthree]

I feel like this is a little more accurate. It does not show the majority of immigration since 1880, but it shows actual population by ethnicity.

[Tiger Beer]

RI...very Irish (southern part) and Italian (northern part)...does it have that feel to it as well?

[dgthree]

well in northern RI you have Johnston, Cranston, North Providence and part of Providence that all very very italian. As for Southern RI I always figured it to be more English than Irish, but I am sure people who live in South County area will know better.

[Rnrboy]

Rhode Island is 19% Italian, 18% Irish, 15% French-Canadian, 12% English, 11% hispanic, and 8% Portuguese.

This means if you add up the English and Irish, nearly a third of the state is from the Isles.

[Tiger Beer]

How about the Asian populations...do they have much of a presense in RI?

If so, where (if it isn't Providence itself). Does it have much of an Asian presense at all in RI, or is that felt much more in MA or CT?

[Rnrboy]

There is a definite Asian presence, mostly in Providence - but as you can see they are not in the top 6 ethnic groups.

This should help:

The six largest ancestry groups in Rhode Island are: Italian (19%), Irish (19%), French Canadian (17.3%),[37] English (12%), Hispanic 11% (predominantly Puerto Rican and Dominican, with smaller Central American populations), [2] Portuguese (8.7%).

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 8.07% of the population aged 5 and older speaks Spanish at home, while 3.80% speaks Portuguese, 1.96% French, and 1.39% Italian [3].



6.1% of Rhode Island's population were reported as under 5, 23.6% under 18, and 14.5% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 52% of the population.

Rhode Island has a higher percentage of Americans of Portuguese ancestry (who dominate Bristol County), including Portuguese Americans and Cape Verdean Americans than any other state in the nation. Additionally, the state also has the highest percentage of Liberian immigrants, with more than 15,000 residing.[38] French Canadians form a large part of northern Providence County whereas Irish Americans have a strong presence in Newport and Kent counties. Yankees of English ancestry still have a presence in the state as well, especially in Washington county, and are often referred to as "Swamp Yankees." African immigrants, including Liberian Americans, Nigerian Americans and Ghanaian Americans, form significant and growing communities in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia