Elmwood, Providence, Rhode Island
Encyclopedia
Elmwood is a neighborhood in the South Side
of Providence
, Rhode Island
. The triangular region is demarcated by Broad Street, Elmwood Avenue, and Interstate 95
.
Prior to the 1850s, the region had been used primarily as farm land. Then, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, as the city began to expand south and west with the development of manufacturing and shipping interests, the area began to develop. In the 1840s through 1860s, as the city of Providence expanded from a population of 23,000 to past 50,000, development crept southwestward along Broad Street. As areas began to be densely populated, the remaining farms were subdivided.
The neighborhood takes its name from one of its principal developers, Joseph J. Cooke, who in 1843 purchased a large tract of farm land and named the estate "Elmwood". He and other developers sought to built a model suburban community with wide streets and shade-giving elm
trees.
As public transportation improved from omnibuses (horse-drawn carriages) to horse-drawn tracked cars, and finally to electrified streetcars, development began to quicken pace. A number of manufacturers moved to Elmwood, while the area near Public St, Elmwood Ave, and Potters Ave began to develop as a middle to upper class residential neighborhood.
As the automobile came to increase in popularity, businesses in the form of car dealerships, garages, and service stations would proliferate along Elmwood Avenue. As trolley service was bustituted
, Elmwood Ave was widened significantly and the elm trees Cooke planted had to be removed. These changes in streetscape change the character of the neighborhood irrevocably.
When the 1950s came, Interstate 95 was constructed, and many single-family homes were converted into apartments. Combined with the aging housing stock and traffic congestion, the neighborhood became less appealing to the middle-class, who left in large numbers during this time.
In the early and mid 1970s, spot demolition on dilapidated houses became common and Elmwood fell into disrepair, though in recent years, there have been many efforts to restore many older mansion and revitalize the neighborhood. In 1980, much of Elmwood was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the 'Elmwood Historic District'
with emphasis its nineteenth century revivals and Victorian houses. Restoration efforts in Elmwood were featured on 'Season 11 of Bob Vilia's Home Again' when he helps 11 neighbors with various projects over the course of 13 episodes highlighting the historic nature of homes in the neighborhood.
, more than 33% were African-American, 26% were white, 14% were Asian, and nearly 3% were Native-American. Today the neighborhood is majority Hispanic.
According to the Providence Plan, a local nonprofit aimed at improving city life, 56.7% of the population is Hispanic, 23.3% African-American, 23.6% white, 9.3% Asian, and 1.8% Native American. 70% of children under the age of six speak a language other than English as their primary language.
Median family income rates are well below the city-wide average. Nearly 28% of families live below the poverty line while nearly 17% receive some form of public assistance. Nearly one in four children has been exposed to high amounts of lead, mostly from lead paint
in older homes.
Only half of residents over 25 had completed high school, while the unemployment rate was 14 percent verses 9 for the city as a whole.
. Both are Democrats.
that to the east includes Rhode Island Hospital
, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, and Hasbro Children's Hospital.
South Side, Providence, Rhode Island
The South Side of Providence, Rhode Island, originally South Providence, is a term frequently used to describe the collective region comprising the official neighborhoods of Upper and Lower South Providence, Elmwood and the West End...
of Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. The triangular region is demarcated by Broad Street, Elmwood Avenue, and Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in Rhode Island
Interstate 95, the main north–south Interstate Highway on the east coast of the United States, runs generally southwest-northeast through the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It runs from the border with Connecticut near Westerly through Warwick and Providence and to the Massachusetts state line...
.
History
The neighborhood takes its name from one of its principal developers, Joseph J. Cooke, who in 1843 purchased a large tract of farm land and named the estate "Elmwood". He and other developers sought to built a model suburban community with wide streets and shade-giving elm
Elm
Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees comprising the genus Ulmus in the plant family Ulmaceae. The dozens of species are found in temperate and tropical-montane regions of North America and Eurasia, ranging southward into Indonesia. Elms are components of many kinds of natural forests...
trees.
As public transportation improved from omnibuses (horse-drawn carriages) to horse-drawn tracked cars, and finally to electrified streetcars, development began to quicken pace. A number of manufacturers moved to Elmwood, while the area near Public St, Elmwood Ave, and Potters Ave began to develop as a middle to upper class residential neighborhood.
As the automobile came to increase in popularity, businesses in the form of car dealerships, garages, and service stations would proliferate along Elmwood Avenue. As trolley service was bustituted
Bustitution
The word bustitution is a neologism sometimes used to describe the practice of replacing a passenger train service with a bus service either on a temporary or permanent basis. The word is a portmanteau of the words "bus" and "substitution"...
, Elmwood Ave was widened significantly and the elm trees Cooke planted had to be removed. These changes in streetscape change the character of the neighborhood irrevocably.
When the 1950s came, Interstate 95 was constructed, and many single-family homes were converted into apartments. Combined with the aging housing stock and traffic congestion, the neighborhood became less appealing to the middle-class, who left in large numbers during this time.
In the early and mid 1970s, spot demolition on dilapidated houses became common and Elmwood fell into disrepair, though in recent years, there have been many efforts to restore many older mansion and revitalize the neighborhood. In 1980, much of Elmwood was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the 'Elmwood Historic District'
Elmwood Historic District
Elmwood Historic District is a historic district bounded by Whitemarsh, Moore, Daboll, Mawney, and Ontario Streets and Congress, Lexington, Atlantic, and Adelaide Avenues in Providence, Rhode Island....
with emphasis its nineteenth century revivals and Victorian houses. Restoration efforts in Elmwood were featured on 'Season 11 of Bob Vilia's Home Again' when he helps 11 neighbors with various projects over the course of 13 episodes highlighting the historic nature of homes in the neighborhood.
Demographics
In 1990, the neighborhood remains one of the most ethnically, culturally, and racial diverse in the city. 40% of residents were HispanicHispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
, more than 33% were African-American, 26% were white, 14% were Asian, and nearly 3% were Native-American. Today the neighborhood is majority Hispanic.
According to the Providence Plan, a local nonprofit aimed at improving city life, 56.7% of the population is Hispanic, 23.3% African-American, 23.6% white, 9.3% Asian, and 1.8% Native American. 70% of children under the age of six speak a language other than English as their primary language.
Median family income rates are well below the city-wide average. Nearly 28% of families live below the poverty line while nearly 17% receive some form of public assistance. Nearly one in four children has been exposed to high amounts of lead, mostly from lead paint
Lead paint
Lead paint or lead-based paint is paint containing lead, a heavy metal, that is used as pigment, with lead chromate and lead carbonate being the most common. Lead is also added to paint to speed drying, increase durability, retain a fresh appearance, and resist moisture that causes corrosion...
in older homes.
Only half of residents over 25 had completed high school, while the unemployment rate was 14 percent verses 9 for the city as a whole.
Government
Most of Elmwood is in Ward 9 though a portion of Ward 11 protrudes into Elmwood north of Potters Avenue. Miguel Luna and Balbina A Young represent Wards 9 and 11 respectively in the Providence City CouncilProvidence City Council
The Providence City Council is the fifteen-member legislative body of the city of Providence, Rhode Island. The two major responsibilities of the council are enacting ordinances necessary to ensure the welfare and good order of the city and adopting the city's annual budget...
. Both are Democrats.
Parks
Elmwood has four small parks: Sackett Street Park and Amos Earley Park south of Sackett Street, Niagara Street Park north of Potters Avenue, and Columbus Square at the intersection of Elmwood and Reservoir Avenues.Hospitals
St Joseph's Hospital for Specialty Care is a Catholic hospital located at 21 Peace Street in the northern portion of Elmwood. It completes a line of four hospitals on the South SideSouth Side, Providence, Rhode Island
The South Side of Providence, Rhode Island, originally South Providence, is a term frequently used to describe the collective region comprising the official neighborhoods of Upper and Lower South Providence, Elmwood and the West End...
that to the east includes Rhode Island Hospital
Rhode Island Hospital
Rhode Island Hospital is a private, not-for-profit hospital located in Providence, Rhode Island.-Overview:Rhode Island Hospital is the main teaching hospital of the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. A major trauma center for southeastern New England, the hospital is dedicated to...
, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, and Hasbro Children's Hospital.