Rhode Island Census: Difference between revisions

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Latest revision as of 11:04, 11 April 2025

Rhode Island Wiki Topics

Beginning Research

Record Types

Rhode Island Background

Cultural Groups

Local Research Resources

Online Federal Censuses[edit | edit source]

Population Schedules[edit | edit source]

Starting in 1790, federal population schedules were taken every 10 years in the United States. Click here for more information about federal census records.

Rhode Island was the 13th state to ratify the Constitution on 29 May 1790. It was included in all of the federal censuses.

United States Federal Censuses with Online Links[edit | edit source]

1790	1800	1810	1820	1830	1840
FamilySearch Ancestry.com	FamilySearch Ancestry.com	FamilySearch Ancestry.com	FamilySearch Ancestry.com	FamilySearch Ancestry.com	FamilySearch Ancestry.com
1850	1860	1870	1880	1890	1900
FamilySearch Ancestry.com	FamilySearch Ancestry.com	FamilySearch Ancestry.com	FamilySearch Ancestry.com	FamilySearch Ancestry.com	FamilySearch Ancestry.com
1910	1920	1930	1940	1950	1960
FamilySearch Ancestry.com	FamilySearch Ancestry.com	FamilySearch Ancestry.com	FamilySearch Ancestry.com	FamilySearch Ancestry.com NARA	Release Date April 1, 2032

Additional Census Indexes and Records

1777: Rhode Island, U.S., The Rhode Island Military Census at Ancestry; index & images ($)
1865-1935 Rhode Island: Census Collection, 1865-1935 at American Ancestors — index & images ($)

Non-Population Schedules for Rhode Island[edit | edit source]

Federal non-population schedules included such things mortality schedules, agriculture schedules, slave schedules, and manufacturing schedules.

Year	Type of Census	Links
1890	Veterans	at FamilySearch
1880	Mortality	at Ancestry
1870	Mortality	at Ancestry
1860	Mortality	at Ancestry
1850	Mortality	at Ancestry
1840	Pensioners	at Ancestry
1777	Military	at Ancestry

Existing and Lost Censuses[edit | edit source]

List of existing and lost federal censuses for Rhode Island

Online State and Territorial Censuses[edit | edit source]

State censuses are census records that were taken at the state-level rather than at the federal. Often, but not always, a state took their census in ten year increments 5 years from when the Federal Census was taken, such as 1885. State censuses can even serve as substitutes for missing federal censuses. For more information on state censuses, visit United States Census Bureau.

Territorial censuses were taken by the federal government to count the population in federal territories. The government needed to count the population in the territory to see if it could qualify for statehood. For more information on territorial censuses, visit the US Territorial Census page.

Year	Type of Census	Links
1935	State, all household members	at FamilySearch at Ancestry
1925	state, all household members	at FamilySearch at Ancestry
1915	State, all household members	at FamilySearch at Ancestry
1905	State. all household members	at FamilySearch
1885	State, all household members	at FamilySearch at Ancestry
1875	State, all household members	at Ancestry
1865	State, all household members	at Ancestry
1774	State, head of household	at Ancestry

Why Use the Census?[edit | edit source]

State census records can be one of the easiest ways to locate where an ancestor's family lived and when they lived there. Information varies based on year and location, but information that may be included in a census can include:

Name of each person in the family at the time the census was taken
Street or Avenue, or number Rural Free Delivery
Sex
Age
Color
Nativity
Place of birth of this person
Place of birth of Father of this person
Place of birth of Mother of this person
Period of Residence
How long a resident of this State (years and months)
How long a resident of this enumeration district (years and months)
Regular occupation
Military service

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-=== Federal ===
+{{RI-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
+| link1=[[United States Genealogy|United States]]
+| link2=[[United States Census|U.S. Census]]
+| link3=[[Rhode Island, United States Genealogy|Rhode Island]]
+| link4=
+| link5=[[Rhode Island Census|Census]]
+}}
-Many federal census records are at the Family History Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The [[United States of America|United States Wiki]] provides more detailed information about the federal records.
+==Online Federal Censuses==
+===Population Schedules===
+Starting in 1790, federal population schedules were taken every 10 years in the United States. [[United States Census|'''Click here for more information''']] about federal census records. <br><br>
+Rhode Island was the 13th state to ratify the Constitution on 29 May 1790. It was included in all of the federal censuses.
-The federal censuses for 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 are on microfilm at the Family History Library. The 1890 census was destroyed, but the 1890 Civil War Union veterans schedule and index are available at the Family History Library.
+======United States Federal Censuses with Online Links======
+{| class="wikitable" width= "70%" style="display: inline-table;"
+|-
+!style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:5.5%"| [[United States Census 1790|1790]]
+!style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:5.5%"| [[United States Census 1800|1800]]
+!style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:5.5%"| [[United States Census 1810|1810]]
+!style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:5.5%"| [[United States Census 1820|1820]]
+!style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:5.5%"| [[United States Census 1830|1830]]
+!style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:5.5%"| [[United States Census 1840|1840]]
+|-
+|{{RecordSearch|1803959|FamilySearch}}<br> [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/5058/ Ancestry.com]
+|{{RecordSearch|1804228|FamilySearch}}<br> [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7590/ Ancestry.com]
+|{{RecordSearch|1803765|FamilySearch}}<br> [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7613/ Ancestry.com]
+|{{RecordSearch|1803955|FamilySearch}}<br> [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7734/ Ancestry.com]
+|{{RecordSearch|1803958|FamilySearch}}<br> [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8058/ Ancestry.com]
+|{{RecordSearch|1786457|FamilySearch}}<br> [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8057/ Ancestry.com]
+|-
+!style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:5.5%"|[[United States Census 1850|1850]]
+!style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:5.5%"|[[United States Census 1860|1860]]
+!style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:5.5%"|[[United States Census 1870|1870]]
+!style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:5.5%"|[[United States Census 1880|1880]]
+!style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:5.5%"|[[United States Census 1890|1890]]
+!style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:5.5%"|[[United States Census 1900|1900]]
+|-
+|{{RecordSearch|1401638|FamilySearch}}<br> [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8054/ Ancestry.com]
+|{{RecordSearch|1473181|FamilySearch}}<br> [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7667/ Ancestry.com]
+|{{RecordSearch|1438024|FamilySearch}}<br> [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7163/ Ancestry.com]
+|{{RecordSearch|1417683|FamilySearch}}<br> [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6742/ Ancestry.com]
+|{{RecordSearch|1610551|FamilySearch}}<br> [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/5445/ Ancestry.com]
+|{{RecordSearch|1325221|FamilySearch}}<br> [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7602/ Ancestry.com]
+|-
+!style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:5.5%"|[[United States Census 1910|1910]]
+!style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:5.5%"|[[United States Census 1920|1920]]
+!style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:5.5%"|[[United States Census 1930|1930]]
+!style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:5.5%"|[[United States Census 1940|1940]]
+!style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:5.5%"|[[United States Census 1950|1950]]
+!style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:5.5%"|[[United States Census 1960|1960]]
+|-
+|{{RecordSearch|1727033|FamilySearch}}<br> [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7884/ Ancestry.com]
+|{{RecordSearch|1488411|FamilySearch}}<br> [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6061/ Ancestry.com]
+|{{RecordSearch|1810731|FamilySearch}}<br> [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224/ Ancestry.com]
+|{{RecordSearch|2000219|FamilySearch}}<br> [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2442/ Ancestry.com]
+|{{RecordSearch|4464515|FamilySearch}}<br> [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62308/ Ancestry.com]<br> [https://1950census.archives.gov/search/ NARA]
+|Release Date <br> April 1, 2032
+|-
+|}
+'''Additional Census Indexes and Records'''<br>
+*'''1777''': [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=62977 Rhode Island, U.S., The Rhode Island  Military Census] at Ancestry; index & images ($)
+*'''1865-1935''' [https://www.americanancestors.org/search/databasesearch/518/rhode-island-census-collection-1865-1935 Rhode Island: Census Collection, 1865-1935] at American Ancestors — index & images ($)
-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. A soundex (phonetic) index is available on microfilm for part of the 1880, 1910 and all of the 1900, and 1920 censuses.
+===Non-Population Schedules for Rhode Island===
+Federal non-population schedules included such things mortality schedules, agriculture schedules, slave schedules, and manufacturing schedules.
+{| class="wikitable" width= flexible style="display: inline-table;"
+|-
+! style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:flexible;" | Year
+! style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:flexible;" | Type of Census
+! style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:flexible;"| Links
+|-
+|1890
+|Veterans
+| at [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8667/ FamilySearch]
+|-
+|1880
+|Mortality
+|at [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8667/ Ancestry]
+|-
+|1870
+|Mortality
+|at [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8667/ Ancestry]
+|-
+|1860
+|Mortality
+|at [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8667/ Ancestry]
+|-
+|1850
+|Mortality
+|at [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8667/ Ancestry]
+|-
+|1840
+|Pensioners
+|at [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7678/ Ancestry]
+|-
+|1777
+|Military
+|at [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/49316/ Ancestry]
+|-
+|}
-Mortality schedules exist for 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880. Copies of these are at:
+===Existing and Lost Censuses===
+*[[Rhode Island Censuses Existing and Lost|List of existing and lost federal censuses for Rhode Island]]
-Rhode Island State Library<br />State House, Room 208<br />Providence, Rhode Island 02903.
+==Online State and Territorial Censuses==
+State censuses are census records that were taken at the state-level rather than at the federal. Often, but not always, a state took their census in ten year increments 5 years from when the Federal Census was taken, such as 1885. State censuses can even serve as substitutes for missing federal censuses. For more information on state censuses, visit [https://www.census.gov/history/www/genealogy/other_resources/state_censuses.html United States Census Bureau].<br><br>
+Territorial censuses were taken by the federal government to count the population in federal territories. The government needed to count the population in the territory to see if it could qualify for statehood. For more information on territorial censuses, visit the [[United States Census Territorial|US Territorial Census page]].<br><br>
+{| class="wikitable" width= flexible="display: inline-table;"
+|-
+! style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:flexible;" | Year
+! style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:flexible;" | Type of Census
+! style="background:#cccccc; scope:col; width:flexible;"| Links
+|-
+|1935
+|State, all household members
+|at [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1529126 FamilySearch]
+at [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/4721/ Ancestry]
+|-
+|1925
+|state, all household members
+|at [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1532195 FamilySearch]
+at [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/4721/ Ancestry]
+|-
+|1915
+|State, all household members
+|at [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1532188 FamilySearch]
+at [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/4721/ Ancestry]
+|-
+|1905
+|State. all household members
+|at [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1542866 FamilySearch]
+|-
+|1885
+|State, all household members
+|at [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1794115 FamilySearch]
+at [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/4721/ Ancestry]
+|-
+|1875
+|State, all household members
+|at [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/4721/ Ancestry]
+|-
+|1865
+|State, all household members
+|at [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/4721/ Ancestry]
+|-
+|1774
+|State, head of household
+|at [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/3081/ Ancestry]
+|-
+|}
-<br />
+==Why Use the Census?==
+State census records can be one of the easiest ways to locate where an ancestor's family lived and when they lived there. Information varies based on year and location, but information that may be included in a census can include:
+*Name of each person in the family at the time the census was taken
+*Street or Avenue, or number Rural Free Delivery
+*Sex
+*Age
+*Color
+*Nativity
+*Place of birth of this person
+*Place of birth of Father of this person
+*Place of birth of Mother of this person
+*Period of Residence
+*How long a resident of this State (years and months)
+*How long a resident of this enumeration district (years and months)
+*Regular occupation
+*Military service
-=== Colonial and State ===
+[[Category:Rhode_Island Census Records|Census]]
-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 Mildred M. Chamberlain, ''The Rhode Island 1777 Military Census'' (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1985; FHL book 974.5 M2cm).
-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.