
What is the reason for Rhode Island being classified as an island?
Rhode Island, despite its name, is not actually an island. The reason for its classification as such can be traced back to its early settlement by European explorers. English explorer, Giovanni da Verrazzano, mistook the Narragansett Bay for an island and named it “Rhode Island.” This misinterpretation has persisted over the years, leading to the state being erroneously referred to as an island. Rhode Island’s classification as an island is purely a historical misconception.