10 Quirky Facts About Rhode Island That Sound Made Up, But Are 100% Accurate
By Beth Price-Williams|Updated on April 18, 2024(Originally published February 06, 2023)
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
There are just some things that everyone – even those from not around here – knows about Rhode Island. Everyone knows, for example, that it’s the smallest of all of the states. However, there are some quirky facts about Rhode Island that we may have heard in passing or simply didn’t know. Here are just a few of them.
How much do Rhode Islanders love donuts? Well, a study revealed that the Providence-Warwick area has more donut shops per capita than any other place in the United States. There are 23.25 donut shops for every 100,000 Rhode Islanders.
All of the states in the U.S., except Pennsylvania, have a state rock or a state mineral. Rhode Island’s is the Cumberlandite. Next time you’re near Narragansett Bay, on either side, see if you can find a Cumberlandite, which is typically brown or black with hints of white.
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3. Three cheers for Rhode Island – the first state to introduce an official drink.
If you live in Rhode Island, you likely love coffee milk. It’s a good thing, too, because it’s Rhode Island’s official drink. Did you know the Rhode Island original was invented in 1920?
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4. The diner was invented right here in Rhode Island.
Walter Scott earns props as the inventor of the diner, although his version looked a bit different than the 21st-century diner. Scott served food from his diner, which was a wagon.
5. The world’s largest bug is right here in Rhode Island.
It’s a big one, too, weighing in at 4,000 pounds. The massive bug also stands nine feet tall and 52 feet long. Oh, don’t worry. The Big Blue Bug isn’t real, but it is a showstopper. You can see this marvelous bug, officially known as Nibbles Woodaway, outside of Big Blue Bug Solutions in Providence.
You’ve probably heard of him too. Mr. Potato Head earned that title in 2000 and in honor of his role, larger-than-life Mr. Potato Head statues popped up all over Rhode Island.
The original Liberty Bell sits in Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia, but Rhode Island has a replica. It dates back to 1950, and you’ll find it in a hallway in the State House.
10. Kids can still ride the oldest carousel in the United States.
Believed to have been left in Rhode Island by a traveling carnival in 1883, the Watch Hill Merry-Go-Round & Beach in Westerly still draws visitors. The seasonal attraction is a popular ride with the kiddos.
What are some other quirky facts about Rhode Island that sound made up? Or you just find interesting? Let us know in the comments! Since we’re on the subject of quirky, how about taking a peek at these weird laws in Rhode Island? Be prepared to roll your eyes at least once.
