Cranston

Cranston is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. It is part of the Providence metropolitan area and sits along the western shore of Narragansett Bay. The city has a mix of residential neighborhoods, commercial districts, and parks, including the shopping corridor around Garden City and a number of lakefront and green spaces. As of the latest estimates, Cranston has about 80,000 residents, making it one of Rhode Island's larger municipalities. The local economy features retail, health care, education, and service industries, and Cranston is served by multiple highways and Rhode Island public schools, including Cranston Public Schools.

Cranston is also a surname. The name is of British origin and derived from the place name Cranston, with historical ties to families that lived in or near settlements named Cranston in the British Isles. Notable people with the surname include Bryan Cranston, an American actor (born 1956) best known for his role as Walter White in Breaking Bad.

The name Cranston is used for other places as well, but the Rhode Island city is the most widely recognized reference in the United States.