Reference Collection: Census Records
 Rhode Island Federal Census
The RIHS Library has the Rhode Island federal census from 1790 - 1880 and 1900 - 1930 (the
1890 population census was destroyed by fire). Federal census
schedules are on microfilm in the first floor Reading Room. Most of the censuses are indexed, the exception
being 1930. Indexes from 1790 through 1870 are in printed format; indexes for 1880, 1900, and 1920 are on microfilm and are arranged by
Soundex number. The 1910 index is on CD-ROM;
access is by surname. All census indexes are in the
Reading Room.
An index for the 1930 census can be found
on the AncestryPlus website, to which the library has a
subscription. AncestryPlus is accessible on a public access
computer located in the Reading Room.
Rhode Island State Census
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 censuses 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 freemen census of 1747, and military censuses that
were conducted in 1774, 1777, and 1782. All are in printed format.
Other states
The library has the 1790 federal census in printed format for the
original 13 colonies. Additionally, the collection includes a limited
amount of federal census information (population and manufacturer data)
for Massachusetts between 1810 and 1865, primarily for Bristol County in
the 1850s and 1860s. Some other Massachusetts counties are sparsely represented. There is also a very
small amount of early census material for some other New England states
and Nova Scotia. Please see the Reference staff for assistance with
non-Rhode Island census records.
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