Maine Census

Additional information may be found on the United States Census Portal page.

Availability
1790-1930 Federal Census Records--All federal census records 1790 to 1930 are available for Maine with the following exceptions:

                       1800--Some of York County is missing.

                       1810--Half of Oxford County is missing.

                       1820--Some of Washington County is missing.

Many federal census records are found at the Family History Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The United States Census article provides detailed information about these records.

1800-1840 Census Records in the FHLC--The Maine census records from 1800 to 1840, are not listed by year in the Family History Library Catalog. They are listed under the heading Maine - Census.

Historical Background
Maine became a state in 1820. In the time period of the 1790, 1800 and 1810 census Maine was known as Maine District, a part of Massachusetts. For searching purposes, the 1790-1810 census records are listed under the state of Maine.

Indexes
1790-1930 Online Index--All federal census records for Maine are indexed online at www.ancestry.com.

The following indexes are available at the Family History library: 1790-1850 Indexes--The Family History Library has statewide indexes for the 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, and 1850 censuses in book and microfiche format.

1850-1870 Indexes--The library also has a partial index of some counties and some towns for the 1850, 1860, and 1870 censuses.


 * Maine Census Indexes, 1850-1870. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1953. (FHL films 009734-8) Sorted alphabetically by town, then census year. Lists head of household and page number in census.

1880, 1900, 1920 Indexes--Soundex (phonetic) indexes are available for part of the 1880 census and all of the 1900 and 1920 censuses.

Town Indexes--Town indexes can sometimes help you find names overlooked in statewide indexes. A few town indexes are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under MAINE, [COUNTY], [TOWN] - CENSUS.

Mortality Schedules
1850-1880--The 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 censuses have mortality schedules, which are lists of the people who died in the year before the census was taken. The Family History Library, Maine State Archives, and the National Archives have copies of the mortality schedules. The Family History Library film numbers are listed below:

                       1850 (FHL film 009739)

                       1860 (FHL film 009740)

                       1870 (FHL film 009741)

                       1880 (FHL film 1841575)

Veterans’ Censuses
1840 Federal Census--A listing was made of Revolutionary War veterans that included the age of the veteran, the place where he was living, and the name of the head of the household. An index is:


 * A General Index to A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Service, 1840. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1965. (FHL book 973 X2pc 1965 index; fiche 6046771; film 899835) The census of pensioners is published in:
 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. (FHL book 973 X2pc 1840; film 2321)

1890 Federal Census--The 1890 census has a veterans schedule, which lists the veterans or their widows who were living when the census was taken. Ancestry subscribers can access these records online.

For a copy of the veterans schedule, see:


 * Jackson, Ronald Vern. Maine 1890 Veterans Census Index. North Salt Lake, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems International, 1990. (FHL book 974.1 X22j 1890)
 * United States. Census Office. 11th Census, 1890. Schedules Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Washington, D.C.: The National Archives, 1948. (FHL films for Maine 338165-6)

State Censuses
1837 State Census--A state census was taken in 1837, but only the schedules for Portland, Bangor, Eliot, and unincorporated areas still exist. The census names the head of each household and lists the ages of other persons in the household. It excludes unnaturalized foreigners who were not living in Maine before 1833 and untaxed indians. This census is not at the Family History Library. The schedules for Portland, Bangor, and unincorporated areas are at the Maine State Archives. The Maine Historical Society has the Eliot section. This census is also known as the Maine Special 1837 Census and it is online.

1904 State Census--Only for Kennebunkport, York County:


 * The Kennebunkport Register, 1904, (FHL book 974.195/K4 E4m)

1905 State Census--Only for Scarboro, Cumberland County:


 * The Scarboro Register 1905, (FHL book 974.191/S1 H2mh)

Web Sites
Ancestry: http://www.ancestry.com

Heritage Quest Online: http://www.heritagequestonline.com

Census Online: http://www.census-online.com/links/ME/

Genealogy Today: http://dir.genealogytoday.com/usa/me/census.html

Access Genealogy: http://www.accessgenealogy.com/census/maine.htm

National Archives: http://www.archives.gov/

Maine State Archives and Libraries: http://statearchives.us/maine.htm

Maine Historical Society: http://www.mainehistory.org/

Bibliographic Citations
Maine Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1988, 1997.