Seven hills characterize Providence's topography, with the city of 190,000 clustered where the Providence River meets Narragansett Bay. Rhode Island's capital sits at the head of the bay, approximately 50 miles south of Boston. New England weather brings cold, snowy winters averaging around 30°F and warm, humid summers reaching the low 80s. Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design dominate the East Side's College Hill neighborhood, while downtown Providence anchors the business district. The city's compact 20 square miles contain distinct neighborhoods ascending and descending the hillsides.
