Rhode Island Census Records

HOME    County Maps  Genealogy Societies  Historical Museums  Census Questions by Decade  Spotlite  Links  Link to us!

Genealogy Sources:   Ancestry.com   WorldVitalRecords.com  CensusDiggins.com   Ancestor Hunt   Surname Search

Rhode Island Census Notes

The earliest known Rhode Island census records were enumerated in the 1740s. See 1740-1890 Rhode Island census records and indexes at Ancestry.

There are some military censuses which were enumerated for Rhode Island.  These were conducted in 1774, 1777 & 1782. See 1774 Rhode Island Census at Ancestry & 1777 Military census for Rhode Island at Ancestry.

Federal Rhode Island Census Records began in 1790 and were taken every 10 years thereafter.  They are available to the public for census years 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930. See 1790-1940 US Census Records at Ancestry.

The 1890 Federal census for Rhode Island was completely destroyed in a 1921 warehouse fire. See A Fire Destroyed The 1890 Census, Bridging the 1890 Census Gap.

Rhode Island State Census Records were taken in the following years: 1865, 1875, 1885, 1905, 1915, 1925 & 1935. These are held at the Rhode Island State Archives.

Rhode Island

Census & Voter Lists

Connect! Join hands with other genealogy researchers. You may locate new cousins and add ancestors to your family tree with these handy genealogical resources.

GenForum Surname Boards

Rhode Island Genealogy Forum

Family History Surname Boards

National Phone Directories

Surname Community Search

Rhode Island Mailing List NOTE:  When joining RootsWeb mailing lists - just click the link and send the message.  Do not add anything in the subject line or message body.

Rhode Island

Vital Records

Rhode Island Dept. of Health

3 Capitol Hill, Rm. 101
Providence, RI 02908-5097
Phone: (401) 222-2811

Information

*Marriage & Divorce Records

*Death Records

Birth and death records are on file from 1853 to present at the above address.

ALL vital records are held by city or town clerks and are more quickly obtained from them than the Dept. of Health. 

At Ancestry:

1636-1930 RI Death Records

1636-1930 RI Birth Records

1636-1930 RI Marriage Records

At Genealogy.com:

RI 1500s-1800s Vital Records

At FamilySearch:

1802-1950 RI Deaths & Burials

1724-1916 RI Marriages

1878-1914 RI Births & Christenings

Also See

Rhode Island Marriage Records

Rhode Island Vital Records

RI Vital Records Information

Rhode Island Vital Records Links

 Rhode Island Newspaper Obits

 Rhode Island Newspapers

 1815-1985 Historical Newspapers

RI Maps

Rhode Island County Map

RI Historical Maps

Rhode Island Genealogy

Census Microfilm Catalogs at NARA

Colonial Occupations

R. I. Genealogy Society Directory

Rhode Island Census Records Project

Rhode Island Census Records at Ancestry

Rhode Island Genealogy

Rhode Island Genealogy Archives

Rhode Island History Museums

Rhode Island Reading Room

Rhode Island Genealogy Project

Tribes and Villages of Rhode Island

State Archives Links

Rhode Island

(Statehood 1790)

Early settlements of Rhode Island were comprised mostly of Massachusetts folks moving in.  Many early residents were Quakers and Jewish people from Holland who found a safe Haven in Rhode Island.

Statewide Rhode Island Census Records Online

1740-1890 Rhode Island census records and indexes at Ancestry

1774 Census for the Colony of Rhode Island and Plantations of Providence

1790 Federal Census Records Index and Images for Rhode Island

1790 Federal Census of the US at the U. S. Census Bureau

1840 Census of Pensioners Revolutionary or Military Services

1850 Federal Census Index

1850 Federal Census Images

1860 Federal Census Index

1870 Federal Census Index and 1870 Census Images

1870 Federal Census Images

1880 Federal Census - Search and View the images  

1880 Federal Census Records Search at Family Search

1885 State Census Records

1900 Federal Census Index

1900 Federal Census Images

1905 State Census Records

1910 Federal Census Index

1915 State Census Records

1920 Federal Census Index

1925 State Census Records

1930 Federal Census Index

1935 State Census Records

1940 Federal Census Index and 1940 Census Images

Rhode Island State Databases of Census Records & Genealogy at Ancestry

RI Census Records Online by County

Bristol County

 (Bristol County formed 1747)

1777 Military Census Records

1790 Federal Census Records Transcription

1790 Federal Census Records - Heads of Families in Barrington Town

1790 Federal Census Records - Heads of Families in Bristol Town

1790 Federal Census Records - Heads of Families in Warren Town

Other Genealogy Records

1888 Tax List Images located here.

Kent County

 (Kent County formed 1750 from Providence)

1790 Federal Census of Coventry Town

1790 Federal Census of East Greenwich Town

1790 Federal Census of Warwick Town

1790 Federal Census of West Greenwich Town

1790 Federal Census of Free Persons of Color

1800 Federal Census Index (this census index is linked to the actual census images)

1800 Federal Census Index to Census Images

1800 Federal Census Images

1860 Federal Census Images

1920 Federal Census Images

Other Genealogy Records

Vital Records of Rhode Island 1636 - 1850, Volume 1 - James N. Arnolds

Newport County

 (Newport County formed 1703 - Original County)

1790 Federal Census of Jamestown

1790 Federal Census of Little Compton Town

1790 Federal Census of Little Middletown

1790 Federal Census of Newport

1790 Federal Census of New Shoreham

1790 Federal Census of Portsmouth

1790 Federal Census of Tiverton

1790 Federal Census of Free Persons of Color

1860 Federal Census Images

1920 Federal Census Images

Other Genealogy Records

1638 "Portsmouth Compact" scanned images and transcription

1671-1836 Members of the Sabbatarian Church

1850 City Directory of Newport Images

1856 Directory of Newport

1877 Tax Book of Portsmouth

1880 Tax Book of Portsmouth

1883 Tax Book of Portsmouth

1882 Tax Book of Tiverton

1890 Tax Book of Tiverton

1891 Tax List Images

1894 Almanac Images

1897 Tax Book of Tiverton

1898 Almanac Images

1900 Directory of The First Baptist Church

1919 City Manual of Newport

1921 Tax List Images of Jamestown

Providence County

 (Providence County formed 1703 - Original County)

1777 Military Census of Providence County

1777 Military Census Records of Cumberland

1777 Military Census Records of North Province

1790 Federal Census Records

1790 Federal Census Records of Cranston

1790 Federal Census Records of Cumberland

1790 Federal Census Records of Foster

1790 Federal Census Records of Glocester

1790 Federal Census Records of Johnston

1790 Federal Census Records of North Providence

1790 Federal Census Records of Providence Town

1790 Federal Census Records of Scituate

1790 Federal Census Records of Smithfield

1920 Federal Census Transcription (use above index to locate files)

1920 Federal Census Records Transcription

1920 Federal Census Index of Burriville Township

1920 Federal Census Transcription of Burriville Township

Other Genealogy  Records

1700s Town Vital Records, Vol. 1 of Smithfield

1730-1800 Records of Old Smithfield

1732-1760 Freemen of Gloucester

1774 Families of Gloucester

1798-1808 Alien Registration List

1844 Directory of Providence

1877 Tax List of North Providence located here.  (images)

1885 Tax List for Gloucester

1921 Tax List of Central Falls located here.  (images)

Washington County

 (Washington County formed 1781 from Newport)

1790 Federal Census Records of Charlestown

1790 Federal Census Records of Exeter Town

1790 Federal Census Records of Hopkinton

1790 Federal Census Records of North Kingstown

1790 Federal Census Records of Richmond

1790 Federal Census Records of South Kingstown

1790 Federal Census Records of Westerly

1800 Federal Census Index to Census Images

1800 Federal Census Images

Other Genealogy  Records

1692 Freemen of Westerly

Westerly Town Record Book 1