Delaware Census

Federal Censuses
Population Schedules. Many federal census records are at the Family History Library, the National Archives, and other federal record centers and state archives. The Census section of the United States Research Outline provides detailed information about these records.

The Family History Library has the U.S. federal censuses of Delaware for 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. The 1790 census is missing, and the 1890 census was destroyed. A substitute for the 1790 census created from tax lists is:

Devalinger, Leon, Jr. Reconstructed 1790 Census of Delaware. Washington, DC: National Genealogical Society, 1962. (FHL book 975.1 X2d 1790; film 1000156; fiche 6019928.)

Statewide indexes are available in two forms:


 * Book indexes are available for the 1790 substitute census and censuses taken 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, and 1870.
 * Soundex indexes are available for the 1880, 1900, 1920, and 1930 censuses. The 1910 census is not indexed.

One of the indexes for the 1850 census is:

Olmstead, Virginia L. Index to the 1850 Census of Delaware. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1977. (FHL book 975.1 X22o 1850.) Indexes for the three counties are listed separately. An every-person index is given for each of the counties, with age, birthplace, and the original census sheet number. The New Castle County 1850 census is on two rolls of microfilm with some duplication of page numbers. You can use a different 1850 census index to find the township.

County-wide indexes sometimes help you locate names overlooked in statewide indexes. A few county-wide indexes are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under DELAWARE, [COUNTY] - CENSUS.

When indexes are not available or omit a name you can still look for the name in the census. In large cities it helps to first learn the person's address by searching the city directory for the same year as the census (see the "Directories" section). Then look for that address on the original census schedules.

These reference tools help determine which census schedule microfilm and enumeration district to search for specific addresses:

United States. Census Office. Census Descriptions of Geographic Subdivisions and Enumerations Districts.


 * 1880 FHL film 1402860
 * 1900 FHL film 1303020
 * 1910 FHL film 1374001
 * 1920 FHL film 1842704

Buckway, G. Eileen. U.S. 1910 Federal Census: Unindexed States: A Guide to Finding Census Enumeration Districts for Unindexed Cities, Towns, and Villages. Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Library, 1992. (FHL book 973 X2bu 1910; fiche 6101340.) Lists all Delaware towns (or wards) with their 1910 census enumeration district numbers and FHL film numbers. Wilmington has special instructions.

Mortality Schedules. Mortality schedules for 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 are at the Delaware Public Archives, the Historical Society of Delaware, and on microfilm at the Family History Library. The 1870 and 1880 schedules are indexed in:

Jackson Ronald Vern. Delaware 1870 Mortality Schedule. Bountiful, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1981. (FHL book 975.1 X2j 1870.)

Jackson Ronald Vern. Delaware 1880 Mortality Schedule. Bountiful, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1981. (FHL book 975.1 X2j 1880.)

Slave Schedules. Slave schedules for 1850 and 1860 list the names of slave owners, but do not normally list the names of the slaves. The numbers of slaves, their gender, and their age ranges are given. Look in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under Delaware, CENSUS RECORDS, MINORITIES, SLAVE SCHEDULES.

The 1850 and 1860 slave schedules are indexed in:

Jackson, Ronald Vern. Delaware 1850-1860 Slave Schedules. Salt Lake City: Accelerated Indexing Systems International, 1986. (FHL book 975.1 X22j.)

For census slave schedules see:


 * 1850 FHL film 442884
 * 1860 FHL film 803100

Master Indexes.Some of the indexes mentioned above are combined into composite master indexes of several census years, states, and census types:

FamilyFinder™ Index and Viewer: Version 3.0 [Novato, California]: Brøderbund Software, 1995. (FHL compact disc number 9 1995 index. Not available at Family History Centers. FamilyFinder is a trademark of Brøderbund Software, Inc.) A master index to Delaware 1665-1697 tax lists, 1800-1860 federal censuses, 1850/1860 slave schedules, and 1870/1880 mortality schedules.

The FamilyFinder Index includes the following indexes by Ronald Vern Jackson:

Jackson, Ronald Vern. Accelerated Indexing System Microfiche Indexes of U.S. Census and Other Records. Bountiful, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems International, 1984. (No FHL fiche number but available at many Family History Centers.) Delaware tax lists (1665-1697) and censuses (1800 and 1810) are combined together on Search 1. A composite mortality schedule index is on Search 8. Separate Delaware 1820, 1830, 1840, and 1850 indexes are on other searches.

State Census
A 1782 state census exists for seven of the "hundreds" (townships). The state census has been reconstructed for the rest of the state from tax lists. See the "Taxation" section for several "census" indexes compiled from tax and other records.

Colonial Census
In 1693 a special census was taken of Swedes who were associated with the Swedish Lutheran Church and who were living in Pennsylvania, Delaware, west New Jersey, and Cecil County, Maryland. The following book contains both the census and an index to it:

Craig, Peter Stebbins. The 1693 Census of the Swedes on the Delaware. Winter Park, Florida: SAG Publications, 1993. (FHL book 973 X4c.)

Websites

See the United States Census Online article.

http://www.censusfinder.com/delaware.htm

http://www.accessgenealogy.com/census/delaware.htm

http://www.rootsweb.com/~cenfiles/de.htm