R.I. Gen. Laws § 22-2-2 - Districts

• Cite as: R.I. Gen. Laws § 22-2-2

The state is hereby divided into seventy-five (75) representative districts bounded and described as follows:

(1) It is understood and intended that for the purpose of this section a line described as running on, on, to or through any street (including road, avenue, lane, way, parkway, expressway, divided Highway, state route or interstate route, or trail), stream or river, is intended to mean the centerline of that street, stream or river, and a line described as the shoreline is intended to mean the line on the mean low water level, and a feature extension is intended to mean the imaginary straight-line extension from the end of a map feature, usually a street or road, to another feature as for example, from the end of a dead-end street to a nearby river, in all instances, unless the same shall be otherwise specified.

(2) It is further understood and intended that for the purpose of this section, the districts described in this section shall be composed of United States census geography (tracts and blocks), as defined by the 2020 version of the "TIGER" files from the United States Census Bureau, whose boundaries correspond to the below metes and bounds set forth in this section and hereby made a part of this chapter. A listing of which census blocks are contained within each district shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference.

(3)

(i) It is further understood and intended that for the purpose of this section, the districts will be depicted on thirty-nine (39) maps known as House Plan D -- Substitute A, compiled by Election Data Services, Inc. for each city and town, and hereinafter may be referred to as town maps.

(ii) The secretary of state shall keep a copy of each set of the foregoing maps and a copy of the census tract and block listing available for inspection during ordinary business hours at his or her office. The secretary of state shall furnish each city and town a copy of the town map covering that particular city or town within ten (10) days from the date of passage of this act.

(iii) For purposes of this title, references to "tract" or "CT" shall mean "census tract," as that demographic unit is established by the United States Bureau of the census for the 2020 census as described by maps and publications of the bureau. References to "block," "blocks," or "block groups," refer to those demographic units as established by the United States Census Bureau for the 2020 census as described by maps and publications of the bureau.

(iv) Any reference to a "city or town," "city or town boundaries," or "city or town limits" shall refer to the boundaries or limits of the particular city or town as defined by the 2020 version of the "TIGER" files from the United States Census Bureau.

(v) In the census tract and block listing, the first two (2) digits of a census description shall refer to the State of Rhode Island (44), the next three (3) digits of a census description shall refer to the county in which the district lies. Bristol county carries the code 001; Kent county carries the code 003; Newport county carries the code 005; Providence county carries the code 007 and Washington county carries the code 009. The next six (6) digits refer to the census tract within the county set forth in the description. The last four (4) digits refer to the census block within the census tract. "TIGER" is an acronym for the computer readable geographic data base that automates the mapping and related geographic activities required to support the United States' Census Bureau's census and survey programs and stands for "Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing."

(vi) If any census tract, block, block group, or enumeration district is omitted, listed more than once, or is only partially provided for, it is intended that the districts be defined in such a manner as to not omit any area of Rhode Island from a district and to comply with the standard of Articles VII and VIII of the Rhode Island Constitution requiring that districts be reasonably equal. In order to carry out the intent of the general assembly as expressed in this section the secretary of state, shall if necessary, undertake measures to insure compliance with this section.

(vii) In the event of a discrepancy between the metes and bounds description, the description by census tracts and blocks, and the maps which shall be on file with the secretary of state, then the listing of census tracts and blocks shall take precedence and be controlling

First district: The first representative district shall consist of all that part of the city of Providence bounded by a line beginning at Power St and S Main St; thence easterly on Power St to Cooke St; thence northerly on Cooke St to Angell St; thence easterly on Angell St to River Rd; thence southerly on River Rd to the Henderson Expressway; thence easterly on the Henderson Expressway to the Providence -- East Providence boundary line; thence northeasterly on the Providence -- East Providence boundary line to the line extending from Irving Ave; thence westerly on Irving Ave to Gulf Ave; thence northwesterly on Gulf Ave to Loring Ave; thence westerly on Loring Ave to Grotto Ave; thence northerly on Grotto Ave to Laurel Ave; thence westerly on Laurel Ave to Arlington Ave; thence northwesterly on Arlington Ave to Olney St; thence westerly on Olney St to N Main St; thence northerly on N Main St to Hewes St; thence southwesterly on Hewes St to Stevens St; thence westerly on Stevens St to Charles St; thence southerly on Charles St to the Moshassuck River; thence southerly on the Moshassuck River to Smith St; thence westerly on Smith St to New York New Haven and Hartford RR; thence northerly on New York New Haven and Hartford RR to I-95; thence southwesterly on I-95 to Smith St; thence easterly on Smith St to Francis St; thence southerly on Francis St to Gaspee St; thence easterly on Gaspee St to the Providence Amtrak Station; thence southeasterly on the eastern boundary line of the Providence Amtrak Station to Railroad St; thence southeasterly on Railroad St to Park Row W; thence easterly on Park Row W to Park Row; thence easterly on Park Row to N Main St; thence southerly on N Main St to S Main St; thence southeasterly on S Main St to the point of origin.

Second district: The second representative district shall consist of all of the part of the city of Providence bounded by a line beginning at Smith St and Orms St; thence westerly on Orms St to Valley St; thence southwesterly on Valley St to Pleasant Valley Pkwy; thence southeasterly on Pleasant Valley Pkwy to Dean St; thence southerly on Dean St to State Highway 10; thence easterly on State Highway 10 to I-95; thence southerly on I-95 to I-195; thence easterly on I-195 to the Providence River; thence southeasterly on the Providence River to the Providence -- East Providence boundary line; thence northeasterly on the Providence -- East Providence boundary line to the Henderson Expressway; thence westerly on Henderson Expressway to River Rd; thence northerly on River Rd to Angell St; thence westerly on Angell St to Cooke St; thence southerly on Cooke St to Power St; thence westerly on Power St to S Main St; thence northwesterly on S Main St to N Main St; thence northwesterly on N Main St to Park Row; thence westerly on Park Row to Park Row W; thence westerly on Park Row W to Railroad St; thence northwesterly on Railroad St to the Providence Amtrak Station; thence northwesterly on the eastern boundary line of the Providence Amtrak Station to Gaspee St; thence southwesterly on Gaspee St to Francis St; thence northwesterly on Francis St to Smith St; thence westerly on Smith St to the point of origin.

Third district: The third representative district shall consist of all that part of the city of Providence bounded by a line beginning at Valley St and Raymond St; thence northeasterly on Valley St to Orms St; thence easterly on Orms St to Smith St; thence southeasterly on Smith St to I-95; thence northerly on I-95 to the Pawtucket -- Providence boundary line; thence westerly on the Pawtucket -- Providence boundary line to Smithfield Ave; thence southerly on Smithfield Ave to Silver Spring St; thence southerly on Silver Spring St, to Ledge St; thence westerly on Ledge St to Charles St; thence northerly on Charles St to Paul St; thence westerly on Paul St to Aventine Ave; thence southerly on Aventine Ave to Greeley St; thence southeasterly on Greeley St to Opper St; thence southwesterly on Opper St to Branch Ave; thence northwesterly on Branch Ave to Moy St; thence southerly on Moy St to Concannon St; thence westerly on Concannon St to Douglas Ave; thence southeasterly on Douglas Ave to Veazie St; thence southerly on Veazie St to Eva St; thence southerly on Eva St to Admiral St; thence easterly on Admiral St to Douglas Ave; thence southerly on Douglas Ave to Eaton St; thence westerly on Eaton St to Oakland Ave; thence southerly on Oakland Ave to Raymond St; thence southeasterly on Raymond St to the point of origin.

Fourth district: The fourth representative district shall consist of all that part of the city of Providence bounded by a line beginning at the Pawtucket -- Providence boundary line and I-95; thence southwesterly on I-95 to New York New Haven and Hartford RR; thence southeasterly on New York New Haven and Hartford RR to Smith St; thence easterly on Smith St to the Moshassuck River; thence northerly on the Moshassuck River to Charles St; thence northerly on Charles St to Stevens St; thence easterly on Stevens St to Hewes St; thence northerly on Hewes St to N Main St; thence southerly on N Main St to Olney St; thence easterly on Olney St to Arlington Ave; thence southeasterly on Arlington Ave to Laurel Ave; thence northeasterly on Laurel Ave to Grotto Ave; thence southerly on Grotto Ave to Loring Ave; thence easterly on Loring Ave to Gulf Ave; thence southeasterly on Gulf Ave to Irving Ave; thence easterly on Irving Ave and its extension to the Providence -- East Providence boundary line; thence northerly on the Providence -- East Providence boundary line to the Pawtucket -- Providence boundary line; thence westerly on the Pawtucket -- Providence boundary line to the point of origin.