If I'm lucky enough to avoid traffic, it's about a 10-minute drive from my house to reach downtown Providence. Within a tight few square blocks, there's a charming assortment of restaurants, cocktail bars, concert and theater venues, and other little gems.

"USA250: The Story of the World's Greatest Economy" is a yearlong WSJ series examining America's first 250 years. Read more about it from Editor in Chief Emma Tucker.