New Jersey Census

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Existing and lost censuses
For a list of available and missing New Jersey censuses, click here.

Availability
1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920:

Copies of these censuses can be found in the following repositories: National Archives and all of its regional centers, Family History Library, New Jersey Historical Society, New Jersey State Archives, Newark Public Library, Rutgers University Library and the New Jersey State Library.

1850 United States Census—A free Internet index and images to the 1850 United States Census can be viewed on the FamilySearch Record Search – Pilot Site. This index includes every name listed on the census and is linked to an image including information about each person’s residence and age in 1850, birthplace, occupation, other family members, and neighbors.

1860 United States Census—A free Internet index and images to the 1860 United States Census can be viewed on the FamilySearch Record Search – Pilot Site. This index includes every name listed on the census and is linked to an image including information about each person’s residence and age in 1860, birthplace, occupation, other family members, whether married or single, and neighbors.

 1870 United States Census---A free internet index and images can be viewed on FamilySearch Record Pilot site. This index includes the full name, age, sex, race, birthplace, occupation, month if born in census year, month if married in census year, birth place of father and mother, if born in a foreign country.

1880 United States Census– A Free Internet Index and Images to the US Census can be viewed on the Family Search Record Pilot – Pilot Site. This index includes an every name index to population schedules listing inhabitants. It includes the full name, race, sex, age, birth month (if born during the previous year), relationship to head of household, whether married, single or divorced, whether married during the previous year, country or state of birth of each person and his parent’s, occupation and street address and house number.

1790, 1800 (except Cumberland County), 1810, and 1820 censuses are missing

1890 census (except the 17 names of the Nelson, Cross, and Clooney families from Jersey City,                               Hudson County) was destroyed                        1890 schedule of Union veterans and widows has survived

The United States Census article provides detailed information about these records.

Census Substitutes Search the tax ratables described in New Jersey Taxation. Also see the 1793 militia census described in New Jersey Military Records.

1900 Federal Census - A free Internet index and images to the 1900 United States Census can be viewed on the FamilySearch Record Search – Pilot Site. Important additions to this census are month and year of birth of each household member, number of years married for each married person, number of children born to each mother and the number of those still living, year of immigration, and number of years in the United States.

Historical Background
1664-1676--New Jersey consisted of two separate proprietorships, East and West Jersey. 1702--The two Jerseys were united to form a singel royal colony. 1776--New Jersey declared itself an independent state.

Indexes
1800 (Cumberland County), 1830 1840, 1850 and 1860--Statewide indexes are available in books.

1800 (Cumberland County), 1830 1840, and1850--Statewide indexes are available in microfiche.

1880 (partial), 1900 and 1920--Soundex (phonetic) indexes are available.

County-wide indexes are listed in the Family History Library Catalog Locality Search under NEW JERSEY, [COUNTY] - CENSUS.


 * Kirkham, E. Kay. A Handy Guide to Record- Searching in the Larger Cities of the United States. Logan, Utah: Everton, 1974. (Family History Library book 973 D27kc, fiche 6010059-60.) Includes ward maps and street indexes for Camden in 1878.
 * 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. (Family History Library book 973 X2bu, fiche 6101340.)
 * United States.Bureau of the Census. Cross Index to Selected City Streets and Enumeration Districts, 1910 Census. Washington, DC: National Archives, [1984]. (51 Family History Library fiche 6331481.) Lists street addresses of Elizabeth (fiche 19), Newark (fiche 25), and Patterson (fiche 36) with corresponding census enumeration districts.
 * Buckway, G. Eileen. U.S. State and Special Census Register. Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Library, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1992. (Family History Library fiche 6104851-52.)

Colonial Censuses
The colonial censuses taken in 1726, 1738, 1745, and 1772 were destroyed. Various other records can substitute for colonial censuses. These include lists of petitioners, residents, freeholders, quit renters, jurists, voters, and taxpayers. Many of these lists have been published in periodicals. For a helpful guide in locating these lists, refer to:


 * Stemmons, John D. The United States Census Compendium. Logan, Utah: Everton Publishers, 1973. (Family History Library book 973 X2st.)

A colonial census of the early Swedish settlers in New Jersey has been published in the following:


 * Craig, Peter Stebbins. The 1693 Census of the Swedes on the Delaware: Family Histories of the Swedish Lutheran Church Members Residing in Pennsylvania, Delaware, West New Jersey and Cecil County, Maryland, 1638-1693. Studies in Swedish American Genealogy 3. Winter Park, Florida: SAG Publications, 1993. (Family History Library book 973 X4c.) Includes index and bibliography.

Slave Holder Schedules
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 shows the age, gender, and color of the slaves. Slave names are not normally listed.

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 censuses are at the New Jersey State Library. Microfilm copies are at the state archives, the New Jersey Historical Society, and the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

At the Family History Library mortality schedules are listed as:


 * United States. Census Office. Census of New Jersey, 1850-1880; Third Series (of Persons Who Died During the Years Ending 30 June 1850, 1 June 1860; 1 June 1870; 31 May 1880. Trenton, New Jersey: State Library of Archives and History, Department of Education, 1996. (Family History Library films 802952-55.) The 1880 schedules are for Atlantic to Hudson counties only.

The schedule for 1850 is indexed in:


 * George, Shirley J. and Sandra E. Glenn. New Jersey 1850 Mortality Schedule Index. Columbus, New Jersey: G. &amp; G. Genealogical Book, 1982. (Family History Library book 974.9 X22g) Mortality Schedules 1850-1880

Veterans Schedules

The 1890 schedule of Union veterans and widows has survived. See:

United States. Census Office. 11th Census, 1890. Schedules Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War. File Microcopies of Records in the National Archives, number 123. Washington, DC: National Archives, 1948. (Family History Library films 338200-202.) Indexed in:

Jackson, Ronald Vern. New Jersey 1890. Salt Lake City, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1990. (Family History Library book 974.9 X22j 1890.) The index does not include the 17 people in the surviving Jersey City, New Jersey population schedules.

State Censuses
State censuses were taken beginning in 1855. Some records are missing, as indicated below:

1855 - Missing Burlington, Cape May, Mercer, Middlesex, Ocean, and Salem counties and incomplete for the others.

1865 - Missing Cape May, Mercer, Morris, Ocean, Somerset, and Warren counties and incomplete for the others.

1875 - Only Sussex and Essex counties are available.

1885, 1895, 1905, 1915 - All counties are available.

The original records and microfilm copies of state censuses are at the New Jersey State Archives. Copies of the 1905 and 1915 censuses are also at the New Jersey Department of Health. The Newark Public Library, New Jersey State Library, Rutgers University Library, and Family History Library have microfilm copies of all New Jersey state censuses.


 * Buckway, G. Eileen. U.S. State and Special Census Register. Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Library, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1992. (Family History Library book 973 X2be, fiche 6104851-52.)

Territorial Censuses
New Jersey has no Territorial Census.

Web Sites
Ancestry $$

Heritage Quest Online: Available through many public libraries

Census Online

Genealogy Today

Access Genealogy

National Archives

New Jersey Historical Society

New Jersey State Archives

Newark Public Library

Rutgers University Library

New Jersey State Library

Mortality Schedules

Census Finder New Jersey : contains links to online censuses, including censuses on a county level.

References

New Jersey Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1998, 2001.