Rhode Island Drops ‘Providence Plantations’ From Its Name After Petition And Vote

Residents in Rhode Island vote to drop “Providence Plantations” from the state’s name.

In a 52.9 percent vote and 100 percent of precincts reporting, Rhode Island will now just be recognized as only Rhode Island. The state’s original official name was Rhode Island and “Providence Plantations.” The name had been in place since the 17th century when Puritan minister Roger Williams founded plantations on the Providence River that became the colony, and later, the state of Rhode Island.

The vote comes after an online petition was posted last year that called out the state’s history as a trading hub for enslaved Black people, saying that the state’s name “holds the memory of an economic foundation built on slavery, and only keeps us connected to a shameful past.” NBC News reports that the petition called for a three-word deletion, which was directed to Gov. Gina Raimondo and the other state officials. The petition gained more than 11,000 signatures.

On June 22, Raimondo signed an executive order calling on voters to help amend the state constitution to make the change, writes Tim Stelloh of NBC News. “Rhode Island was founded on the principles of acceptance and tolerance, and our state’s name — and actions — should reflect those values,” said Raimondo at the time. “Providence Plantations” has been removed from official websites, citations, state employee pay stubs and more.

The state was up for a name change back in 2010, but only 22 percent of voters were up for amending it.