Cemeteries in Rhode Island
Our directory lists 1,606 cemeteries in Rhode Island, spread across 5 counties and 49 cities and towns. Identified types include 71 church cemeteries (4%), 14 Christian cemeteries (1%) and 11 family cemeteries (1%). West Warwick has the highest number of listings of any city in the state, with 132. 296 listings include a phone number or website.
Featured cemeteries in Rhode Island
- Saint Sebastian Cemetery12 Cobblestone Lane, WesterlyChristian cemetery
- River Bend Cemetery117 Beach Street, WesterlyCemetery
- Glenwood Cemetery316 Cedar Avenue, East GreenwichCemetery
- Pocock CemeteryDickens Lane, New ShorehamCemetery
- Colonial Jewish CemeteryNewportJewish cemetery
- Holy Cross Episcopal CemeteryMiddletownEpiscopal cemetery
- Our Lady of Fatima CemeteryNewport EastCatholic cemetery
- Saint Mary's Episcopal ChurchyardMiddletownEpiscopal cemetery
- Adamsville Church CemeteryTivertonChurch cemetery
- Almy CemeteryMiddletownCemetery
- Braman CemeteryNewportCemetery
- Butterworth CemeteryWarrenCemetery
Ranked by how complete the record is (address, contact details, founding year), not by size or popularity.
Cemetery types in Rhode Island
Religious cemeteries
How Rhode Island compares
Rhode Island has 14.4 listed cemeteries per 10,000 residents, against 5.3 for the United States, which puts it 10th of 51 states and DC on this measure. Census estimates count 10,286 deaths here in 2024, about 134 for each of the 77 funeral homes we know of (42nd of 51 by number of funeral homes).
| Measure | Rhode Island | the United States | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cemeteries per 10,000 residents | 14.4 | 5.3 | 10th of 51 |
| Cemeteries per 100 square miles | 155.3 | 5.1 | 1st of 51 |
| Deaths in 2024 (estimate) | 10,286 | 3,086,925 | 45th of 51 |
| Deaths in 2024 per listed cemetery | 6.4 | 17.2 | 43rd of 51 |
| Funeral homes | 77 | 21,457 | 42nd of 51 |
| Deaths in 2024 per funeral home | 134 | 144 | 25th of 51 |
| Cremation providers | 12 | 3,611 | 45th of 51 |
| Monument dealers | 2 | 1,091 | 44th of 51 |
| Notable burials | 699 | 68,091 | 22nd of 51 |
Population and deaths: US Census Bureau Vintage 2024 estimates. Land area: 2020 Census Gazetteer. Funeral homes, cremation providers and monument dealers come from our sister directory, Funeral Home Directory USA. Ranks run from the highest value down, among states and DC with the figure available. Compare Rhode Island with other places.
Notable people buried in Rhode Island
Wikidata records 699 notable people as buried in 44 Rhode Island cemeteries. The best documented:
- H. P. Lovecraft1890-1937American writer and editorSwan Point Cemetery, Pawtucket, RI
- Matthew C. Perry1794-1858American naval officerIsland Cemetery, Newport, RI
- Ambrose Burnside1824-1881American general and politicianSwan Point Cemetery, Pawtucket, RI
- Robert Henri1865-1929American painterSwan Point Cemetery, Pawtucket, RI
- Stephen Hopkins1707-1785Signer of Declaration of IndependenceNorth Burial Ground, Providence, RI
- Oliver Hazard Perry1785-1819United States Naval OfficerCommon Ground Cemetery, Newport, RI
- William Ellery1727-1820American politician and signer of the United States Declaration of IndependenceCommon Ground Cemetery, Newport, RI
- Edward Mitchell Bannister1828-1901Black Canadian-American visual artistNorth Burial Ground, Providence, RI
Cities with the most cemeteries
- West Warwick132
- Coventry129
- West Greenwich91
- Exeter82
- Tiverton68
- North Kingstown64
- East Greenwich61
- Warwick60
- Johnston58
- North Providence57
- Newport East57
- Cranston49
- Foster49
- Harrisville49
- North Scituate47
- Greenville47
- Portsmouth44
- Hope Valley36
- Smithfield35
- Middletown35
- Pascoag35
- Hopkinton28
- North Smithfield24
- Chepachet22
- Newport21
- Kingston21
- Warren17
- Woonsocket15
- Cumberland15
- Jamestown14
- Lincoln13
- Westerly13
- Cumberland Hill11
- Valley Falls10
- Ashaway10
- New Shoreham10
- Pawtucket9
- East Providence8
- Bristol8
- Bradford8
- Providence7
- Barrington7
- Narragansett7
- Charlestown7
- South Kingstown5
- Wakefield-Peacedale4
- Melville3
- Central Falls2
- Narragansett Pier2
Cemeteries by county
Frequently asked questions
How many cemeteries are there in Rhode Island?
Our directory currently lists 1,606 cemeteries in Rhode Island, across 5 counties. The count includes active cemeteries as well as small family and historic burial grounds recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Are there veterans cemeteries in Rhode Island?
Yes. We list 1 veterans cemetery in Rhode Island, including national and state veterans cemeteries. Eligible veterans, their spouses and some dependents can be buried in a VA national cemetery at no cost.
How do I find historic cemeteries in Rhode Island?
We list 2 cemeteries in Rhode Island with a recorded heritage designation, historic tag or establishment year before 1900. County historical societies and the state historic preservation office keep more detailed burial records.
Related guides
- Religious Burial Customs in the USHow Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Protestant, Orthodox and Latter-day Saint traditions shape burial, timing and cemetery choice.
- Gravestone Symbols and Their MeaningsWhat willows, lambs, hands, urns, fraternal emblems and Latin abbreviations on American gravestones usually mean, and how styles changed from colonial times to today.
- How Much Does a Cemetery Plot Cost?What drives plot prices in the US, typical ranges by cemetery type and region, and the fees that come on top of the plot itself.
- How Do You Find Where Someone Is Buried?A step-by-step method using death records, obituaries, funeral homes, cemetery offices and online indexes.