Smith Hill had been part of the original parcel of land bought by Roger Williams in 1636. Named after a single farm there through most of the 18th Century, the area saw industrialization, dense rapid growth and heavy immigration in the 19th Century. The construction of highway 95 in the 1960s destroyed a large number of historical buildings and neighborhood fabrics, and cut the area off from downtown and the majestic Statehouse of 1891-1902, which had initially been part of the Smith Hill area.

For further information on Smith Hill, consult the Providence Plan website.