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Rhode Island has counties divided into townships. But within each township are villages. Artic, for instance, is a village inside West Warwick township.

But even villages aren't enough for Rhode Islanders. They use different names for the same place. South County? You won't find it on a Rhode Island map. It's called Washington County. And what about roads? RI's Route 2 might be called "South County Trail", "Quaker Lane", "Bald Hill Road", "Reservoir Avenue". Even Post Road has its own names. And the house numbering starts at the beginning of the street and has nothing to do with a fixed reference point.

Ask for directions and a Rhode Islander will give you landmarks, some of which are no longer there. "Go down four roads and turn left where the drive-in theater used to be."

Rhode Islanders, though, don't mind. They know where they live. The names of places and roadsigns (where they exist) are for tourists.

So how do you get around? Your best bet is finding a good Rhode Island map. Or get one online.

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