On May 29, 1790, Rhode Island became the 13th and last state to ratify the Constitution. Rhode Island's official nickname is The Ocean State, a reference to the fact that the state has several large bays and inlets that amount to about 14% of its total area. Rhode Island covers 1,214 square miles (3,144 km2), of which 1,045 square miles (2,707 km2) are land.