Rhode Island, State Census, 1935 - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of images and an index to population schedules of the census of Rhode Island taken by the state in 1935. Rhode Island began taking its own state census every ten years in 1865 and continued through 1935; however, the 1895 census is missing.

Officially known as the 1935 state census, these schedules are on computer cards dated January 1936. This census is an every-name list of the state's inhabitants as of 1935. The collection includes most individuals within the enumerated counties. The census records do not show individuals in family groups.

The 1935 census was recorded by enumerators directly onto punch cards which were then arranged alphabetically by county, then by township (not by town), and then by surname and given name. The census was taken January through March 1936, but was a list of the State’s inhabitants as of 1935.

The census was compiled to obtain a count of the population of the state to determine how many representatives the state would send to Congress.

Censuses are usually reliable, depending on the knowledge of the informant and the care of the census enumerator. Information may have been given to a census taker by any member of the family or by a neighbor.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:
 * Date and place of enumeration including city, township and county
 * Principal's name and address
 * Principal's gender, race and marital status
 * Date of and place of birth
 * Naturalization status
 * Usual and present occupation
 * Employed or seeking employment
 * Whether or not principal is literate
 * If at school, name of school and grade
 * Physical disabilities
 * Has principal ever had measles, scarlet fever, or diphtheria

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The age of your ancestor
 * The place where the family lived

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor in the census, carefully evaluate each piece of information about them. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Search for vital records, such as birth, marriage, and death
 * Use the naturalization information to find their naturalization papers in the county court records. It can also help you locate immigration records such as a passenger list which would usually be kept records at the port of entry into the United States
 * If they are subject to military service, they may have military files in the State or National Archives
 * It is often helpful to extract the information on all families with the same surname in the same general area. If the surname is uncommon, it is likely that those living in the same area were related
 * Search for land and probate records

I Can't Find the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Look for another index. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby counties
 * Be sure to search both the male section (listed first) and the female section
 * There is also the possibility that a family was missed in the census

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Rhode Island.
 * Rhode Island Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.