1. People In Rhode Island Take A Massive Amount Of Pride In Their State
While it’s true that Rhode Islanders are the first people to complain about their state, they’re just as quick to demand respect for it. That’s because they are super proud of where we come from and may as well make our state motto “size doesn’t matter…”
2. Rhode Islanders Consider Any Drive That Takes More Than 20 Minutes A Road Trip
People joke that a trip to the grocery store in one state is our definition of a road trip. “Driving to the store? Better pack a lunch—it’s gonna be a loooong 20 minutes.” This is why when all of your friends inevitably decide (as they do most weekends) to drive up to URI, it’s considered a big deal. 45 minutes in a car? That’s like...an eternity.
3. Folks In Rhode Island Get Their Buzz From Narragansett Autocrat Coffee Milk Stout
There is absolutely nothing better than Narragansett Autocrat Coffee Milk Stout. It combines two of the most precious things in life: coffee and alcohol. Plus, it’s just so darn tasty. “Made on honor, sold on merit” might as well become our state motto. Yeah, it’s that good.
4. Rhode Islanders Laugh In The Face Of Danger, AKA: Nor’easters
None of us know why everyone freaks out about nor’easters. Just stock up at Cumbies and move on, people. Nothing to whine about over here!
5. Folks From Rhode Island Know Their Accent Is The Best
If you mix a Boston accent with Italian-American slang you pretty much get the jumble of confusion that is the Rhode Island accent. So don’t be alarmed if you’re an outsider and someone calls a water fountain a “bubblah.”
Plus, Rhode Islanders make up for the omission of Rs by adding Rs on the end of words they technically don’t belong in: “Hey, why don’t you drink from that bubblah? It’s a wicked good idear…”
6. People In Rhode Island’s First Words Were Probably A Curse Word, In Italian
So… about 20 percent of Rhode Island’s population is Italian-American, which is more than any other state. Rhode Islanders take great pride in their Italian-American heritage—even the not so nice parts of it, like the ahem...spicy language.
Everyone knows someone whose first words were an Italian swear. And there is nothing wrong with that. Capiche?
7. Pssssst. Did You Hear? Rhode Islanders Love A Good Gossip Sesh
At 48 miles long and 37 miles wide, it’s not surprising that in the nation’s smallest state, everyone knows each other’s business. When everyone’s mother knows someone’s brother who knows your grandma, there’s no such thing as “under the radar.”
8. Rhode Islanders Practically Live At The Beach
Rhode Island is tiny and on the coast, so the majority of the people here spend their summers on the beach or on a boat.
If you grow up in Rhode Island, you’re bound to find yourself sneaking alcohol into empty beach houses or parents’ docked boats, cramming a ton of your friends, along with as much Narragansett beer that will fit without causing you to sink.
But, since everyone knows everything about everyone, getting away with it is the tricky part. Sigh.
9. Rhode Islanders Are Kind Of The Worst Behind The Wheel (Sorry! But You Know It’s True)
According to US News, Rhode Islanders rank top five worst drivers in the country. The collision likelihood compared to national average is 66.7 percent. Meaning they are 66.7 percent more likely to crash!
Add that to the fact that there are more potholes than any other state and you’ve got yourself a pretty abysmal driving situation.
10. Rhode Islanders Love Their Pop Culture Infamy
Pauly D and Family Guy have basically wrecked what the rest of the nation thinks of us. That being said, Rhode Islanders secretly love the attention. They like it when they make their way into U.S. pop culture (even with something as ridiculous as Pauly D) and when we make national news.
Feature Image Source: Flickr user ImNotQuiteJack
Did we miss anything? Tell us what you think of Rhode Island in the comments below! 
