Rhode Island Counties, Demographics & Geography
Complete official guide to all 5 counties in Rhode Island (RI). Explore 2024 US Census population estimates, county seats, FIPS codes, land areas, and interactive mapping tools powered by GeoMap Suite.
Rhode Island County Breakdown
Showing 5 of 5 documented counties and seats.
County Name | FIPS | County Seat | Population (Census) | Land Area | Quick Tool |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence County | 44007 | Providence | 660,741 | 409 sq mi | Lookup |
| Kent County | 44003 | East Greenwich | 170,363 | 168 sq mi | Lookup |
| Washington County (South County) | 44009 | South Kingstown | 129,839 | 329 sq mi | Lookup |
| Newport County | 44005 | Newport | 85,643 | 102 sq mi | Lookup |
| Bristol County | 44001 | Bristol | 50,793 | 24 sq mi | Lookup |
Geographic Structure of Rhode Island Counties
County Administration & Governance
In Rhode Island, county governments manage vital public infrastructure, tax assessments, law enforcement, judicial courts, election administration, and public records. The county seat (Providence and other municipal headquarters) houses the primary courthouse, commissioners, and sheriff’s department.
All Rhode Island counties carry a unique 5-digit Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, where the first two digits (44) designate the state and the remaining three digits identify each specific jurisdiction.
Geographic & Demographic Highlights
- Most Populous County:Providence County (660,741 residents)
- Largest by Land Area:Providence County (409 sq mi)
- State Capital:Providence
- Census Bureau Region:Northeast United States
Demographic calculations derive from the United States Census Bureau 2024 Population Estimates Program (PEP) and TIGER/Line geographic boundary files.