1. The Battle of Great Bridge: On January 9, 1776, Rhode Island troops fought alongside Virginia and North Carolina troops in the Battle of Great Bridge in Virginia. The American victory forced British troops to evacuate Norfolk, Virginia.

2. First Electric Train: On January 9, 1904, Rhode Island introduced the first electric train in the United States. The train traveled from Providence to Bristol and continued to run until 1929.

3. First African American in Rhode Island General Assembly: On January 9, 1963, Ray Rickman became the first African American to serve in the Rhode Island General Assembly. He served as a state representative for 12 years and went on to become the executive director of Stages of Freedom, a nonprofit organization that promotes African American history in Rhode Island.

4. Blizzard of 1996: On January 9, 1996, Rhode Island was hit with a major blizzard that brought over two feet of snow in some areas. The storm caused widespread power outages and travel disruptions, including the cancellation of over 1,000 flights at T.F. Green Airport.

5. First Female Governor: On January 9, 2015, Gina Raimondo was inaugurated as the first female governor of Rhode Island. She served as governor until 2021 and focused on issues such as job creation, education, and pension reform.