Cranston, city, Providence County, central Rhode Island, a suburb of Providence; settled 1683, incorporated as a city 1910. Manufactures include jewelry, processed food, and textiles. In the 19th century, Cranston was a major textile-manufacturing center. It is named for Samuel Cranston, governor of Rhode Island from 1698 to 1727. Population 71,992 (1980); 76,060 (1990); 79,269 (2000).
