Rhode Island State and Colonial Census Records
1890 Rhode Island Federal Census Records were completely destroyed by fire including the veterans and widows schedules.
The State of Rhode Island conducted its own census every ten years on the half-decade year between 1865 and 1935. The complete set of state census records can be found at the Rhode Island State Archives. The Library has three of the censuses on microfilm: 1865, 1875, and 1885. A card file index is available for the 1865 census. Neither the 1875 nor the 1885 census is indexed, but the 1885 is arranged alphabetically by males and females.
Rhode Island military and freemen censuses The library has the 1747 freemen census, and military census records that were conducted in 1774, 1777, and 1782. All are in printed format.
Statewide Rhode Island Census Records Online
- 1774 Census of the Inhabitants of the Colony of Rhode Island and Probidence Plantations
- 1790 Federal Census of the US at the U. S. Census Bureau
- 1840 Rhode Island Census of Pensioners
- 1860 Federal Census Search at Footnote.com
- 1880 Rhode Island Federal Census Search at Family Search
- 1930 Federal Census Search at Footnote.com
- Rhode Island State Census Transcription Project
Bristol County
Formed 1747 from Newport County, County seat - Bristol- Federal Census Records
- Colonial Census Records
- 1774 Town of Barrington, Bristol County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- 1774 Town of Bristol, Bristol County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- 1774 Town of Warren, Bristol County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- Military Census Records
Kent County
Formed 1750 from Providence County, County Seat - East Greenwich- Federal Census Records
- 1800 Federal Census Kent County, RI - index with links to images
- 1840 Census of Pensioners, Kent County, RI
- Colonial Census Records
Newport County
Formed 1703 is an Original County, County seat - Newport- Federal Census Records
- Colonial Census Records
- 1774 Town of Jamestown, Newport County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- 1774 Town of Little Compton, Newport County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- 1774 Town of Middletown, Newport County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- 1774 Town of Newport, Newport County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- 1774 Town of Portsmouth, Newport County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- 1774 Town of Tiverton, Newport County Rhode Island Colonial Census
Providence County
Formed 1703 is an Original County, County seat - Providence- Federal Census Records
- Colonial Census Records
- 1774 Town of Cranston, Providence County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- 1774 Town of Cumberland, Providence County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- 1774 Town of Glocester, Providence County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- 1774 Town of Johnston, Providence County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- 1774 Town of North Providence, Providence County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- 1774 Town of Providence, Providence County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- 1774 Town of Scituate, Providence County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- 1774 Town of Smithfield, Providence County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- Military Census Records
Washington County
Formed 1781, Original Name: Kings, County Seat - South Kingston- Federal Census Records
- Colonial Census Records
- 1774 Charlestown, Washington County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- 1774 Town of Exeter, Washington County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- 1774 Town of Hopkinton, Washington County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- 1774 Town of North Kingston, Washington County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- 1774 Town of Richmond, Washington County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- 1774 Town of South Kingston, Washington County, Rhode Island Census
- 1774 Town of Westerly, Washington County Rhode Island Colonial Census
Books of Interest:
- State Census Records, by Ann S. Lainhart
- Map Guide to the U.S. State Censuses, by William Thorndale and William Dollarhide
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