CENTRAL FALLS

city, Providence county, northeastern Rhode Island, U.S. It forms part of the lower Blackstone River valley community, which includes the city of Pawtucket and the towns (townships) of Cumberland and Lincoln. Central Falls was originally a part of Smithfield, when that town was set apart from Providence (1730). It was included within Lincoln when the territory was again divided in 1871 and was known as Chocolate Mill (a man named Wheat had begun manufacturing chocolate there in 1790). Incorporated as a separate city in 1895, it was named for its location between the towns of Valley Falls and Pawtucket. Central Falls has an area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 square km) and claims to be the nation's smallest city. Its chief manufactures are glass products (including tubes for incandescent lamps and glass fibres), textiles and clothing, and wire covering for machinery. Pop. (1990) 17,637; (1996 est.) 16,620.