Rhode Island Federal, State, Colonial and Military
Census Records Online
Rhode Island Census Information
Federal Rhode Island Census Records are available to the public for census years: 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930.
1890 Rhode Island Federal Census Records were completely destroyed by fire including the veterans and widows schedules.
The Rhode Island State Census was taken every ten years on the half-decade year between 1865 and 1935. The complete set of the Rhode Island 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.
Rhode Island State Census Substitutes
Rhode Island Tax Valuation Lists are one of the most valuable, and most often neglected sources of genealogical information and prove to be a great census substitute. They usually divulge the names of heads of households and other males aged 16 or over and can be used to prove parentage when no other records are available. Tax lists place individuals in a particular place at a particular time and indicate the type and amount of property owned. See The Beginner's Guide to Using Tax Lists.
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Statewide Rhode Island Census Records Available 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
- 1880 Rhode Island Federal Census Search at Family Search
- 1883 Pensioners-on-the-roll, Rhode Island
- 1885 Rhode Island State Census
- 1905 Rhode Island State Census
- 1915 Rhode Island State Census
- 1925 Rhode Island State Census
- 1935 Rhode Island State Census
Bristol County
Formed 1747 from Newport County, County seat - Bristol
Federal Census Records
- 1790 Federal Census, Town of Barrington, Bristol County, RI
- 1790 Federal Census, Town of Bristol, Bristol County, RI
- 1790 Federal Census, Town of Warren, Bristol County, RI
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, Lists and Rolls
- 1777 Bristol County, Rhode Island Military Census
- 1840 Census of Pensioners, Bristol County, Rhode Island
- 1883 Pensioners on the roll, Bristol County, Rhode Island
Kent County
Formed 1750 from Providence County, County Seat - East Greenwich
Federal Census Records
- 1790 Federal Census, Town of Coventry, Kent County, RI
- 1800 Federal Census Kent County, RI - index with links to images
Colonial Census Records
- 1774 Town of Coventry, Kent County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- 1774 Town of East Greenwich, Kent County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- 1774 Town of Warwick, Kent County Rhode Island Colonial Census
- 1774 Town of West Greenwich, Kent County Rhode Island Colonial Census
Military Census Records, Lists and Rolls
Newport County
Formed 1703 is an Original County, County seat - Newport
Federal Census Records
- Coming soon
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
Military Census Records, Lists and Rolls
- 1840 Census of Pensioners, Newport County, RI
- 1883 Pensioners on the roll, Kent County, Rhode Island
Substitute Census Records
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
- 1777 Cumberland, Providence County, Rhode Island Military Census
- 1777 North Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island Military Census
- 1777 Providence County, Rhode Island Military Census
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
Substitute Census Records
Related Rhode Island Genealogy Records
- 1774 Census of the Inhabitants of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
- 1813 Pension List: Rhode Island
- 1820 Pension List: Rhode Island
- 1840 Rhode Island Census of Pensioners
- Arnold Collection of Rhode Island Vital Records: 1636 - 1850
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