New Horizons Genealogy

"Specializing in New England and New York Colonial American Ancestry"


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




Bristol County

Formed 1747 from Newport County, County seat - Bristol

Federal Census Records

Colonial Census Records

Military Census Records, Lists and Rolls




Kent County

Formed 1750 from Providence County, County Seat - East Greenwich

Federal Census Records

Colonial Census Records

Military Census Records, Lists and Rolls




Newport County

Formed 1703 is an Original County, County seat - Newport

Federal Census Records

Colonial Census Records

Military Census Records, Lists and Rolls

Substitute Census Records




Providence County

Formed 1703 is an Original County, County seat - Providence

Federal Census Records

Colonial Census Records

Military Census Records




Washington County

Formed 1781, Original Name: Kings, County Seat - South Kingston

Federal Census Records

Colonial Census Records

Substitute Census Records




Related Rhode Island Genealogy Records


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