Just like Upper South Providence, this section of the city was part of Roger Williams' original land purchase in 1636 and remained farmland into the 18 th Century. It belonged to Cranston between 1754 and 1868. In response to the introduction of the horse drawn trolley in 1879 the area developed into the first major streetcar suburb with intense speculative housing development.  The closeness to Narragansett Bay led to intense industrial development as well. Originally a predominantly working class neighborhood with two family rental facilties developed was followed by more owner occupied single family homes in the last years of the century. As a result of further suburbanization in the 1950s the general level of prosperity sank in South Providence, leading to an increase in cheaper rental housing, and the subdivision of former one family homes into multifamily houses. Today a substantial number of abandoned buildings and vacant lots can be found in this area. One of the most conspicuous urban designs in the area was the 1943 construction of the Roger Williams Housing Project of 744 low cost modern housing units together with Roger Williams Middle School. After 15 successful years the project suffered from a lack of funds and subsequently from appropriate maintenance, and in 1991 all but two buildings were demolished. Now a new social housing project is planned to go up in the area.

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For further information on Downtown, consult the Providence Plan website.