Rhode Island Census

Federal

Many federal census records are at the Family History Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. 

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.

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.

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.

Colonial and State

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.

Family History Library (FHL); now called, FamilySearch Library (FSL)