Kansas State Census, 1885 - FamilySearch Historical Records

What Is in This Collection?
This is an image only collection of the Kansas state census taken in March 1, 1885. The census enumerated all household members.

Kansas became a state in 1861 and later passed a law requiring a state census every ten years to number the population of the various counties in order to determine apportionment of the state legislature. The first state census was taken in 1865 and continued until 1925, as the law was repealed in 1933.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The census generally gives the following information:


 * The names of all household members
 * The gender of each household member
 * The age of each family member
 * The race or color
 * The place of birth for each person
 * Marital status
 * Occupation
 * The place they lived prior to arriving in Kansas
 * Education and literacy information
 * Military information

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching the collection it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The residence and names of family members

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select the County
 * 2) Select the Locality to view the images.

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. Keep track of your research in a research log.

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

 * Use the ages listed to determine approximate birth dates and find the family in federal census records
 * Use the information found to find vital records such as birth, baptism, marriage, and death
 * Use the information found in the record to find land, probate and immigration records
 * Search for church records

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

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or county
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle name

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.

"Kansas State Census, 1885." Images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 2017. Citing Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka.
 * Collection Citation:

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