Rhode Island Census

Additional Information may be found on the United States Census Portal page.

Availability
1790-1930--Federal census records are available for Rhode Island from 1790 to 1930.

1890 Census--The 1890 census was destroyed.

Indexes
1790-1870 Indexes--Statewide indexes are available for the 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, and 1870 censuses in book form and for 1790 to 1850 on microfiche.

Soundex--A soundex (phonetic) index is available on microfilm for part of the 1880, 1910 and all of the 1900, and 1920 censuses.

Colonial Censuses
1747 to 1754, 1774, 1782--Colonial censuses (or similar lists of names) exist for 1747 to 1754, 1774, and 1782. These generally name the head of the household and the number of persons in the family. Many of these have been published, such as:


 * John R. Bartlett, comp., Census of the Inhabitants of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, 1774 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1969; FHL book 974.5 X2pb, fiche 6046611).

A census of all males 16 or older was taken in 1777. See the following:


 * Mildred M. Chamberlain, The Rhode Island 1777 Military Census (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1985; FHL book 974.5 M2cm).

Mortality Schedules
Mortality schedules exist for 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880. Copies of these are at:

Rhode Island State Library State House, Room 208 Providence, Rhode Island 02903.

State Censuses
1865 to 1936--State censuses were taken at 10-year intervals from 1865 to 1936. (The 1936 census was actually taken during 1935-36.) The 1895 census is missing. Microfilm copies are at the Family History Library for the complete 1865, 1875, 1885, 1915, 1925, and 1936 censuses.

An index to the 1865 census is on FHL films 934776-99. The original 1865, 1875, 1885, and 1905 to 1936 state censuses are at the Rhode Island State Archives. The state censuses provide information similar to that in the federal censuses.

Territorial Censuses
Rhode Island does not have a territorial census as it was never a territory.

Web Sites
Ancestry: http://www.ancestry.com

Heritage Quest Online: http://www.heritagequestonline.com

Census Online: http://www.census-online.com/links/RI/

Genealogy Today: http://dir.genealogytoday.com/usa/ri/census.html

Access Genealogy: http://www.accessgenealogy.com/census/rhodeisland.htm

Bibliographic Citations
Rhode Island Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1998, 2001.

Federal