On the basis of the data of revisions of Crimean population, of commemorative books of Tauride province, of the First All-Russian census of 1897 and of the scientific literature national and religious composition of the population of the peninsula in late XIX – early centuries are reviewed. Disclosed that after the annexation of Crimea to the Russian Empire, there have been changes related to the internal policy of the state and, as a consequence, the emigration of the Crimean Tatar population of the region and the colonists; features resolution of land issues, as well as development of the peninsula as a whole, and a number of other reasons.