Fox Point is a neighborhood in the East Side

East Side, Providence, Rhode Island

The East Side is a collection of neighborhoods in Providence, Rhode Island on the eponymous eastern part of the city. It officially comprises the neighborhoods of Blackstone, Hope , Mount Hope, College Hill , Wayland, and Fox Point.The area is separated from East Providence, Rhode Island to the...

 of Providence, RI. It is bounded by the Providence

Providence River

thumb|The city of Providence as seen from the Providence River at its confluence with the Narragansett BayThe Providence River is a tidal river in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It flows approximately 8 miles...

 and Seekonk

Seekonk River

The Seekonk River is a tidal extension of the Providence River in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It flows approximately 8 km . Most historical scholars agree that the name is derived from two Native American words, sucki and honc...

 rivers, Interstate 195

Interstate 195 (Rhode Island-Massachusetts)

Interstate 195 is an Interstate Highway running a combined 40.1 miles in the U.S. states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It travels from a junction with Interstate 95 in Providence, Rhode Island east to a junction with Interstate 495 and Route 25 in Wareham, Massachusetts...

 and the College Hill

College Hill, Providence, Rhode Island

College Hill is a neighborhood in Providence, Rhode Island, and one of six neighborhoods comprising the East Side of Providence and part of College Hill Historic District. It is roughly bounded by North Main Street to the west, Power Street to the south, Governor Street and Arlington Avenue to...

 and Wayland neighborhoods. Fox Point is the southernmost neighborhood in the East Side area of Providence.

Fox Point retains much of its historical character, with housing stock dating from the 18th and 19th centuries in much of the neighborhood. Vernacular

Vernacular architecture

Vernacular architecture is a term used to categorize methods of construction which use locally available resources and traditions to address local needs and circumstances. Vernacular architecture tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental, cultural and historical context in which it...

 interpretations of the Federal

Federal architecture

Federal-style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the United States between c. 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815. This style shares its name with its era, the Federal Period. The name Federal style is also used in association with furniture design...

, Greek revival, and Italianate

Italianate architecture

The Italianate style of architecture was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. In the Italianate style, the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian Renaissance architecture, which had served as inspiration for both Palladianism and...

 architectural styles are well-represented West of Governor Street, while somewhat more recent construction dominates on Ives and Gano Streets.

History

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

Triangular trade

Triangular trade, or triangle trade, is a historical term indicating among three ports or regions. Triangular trade usually evolves when a region has export commodities that are not required in the region from which its major imports come...

 of slaves, sugar cane and rum between New England

New England

New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...

, the West Indies, and West Africa

West Africa

West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...

.

The neighborhood derives its name from Tockwotten Hill, which was largely leveled (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

Seekonk River

The Seekonk River is a tidal extension of the Providence River in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It flows approximately 8 km . Most historical scholars agree that the name is derived from two Native American words, sucki and honc...

 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.

However, with the completion of the Boston and Providence Rail Road

Boston and Providence Rail Road

The Boston and Providence Railroad was an early US Railroad in New England, connecting Boston and Providence and is part of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor.-History:...

, and regular steamship connections to ports along the East Coast, 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 Portuguese and Cape Verdeans. Many Portuguese-American institutions remain in Fox Point, though the Portuguese community is much smaller than it once was.

The proximity of Brown University

Brown University

Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...

 has led to a combination of student housing and gentrification

Gentrification

Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...

 in the neighborhood that has displaced many of the long-term residents.

Demographics

According to the Providence Plan, a local nonprofit aimed at improving city life, 78.6% of Fox Point residents are white, well-above the city-wide average. In addition, 6.4% of residents are Asian, slightly higher than the city-wide average. African-Americans and Hispanics each comprise less than 5% of the population.

The median family income is $55,315, above the city-wide average of $32,058. 8% of households live below the poverty-line while 2% of households receive some form of public assistance. 14% of children under the age of six have been exposed to hazardous amounts of lead. This is due to the prevalences of 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 buildings.

Government

Fox Point is located within Ward One. Ward One is currently represented in the Providence City Council

Providence 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...

 by Democrat

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

 Seth Yurdin.

Parks

India Point Park

India Point Park

India Point Park is a park in the Fox Point neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island at the confluence of the Seekonk River and Providence River. The park takes its name from the maritime activity connecting Providence with the East and West Indies....

 is located along the northern shore of Narragansett Bay

Narragansett Bay

Narragansett Bay is a bay and estuary on the north side of Rhode Island Sound. Covering 147 mi2 , the Bay forms New England's largest estuary, which functions as an expansive natural harbor, and includes a small archipelago...

. Located at the confluence of the Seekonk and the Providence River, the park is the only large expanse of Bay-side shoreline in Providence preserved for public use.

Interstate 195

Interstate 195

Interstate 195 may refer to:*Interstate 195 , a spur in Miami, Florida*Interstate 195 , a spur in Saco, Maine*Interstate 195 , a spur to BWI Airport*Interstate 195 , a spur to the Jersey Shore...

 separates the park from the rest of Fox Point. Construction plans for the relocation of 195 include a new, larger pedestrian bridge over the interstate, to allow better access between the park and the rest of India Point.

Friends of India Point Park is a notable citizens organizations interested in maintaining the park.

Other Parks include:

• Gano Street Park - a dog park that includes baseball fields.
• Roger Williams
  Roger Williams (theologian)
  Roger Williams was an English Protestant theologian who was an early proponent of religious freedom and the separation of church and state. In 1636, he began the colony of Providence Plantation, which provided a refuge for religious minorities. Williams started the first Baptist church in America,...
  
   Landing.

Schools

The Fox Point area includes only two schools. One of these, the French-American School, is a private school teaching in both French and English from kindergarten to seventh grade. This school is located at 75 John Street, near the intersection of John and Hope Street. The other school in Fox Point is the Vartan Gregorian Elementary School. It is located at 455 Wickenden Street

Wickenden Street

Wickenden Street in Providence, Rhode Island is a popular destination for students of the area's colleges and schools. The street is surrounded by universities on the East Side of Providence's College Hill, including Brown University, RISD, Moses Brown School, & The Wheeler School.-History:The...

, near the Fox Point Boys and Girls Club. Part of the Providence public school system, it teaches students from kindergarten to fifth grade.

Famous people

Noted American actor, singer, composer, playwright, and producer, George M. Cohan

George M. Cohan

George Michael Cohan , known professionally as George M. Cohan, was a major American entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer, and producer....

was born on Wickenden Street in Fox Point. A street, George M. Cohan Boulevard, is named in his honor.