Italy
Emilia-Romagna
Ferrara
Cento is a comune in the provincia of Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna with a population of 35,474 as of 2025. Between 1830 and 1912, at least 440 passengers departing from Cento arrived in the United States.
Contact
To request vital records from the anagrafe (records office), write to the PEC address or email below. Include the full name, approximate date, and record type in Italian.
Map
Località
Each Italian comune is divided into località (localities), which include centri abitati (populated centers) and nuclei abitati (smaller settlements).
Centri abitati
AltitudePopulation- Cento15m19,057
- Renazzo16m4,187
- Dodici Morelli16m2,059
- Casumaro14m1,793
- Corpo Reno16m1,610
- Reno Centese12m921
- Alberone15m563
- Bevilacqua16m391
- Buonacompra15m316
- Pilastrello15m186
Nuclei abitati
AltitudePopulation- Crocetta15m165
- Ponte Alto14m69
- Casoni17m46
- Ponte Dosso15m38
- Ponte Prete17m28
Population and Migration
This chart shows annual resident population, US arrivals (1830 to 1912), and international migration (2001 to present). Not all data is available for every period, so gaps are normal.
The population has grown 48% since 1951. US arrivals peaked in 1900 with 162 recorded passengers. Since 2001, net international immigration has added the equivalent of 8% of the current population.
Total US arrivals
440
1830–1912
Peak year
1900
162 arrivals
Cittadinanza per discendenza
Could a line from Cento qualify for Italian citizenship?
Between 1830 and 1912, at least 440 passengers from Cento arrived in the United States. Arrivals peaked in 1900. If one of them is your ancestor, Italy may recognize you as a citizen under jure sanguinis (citizenship by descent).
The birthplace alone does not decide it. Each generation between that ancestor and you does: who naturalized, and when. Since the 2025 law, the number of generations matters too.
The checker goes back through your line one generation at a time. It is not legal advice, and it does not search for records.
Check your lineItalian-born ancestor
Your ancestor from Cento
Born in Cento (FE), Italy
Each generation between
Name and dates
Did this person naturalize before their child was born?
You
A likely outcome
and the documents your line would need
Not ready to start? Get an email when the citizenship rules change.
Top Emigrant Cognomi
Most common cognomi (family names) among emigrants from Cento recorded in US arrivals, 1830 to 1912.
Notable People
People born in Cento.