Fox Point, Providence, Rhode Island
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fox Point is a neighborhood in eastern Providence, RI. It is bounded by the Providence and Seekonk rivers, Interstate 195 and the College Hill neighborhood.
Originally used for farmland, Fox Point's economy quickly changed to maritime affairs with the construction of Providence's first port at India Point in 1680, becoming a major trading point in the Atlantic Triangular trade of slaves, sugar cane and rum between New England, the West Indies, and West Africa.
The neighborhood derives its name from Fox's Hill, which was largely levelled (along with slum residences) as part of a public works project in the 19th century. The fill was used to reclaim part of the Seekonk River now consisting of Gano Street and land to the east of Gano Street. Once the area's street grid had been laid, Fox Point developed as a residential neighborhood. With the completion of rail connections to Boston and Stonington, Connecticut, Fox Point became an attractive location for industry. New industry attracted many immigrants, first Irish, though by the second half of the 19th century the neighborhood was home to increasing numbers of Azoreans, Cape Verdeans, and Portuguese. The proximity of Brown University has lead to a combination of student housing and gentrification in the neighborhood that has displaced many of the long-term residents.
Today, the appearance of Fox Point retains much of its historical character, with housing stock dating from the 18th and 19th centuries in much of the neighborhood. Vernacular interpretations of the Federal, Greek revival, and Italianate architectural styles are well-represented West of Governor Street, while somewhat more recent construction dominates on Ives and Gano Streets.
The neighborhood is home to several parks, including the Gano Street Park with numerous ball fields, India Point Park at the head of Narragansett Bay, and Roger William's Landing.
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[edit] References
"Fox Point", Providence Neighborhoods from Providenceri.com
| Neighborhoods in Providence, Rhode Island |
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Blackstone · Charles · College Hill · Downtown · Elmhurst · Elmwood · Federal Hill · Fox Point · Hartford · Hope · Manton · Mount Hope · Mount Pleasant · Olneyville · Silver Lake · Smith Hill · South Elmwood · Upper South Providence · Valley · Wanskuck · Wayland · West Broadway · West End |
