Rhode Island

Bristol

50,793
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Bristol

Bristol, Rhode Island, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 3,211. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 50,793.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 7 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Death of King Philip at Mount Hope, Philip's Death at Mount Hope, Battle of Mount Hope (Capture of Philip's Camp), and 28 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202050,793
201049,875
200050,648
199048,859
198046,942
197045,937
196037,146
195029,079
194025,548
193025,089
192023,113
191017,602
190013,144
189011,428
188011,394
18709,421
18608,907
18508,514
18406,476
18305,446
18205,637
18105,072
18003,801
17903,211
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Bristol

Military engagements that took place in Bristol, Rhode Island.

Death of King Philip at Mount Hope
1676
Philip's Death at Mount Hope
1676
Battle of Mount Hope (Capture of Philip's Camp)
1676
Death of King Philip (Mount Hope)
1676
Battle of Mount Hope 1676
1676
Bombardment of Bristol, Rhode Island (1775)
1775
Battle of Rhode Island Aug 29 1778
1778

Historic places in Bristol

National Register of Historic Places listings in Bristol, Rhode Island.

Jennys Lane Historic District
Barrington
Belton Court
Barrington
Juniper Hill Cemetery
Bristol
Alfred Drowne Road Historic District
Barrington
Reynolds, Joseph, House
Bristol
Nayatt Point Lighthouse
Barrington
Warren Waterfront Historic District
Warren
Bristol Waterfront Historic District
Bristol
Longfield
Bristol
Whalley, William, Homestead
Little Compton
Mount Hope Bridge
Bristol
Bristol Customshouse and Post Office
Bristol
Bristol Ferry Lighthouse
Bristol
Bristol County Jail
Bristol
Warren United Methodist Church and Parsonage
Warren
O'Bannon Mill
Barrington
Jackson, Benjamin Aborn, House
Barrington
Blithewold
Bristol
Barrington Civic Center
Barrington
Poppasquash Farms Historic District
Bristol
Allen-West House
Barrington
Church, Benjamin, House
Bristol
Hog Island Shoal Lighthouse
Portsmouth
St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
Barrington
Browse all Rhode Islandhistoric sites ›

Other counties in Rhode Island

Explore census history and historic records for more Rhode Island counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Bristol County, Rhode Island

This page charts the census history of Bristol County, Rhode Island. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Bristol

When does Bristol first appear in the US census?
Bristol, Rhode Island first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 3,211.
What is the population of Bristol?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Bristol had a recorded population of 50,793.
Were any battles fought in Bristol?
7 documented military engagements took place in Bristol, including Death of King Philip at Mount Hope, Philip's Death at Mount Hope, Battle of Mount Hope (Capture of Philip's Camp).
How many historic places are in Bristol?
28 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Bristol, Rhode Island.
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