Alabama Census

Census Availability
1Only for Indian schedules taken along with Federal population schedules.

Table Sources
Anne Bruner Eales and Robert M Kvasnicka, ed., Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives of the United States, 3d edition (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 2000), 30, 41-42.

William Thorndate and William Dollarhide, Map guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1920 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1987), 11-23.

United States Censuses 1850-1920—Free Internet census indexes and images to the 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (index only), 1900, and 1920 (partial index only) can be viewed on the FamilySearch Record Search. These indexes show every name listed on the census, and except for 1880 and 1920, are also linked to census images including information about each person’s residence, age, birthplace, occupation, other family members, and neighbors.

Ancestry ($), a subscription Internet site, has indexes and images to all available federal census population, veterans, slave, and mortality schedules from 1790 to 1930. Ancestry provides a few of their indexes free to the public, such as all mortality schedule indexes, Alabama state census indexes for 1820, 1850, 1855, 1866, and the 1880 federal index.

HeritageQuest, an Internet service available at selected libraries, has images to all available federal census population and slave schedules from 1790 to 1930, and indexes to some but not all.

Footnote ($), a subscription Internet site has indexes and images to the 1860 and 1930 censuses.

Available on Microfilm
The Family History Library has microfilm images of all available federal census population, veterans, slave, and mortality schedules from 1790 to 1930. The Library also has a few agricultural and industrial schedules, but no defective-dependent-delinquent schedules.

Historical Background
1819--Alabama was admitted to the Union as the 22nd state.

Online Indexes
United States Census Indexes 1850-1920—Free Internet census indexes to the 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, and 1920 (partial index only) can be viewed on the FamilySearch Record Search.

Ancestry.com ($), a subscription Internet site, has indexes to all available federal censuses from 1790 to 1930.

Heritage Quest Online--www.heritagequestonline.com

Film Indexes
1870 Census Card Index-- The cards list name, age, race, gender, birth place, occupation, real estate and property value, mortality information, county, page, beat (area visited by census taker), post office, precinct, range, and township. The page number on each card refers to the page number in the census copies held by the Alabama Department of Archives and History. Some of the information may not be accurate. The schedules mentioned on the cards refer to Schedule One, which lists residents. Schedule Two is the mortality schedule, and Schedule Three is for agriculture. A card for each family, beginning on Family History Library Film 1556985, is available for the following 31 counties:

1890 Federal Census Fragments--Part of Perry County, Alabama, survived a fire in 1921. The remaining portion is for Perryville, beat number 11 and Severe, beat number 8. These census fragments are on microfilm:


 * United States. Census Office. 11th Census, 1890. Population Schedules of the Eleventh Census of the United States, 1890. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M0407. Washington, DC: National Archives, 1962. (Family History Library film 926497.)

These census fragments are indexed on Ancestry.com, a subscription Internet site, and also in:


 * Nelson, Ken. 1890 U.S. Census Index to Surviving Population Schedules and Register of Film numbers to the Special Census of Union Veterans. Revised Edition. Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Library, 1991. (Family History Library book 973 X2na 1890; 1984 edition is on film 1421673 item 11.)

Soundex
1880-1930---Soundex or phonetic indexes are available on microfilm.

Book Indexes
1820-1870--Statewide indexes are available in book format. These list the names of heads of households

Colonial Censuses
1706–1795--Early census records for 1706, 1721, and 1725 French settlements in or near Mobile, Alabama, have been published:


 * Deep South Genealogical Quarterly (Family History Library book 976.122 B2d.) See the "Periodicals" section These censuses are in the following volumes:


 * For the 1706 census see 1, number 1 (August 1963): 30 For the 1721 census see 1, number 3 (March 1964): 136–139 For the 1725 census see 1, number 2 (December 1963): 86

A census was taken in 1785 of the town of Tensas, which is east of Mobile. This was published in:


 * DeVille, Winston, "Some Anglo-Americans in the Deep South, 1785," Genealogical Helper. 36, number 5 (Sept.–Oct. 1982): 5–6. (Family History Library book 929.05 G286.) There are 46 men listed.

Censuses for 1786, 1787, 1789, and 1805 have been published in:


 * Andrews, Johnnie, Jr., and William David Higgins. Spanish Census Reports at Mobile. Prichard, Alabama: Bienville Historical Society, 1973. (Family History Library book 976.1 A1 number 20; film 908670 item 10.)

Census records for 1781 to 1795 are available in:


 * Feldman, Lawrence H., Anglo-Americans in Spanish Archives: Lists of Anglo-American Settlers in the Spanish Colonies of America; A Finding Aid. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1991. (Family History Library book 973 X2fe.) Included in this book are lists for Mobile and Tombecbe (now St. Stephens, Washington County) 1781, 1785, 1786, 1791, and 1795. These give the names of men or women who were heads of household.

Mortality Schedules
1850–1880-- Mortality schedules exist for 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880. They list persons who died during the 12 months before the census was taken. For 1830 to 1900, the day set by law to begin taking the censuses was June 1. The mortality schedules are at the Alabama Department of Archives and History. The Family History Library has the 1850 to 1880 schedules on microfilm:


 * 1850--Family History Library film 1533724 item 2
 * 1860--Family History Library films 1533724 item 3 and 1533830
 * 1870--Family History Library film 1405189
 * A card index to mortality schedules for 31 counties is available at the Family History Library on 14 microfilms beginning with 1556985
 * 1880--Family History Library films 1405190–91

1850 United States Census Mortality Schedules—A free Internet index and images to the 1850 United States Census Mortality Schedules can be viewed on the FamilySearch Record Search - Pilot Site. Mortality schedules provided nationwide death statistics for the twelve months prior to the 1850 census. Key genealogical facts found on the 1850 mortality schedule are: Name, age, sex, color, married or widowed, birthplace, month of death, occupation, cause of death.

Statewide mortality schedule indexes include:


 * Jackson, Ronald Vern. Alabama 1850 Mortality Schedule. North Salt Lake, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1984. (Family History Library book 976.1 X2ja 1850.) This alphabetical list gives the name of the person, county, age at death, sex, month of death, state of birth, illness, and page number in the mortality schedule. Note that they also list the names of slaves.


 * Barefield, Marilyn Davis. Alabama Mortality Schedule 1860. Easley, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, 1987. (Family History Library book 976.1 X2bm.) This book is arranged by county and is indexed. It includes the person’s name, age, gender, marital status, state or country of birth, month and cause of death, and occupation.
 * Mortality Schedules 1850-1880

Slave Schedules
1850-1860 Slave Schedules-- Censuses list the names of slave owners, but do not usually list the names of the slaves. They give the number of slaves, whether male or female, and the slaves’ age-ranges. Alabama slave schedules at the Family History Library are cataloged with the population schedules. The 1850 and 1860 mortality schedules list the names of slaves who died during the 12 months preceding June 30, 1850, and June 30, 1860.

1850 United States Census Slave Schedules—A free Internet index and images to the 1850 United States Census Slave Schedules can be viewed on the FamilySearch Record Search – Pilot Site listing each slave owner's name and residence. It also show the age, gender, and color of the slaves. Slave names are not normally listed.

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. (Family History Library 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. (Family History Library book 973 X2pc 1840; film 2321.)

Confederate Veterans’ Censuses
1907, 1921, 1927--Special censuses of Confederate veterans who were receiving a pension were taken. Microfilm copies are available at the Alabama Department of Archives and History at http://www.archives.state.al.us/, and at the Family History Library:


 * Alabama. State Auditor. Confederate Soldiers in Alabama: 1907–1927. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1988. (On ten Family History Library films beginning with 1533727.)

The 1907 census includes each person’s name, place of residence, date and place of birth, rank, date of entry into military service, date and place of discharge or separation, and name of military unit. The 1907 lists have been abstracted, indexed, and published. They are available in:


 * 1907 Alabama Census of Confederate Soldiers. Cullman, Alabama: Gregath, 1982. Five Volumes. (Family History Library book 976.1 X22c 1907; on four films beginning with 1421815 item 23; on eight fiche beginning with 6093367.) The information for covers the following counties: Bibb, Calhoun, Chilton, Choctaw, Cleburne, Coffee, Coosa, Cullman, Dale, Jackson, Lawrence, Lee, Marion, Mobile, Monroe, Morgan, Talladega, and Tallapoosa Counties. The volumes are alphabetical by county. This book gives the soldier’s name, full birth date, city and state of birth, when and where enlisted, unit, and mustering-out date.

The 1921 census provides each veteran’s name, place and date of birth, place of residence, length of Alabama residence, occupation, wife’s age and place of birth, marriage date and place, names of living children, occupation, and post office box. The forms also contain the veteran’s rank, company, regiment, captain and colonel’s name, battles, wounds, captures, imprisonments, and transfers.

The 1927 census contains the veteran’s name, his widow’s name, her age and birth date, and their marriage date. The records are arranged by county, then alphabetically by the name of the widow. This series is not complete. Some of the returns are found in the Confederate Pension Applications.

State Censuses
1820, 1850, 1855, 1866--State censuses exist. The Family History Library has copies of many of the 1820, 1855, and 1866 state censuses on microfilm. These were filmed at the Department of Archives and History. The library does not have copies of the 1850 state census.

1820 State Census Records-- Family History Library film 1533830 includes the following counties: Baldwin, Conecuh, Dallas, Franklin, Limestone, St. Clair, Shelby, and Wilcox. Census records for Lawrence County are on Family History Library fiche 6046599.

1855 State Census Records--Alabama Department of Archives and History has the lists for 12 counties: Autauga, Baldwin, Blount, Coffee, Franklin, Henry, Lowndes, Macon, Mobile, Pickens, Tallapoosa, and Tuscaloosa.

The Family History Library has the 1855 census microfilms for 16 counties: Autauga, Baldwin, Blount, Coffee, Franklin, Henry, Lowndes, Macon, Mobile, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, and Wilcox. Part of the 1855 census has been indexed:


 * Jackson, Ronald Vern. Alabama 1855 Census Index. Bountiful, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1984. (Family History Library book 976.1 X2j 1855.) The census lists only the head of household. Other persons are indicated by statistics in age groups and by gender. This indexes the records of twelve counties: Autauga, Baldwin, Blount, Coffee, Franklin, Henry, Lowndes, Macon, Mobile, Pickens, Tallapoosa, and Tuscaloosa.

1866 State Census Records-- is available at the Alabama Department of Archives and History and microfilm copies for most counties are at the Family History Library. It lists the heads of households, regardless of color, and gives the number of persons in the various age ranges. It also indicates the number of deceased or disabled Confederate soldiers who were members of that family.

Many of the territorial and state census call numbers are found in:


 * State Census Register: State and County Censuses Located at the Famliy History Library. (Family History Library book 973 X23us, vols. 1-3)

Territorial Censuses
1801, 1808, 1810--Censuses of Washington County, Mississippi Territory included present-day Alabama. These can be found in:


 * "Washington County (now) Alabama 1801, 1808 and 1810 Census." The Alabama Genealogical Register 9, number 3 (September 1967): 123–26. (Family History Library book 976.1 B2a.)

1809--Madison County is available in:


 * "Madison County, Alabama 1809 Census." The Alabama Genealogical Register 10, number 4 (December 1968): 175–82. (Family History Library book 976.1 B2a.)
 * Territorial Papers of Mississippi

1810-- Census of Mississippi Territory, is available in:


 * Alabama 1810 Census Index. Bountiful, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1981. (Family History Library book 976.1 X22a 1810.)

1816--Census is published in:


 * Inhabitants of Alabama in 1816. Pell City, Alabama: Broken Arrow Chapter, DAR, 1955. (Family History Library book 976.1 X3i 1816; film 962161 item17.) The includes alphabetical lists of residents in counties in Alabama.

Web Sites
FamilySearch Record Search has free census indexes and images for 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1900; but indexes only for 1880, and 1920.

Ancestry: http://www.ancestry.com

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

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

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

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

Mortality Schedules: http://mortalityschedules.com/