This area was part of the original purchase of land from the Narragansett Indians through Roger Williams in 1636.  It remained pasture land through most of the 18 th Century (belonging to the town of Cranston until 1868). The character of Upper South Providence is both residential (mostly rental units) and industrial (the so called Jewelry district near downtown is part of it). Until the 1870s two family houses dominated, then, in the 1880s with the onset of large scale speculative subdivision came middle and upper class single family homes as well. This development was encouraged by the horse trolley line since 1879 and the introduction of an electrified trolley line in 1892. Industrialization along the waterfront was a major development factor in the early decades of the 20 th Century. The construction of the highways 95 and 195 in the 1960s, and especially their intersection in this area resulted in the loss of a substantial amount of housing stock and physically separated Upper South Providence from downtown.

Use the map on the left to select a location, or click here for a list.

For further information on the Upper South Providence neighborhood, consult the Providence Plan website.