Considers the 1897 census of the Russian empire as a mechanism of imperial control. The census was planned as a means of increasing state efficiency and the activity of civil society. The census differed from its contemporary European counterparts by its particular emphasis on Russian citizens. The strict categories used in the census allowed for some manipulation of data to reflect the preponderant majority of Orthodox believers. Overall, the census provided an opportunity for both its organizers and subjects to express their visions of the Russian empire.