South Side, Providence, Rhode Island

File:Narragansett Improvement Company, Providence RI.jpg|thumb|Allens Avenue has been an industrial corridor since the start of the 20th century For the next 90 years, the area was predominantly Irish Catholic, with a significant Jewish minority. Many Roman Catholic churches remain in the area today. The decades following World War II saw an exodus of white residents moving to the suburbs, and starting in the 1960s, local black families moved into the neighborhood. Starting in 1980, the area saw an influx of Hispanics, along with Native Americans, Africans, Laotians, and Vietnamese Hmong. == Demographics ==

As of August 2005, 52.3% of South Side residents were Hispanic, 24.4% were African-American, 12.2% were non-Hispanic white, 9.1% were Asian, and 2% were Native American. 64% of public school children under the age of six spoke a language other than English as their primary language. The median family income was $23,379, which was 75% of the citywide average. 35.5% of families lived below the poverty line. 30.3% of families received some form of public assistance. Nearly one in four children had been exposed to unsafe quantities of lead. This is generally attributed to the prevalence of lead paint in older homes, though older plumbing may also be a factor. == Hospitals ==

The South Side includes a line of four hospitals that from west to east are: St Joseph's Hospital for Specialty Care, Rhode Island Hospital, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, and Hasbro Children's Hospital. St Joseph's Hospital for Specialty Care is a Catholic hospital located at 21 Peace Street in the northern portion of Elmwood. Rhode Island Hospital, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, and Hasbro Children's Hospital are located in close proximity to one another in Upper South Providence. Rhode Island Hospital has 719 beds and an acute care hospital and an academic center affiliated with Alpert Medical School. ==References==