Providence County

County of northern Rhode Island, USA, bounded to the west by the Connecticut border, and to the north and northeast by Massachusetts; area 1,077 sq km/416 sq mi; population (1990) 596,300. The area is drained by a number of rivers, including the Blackstone (Seekonk), Branch, Chepachet, Moshassuck, Providence, and Wonnasquatucket. It also includes the Sales, Scituate, Smith, and Pascoag reservoirs. The county seat is Providence. Resorts, fishing, granite mining, farming, and gravel pits help support the economy outside the urban centres of Providence, Cranston, Pawtucket, East Providence, and Woonsocket.