Household Structure in Urban and Rural Areas: the Case of Rhode Island, 1774-1800

Differences in household structure & family size between Ur & Ru RI communities in the late eighteenth century are investigated. Variables discussed include: sex, age, race, extent of employment of servants & slaves, & childbearing practices. In general, city dwellers were more likely to have smaller families. This was especially true of those families that were headed by women or by blacks. As a function of changing attitudes & behavior, an overall decrease in population occurred after the American Revolution. A comparison of similar trends with other colonial areas is included. 6 Tables. J. Schulman.