Resources of Rhode Island in 1600

Before European settlement, the land that became Rhode Island offered abundant resources to its Indigenous inhabitants (Wampanoag, Narragansett, Niantic) and later to colonists:

Natural Resources

• Forests: Dense stands of pine, oak, maple, hickory—timber for building, fuel, shipbuilding.
• Waterways: Blackstone, Pawtuxet, Providence Rivers; Narragansett Bay—transport, water power, drinking water.
• Coastal Waters: 400+ miles of coastline with rich fisheries: cod, flounder, striped bass, shellfish.
• Minerals: Granite, limestone, slate—building stone and lime production.

Human Resources

• Indigenous Knowledge: Tribes' deep understanding of local ecology, agriculture (corn, beans, squash), and trade networks.
• European Settlers: English and Dutch colonists brought metal tools, livestock, new crops, and maritime skills.
• Skilled Artisans: Blacksmiths, carpenters, shipwrights—critical for colonial economy.

This resource base supported the early colonial economy of farming, fishing, trading, and eventually industrial milling.