Rhode Island State Census, 1905 - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of an index and images of census population schedules of the state of Rhode Island in 1905. 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. Rhode Island began taking its own census every ten years on the half-decade year between 1865 and 1935. The 1895 state census is missing.

This census covers 90 to 95 percent of the individuals within the counties enumerated.


 * The collection is arranged in order by place of residence (county, town or city, ward, enumeration district), then by gender, and then alphabetically by surname
 * Within the collection the individual cards are arranged alphabetically by family name and then by town
 * Each resident is listed on a single handwritten printed card
 * There are different cards for males and females

The information is generally reliable. However use the information with some caution, since the information may have been given to a census taker by any member of the family or by a neighbor. Some information may have been incorrect or deliberately falsified.

Image Visibility
Whenever possible, FamilySearch makes images available for all users. However, rights to view images on our website are granted by the record custodians. Images in this collection are available for viewing if you are a registered FamilySearch user. You can register for a free FamilySearch account here.

For additional information about image restrictions, please see the Restrictions for Viewing Images in FamilySearch Historical Record Collections page.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
Information found in the Rhode Island State Census for the year 1905 includes:

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

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select the City/Town
 * 2) Select the Gender
 * 3) Select the Surname Range to view the images.

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?

 * Use the age listed to determine an approximate birth date. This date along with the place of birth can help you find a birth record. Birth records often list biographical and marital details about the parents and close relatives other than the immediate family
 * Birth places can tell you former residences and can help to establish a migration pattern for the family
 * 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
 * Occupations listed can lead you to other types of records such as employment or school records; children’s occupations are often listed as “at school”
 * 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
 * You should also be aware that the census may identify persons for whom other records do not exist

I Can't Find the Person I'm 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.