History
Smith Hill was given to Roger Williams from the Sachems Canonicus and Miantonomi in 1636. The first industry in Providence was a community Grist Mill founded by John Smith in 1636 in this area. The area was divided between families, but it was named for the Smith family in the eighteenth century. Building on Smith Hill did not occur until the late eighteenth, early nineteenth century, where there were mostly country retreats. During 1830 to 1930, Smith Hill became an urban neighborhood due to industry and immigration. Industry moved in and supplied all the jobs in the neighborhood. Then the Great Depression hit and all factory jobs were depleted. The workers moved out because of no work. By the end of the great Depression, nearly 20 percent of the homes on Smith Hill were vacant compared with 3 percent citywide. Then in the 1960's people began to move out of Smith Hill because the industry was moving out to the suburbs. The population however did not decrease. Smith Hill had a great influx of immigrants that settled in the area because the housing was cheap. Smith Hill became more mixed due to these large numbers of immigrants and the shrinking white population.
There have been attempts to revitalize the neighborhood. Capital Hill Interaction Council and Project SHURE (Smith Hill Urban Revitalization Effort) were two influential projects that began in the 1970's. However, most of changing has been in street lighting and riverfront sidewalks in the area going to the Pleasant Valley Parkway. Attempts at restoring the Foundary complex have occurred recently and have been somewhat successful. Any more success in the revitalization of Smith Hill will be determined by the Capital Center Project that is now underway. This could attract more people to the area and help to more business in, which will in turn create more jobs for the area residents.
Statistics on Smith Hill
These are all according to the 1990 Census.
| Total | % | % change from 1980 census | |
| Total # of Residents | 6,003 | 100 | 6.5 |
| White | 3,621 | 60.3 | -25 |
| Nonwhite | 2,382 | 39.7 | 193.3 |
| Black | 731 | 12.2 | 48.6 |
| Hispanic | 1,188 | 19.8 | 218.5 |
| Asian | 1,032 | 17.2 | 1620.0 |
| American Indian, Aleut, or Eskimo | 53 | 0.9 | 55.9 |
| Foreign Born persons | 2132 | 35.5 | 128.5 |
| People with English speaking difficulty | 1,677 | 29.7 | 36.7 |
| Unemployment in Smith Hill | 253 | 9.9 | |
| Unemployment in Providence | 9.2 |
Median Family Income in Smith Hill is $20,707. That is 27% lower than citywide.
1/3 of the persons in Smith Hill are poor.
27% of the families are living below poverty.
Grants
Total amount of money granted by HUD ( Housing and Urban Development) for Smith Hill in 1997 is $208,475.
It is divided into these programs.
| Smith Hill Community Development | $65,000 |
money for rehabilitation of affordable housing and provide home buyer services for low
income families interested in purchasing property.
Smith Hill Community Center
$115,475
money to provide youth, seniors, and day care programming in the center.
| ESG-The Turning | $3,000 |
money for support services for the recently sober homeless individuals.
| Providence Ambulatory Health Care Center | $25,000 |
money for the provision of funding for the construction of new patient treatment/exam rooms at one of two existing neighborhood health care centers. This is part of a four year plan totaling $100,000.
Other money that comes into the Smith Hill area that is given by the state or through private funding totals $87,000.
| Providence Plan | $40,000 |
money to organize a network of open space advocates.
| Smith Hill Center | $47,000 |
money to develop and promote a comprehensive economic plan per the Smith Hill
Community.
Other Programs
The Department of Planning and Urban Development began in the 1970's a plan to revitalize Smith Hill. From an economic view the were going to stimulate reinvestment and redevelopment of the commercial district of the area. They were going to improve the retail sales volume in the area through public improvements. An increase in the tax base would hopefully attract new property investment to the area. An attempt to provide development sites for new construction would be the last economic plan. The Department also wanted to preserve and restore those structures that are able to be restored to keep the character of the Smith Hill area.
This plan has been put on the back burner because the Downtown is the city's prime concern. They hope that by building up the Downtown would naturally increase the economics in the Smith Hill area. Other areas in the city are suffering also, but some improvements have taken place. Houses are slowly being restored and others that were not have been slated for removal. When this will all take place will depend on how long it takes for the Downtown area to be finished.
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