Alabama State Census, 1866 - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection covers individuals living in Alabama in 1866. The state census for 1866 was taken using four schedules; schedule no. 1 "white population" and  schedule no. 2 "colored" population," designated at the top of each page. Schedule No. 3 counted the "white population" by township and range and schedule no 4 counted the "white population and educational facilities by township and range..." The state census generally names the head of household.

The State of Alabama conducted state censuses in the following years: 1818 (partial), 1820 (partial), 1821 (partial), 1823, 1850, 1855, 1866, and 1907.

The information is generally reliable. However, use the information with some caution, since the information may have been given to a census taker by any member of the family or by a neighbor. Some information may have been incorrect or deliberately falsified. The census was compiled to obtain a count of the population of the state to determine how many representatives the state would send to Congress.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Census
 * The names of the head of household
 * Number of persons in each family
 * Relationship to head of household
 * Age
 * Sex
 * May list number of deceased or disabled soldiers in the family
 * May list former slaves

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the individual
 * The date of the event or the name of a parent or spouse

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the age listed to determine an approximate birth date. This date along with the place of birth can help you find a birth record
 * Use the race information to find records related to that ethnicity such as records of the Freedman’s Bureau or Indian censuses
 * Birth places can tell you former residences and can help to establish a migration pattern for the family
 * If they are subject to military service they may have military files in the State or National Archives

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * Try viewing the original record to see if there were errors in the transcription of the name, age, residence, etc. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relations that can be verified by records
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Alabama.
 * Alabama Guided Research
 * Alabama Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.


 * Collection Citation:"Alabama State Census, 1866." Database. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 14 June 2016. Department of Archives and History, Montgomery.