Maine Census

United States &gt;  U.S. Census  &gt;  Maine   &gt;  Census

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

Availability
1790-1930 Federal Census Records--All federal census records 1790 to 1930 are available for Maine with the following exceptions:

                       1800--Some of York County is missing.

                       1810--Half of Oxford County is missing.

                       1820--Some of Washington County is missing.

Many federal census records are found at the Family History Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The United States Census article provides detailed information about these records.

1800-1840 Census Records in the Family History Library Catalog--The Maine census records from 1800 to 1840, are not listed by year in the Family History Library Catalog. They are listed under the heading Maine - Census.

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.

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
Maine became a state in 1820. In the time period of the 1790, 1800 and 1810 census Maine was known as Maine District, a part of Massachusetts. For searching purposes, the 1790-1810 census records are listed under the state of Maine.

Indexes
1790-1930 Online Index--All federal census records for Maine are indexed online at www.ancestry.com.

The following indexes are available at the Family History library: 1790-1850 Indexes--The Family History Library has statewide indexes for the 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, and 1850 censuses in book and microfiche format.

1850-1870 Indexes--The library also has a partial index of some counties and some towns for the 1850, 1860, and 1870 censuses.


 * Maine Census Indexes, 1850-1870. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1953. (Family History Library films 009734-8) Sorted alphabetically by town, then census year. Lists head of household and page number in census.

1880, 1900, 1920 Indexes--Soundex (phonetic) indexes are available for part of the 1880 census and all of the 1900 and 1920 censuses.

Town Indexes--Town indexes can sometimes help you find names overlooked in statewide indexes. A few town indexes are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under MAINE, [COUNTY], [TOWN] - CENSUS.

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 Family History Library, Maine State Archives, and the National Archives have copies of the mortality schedules. The Family History Library film numbers are listed below:

                       1850 (Family History Library film 009739)

                       1860 (Family History Library film 009740)

                       1870 (Family History Library film 009741)

                       1880 (Family History Library film 1841575)

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.

Mortality Schedules 1850-1880

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)

1890 Federal Census--The 1890 census has a veterans schedule, which lists the veterans or their widows who were living when the census was taken. Ancestry subscribers can access these records online.

For a copy of the veterans schedule, see:


 * Jackson, Ronald Vern. Maine 1890 Veterans Census Index. North Salt Lake, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems International, 1990. (Family History Library book 974.1 X22j 1890)
 * United States. Census Office. 11th Census, 1890. Schedules Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Washington, D.C.: The National Archives, 1948. (Family History Library films for Maine 338165-6)

State Censuses
1837 State Census--A state census was taken in 1837, but only the schedules for Portland, Bangor, Eliot, and unincorporated areas still exist. The census names the head of each household and lists the ages of other persons in the household. It excludes unnaturalized foreigners who were not living in Maine before 1833 and untaxed indians. This census is not at the Family History Library. The schedules for Portland, Bangor, and unincorporated areas are at the Maine State Archives. The Maine Historical Society has the Eliot section. This census is also known as the Maine Special 1837 Census and it is online.

1904 State Census--Only for Kennebunkport, York County:


 * The Kennebunkport Register, 1904, (Family History Library book 974.195/K4 E4m)

1905 State Census--Only for Scarboro, Cumberland County:


 * The Scarboro Register 1905, (Family History Library book 974.191/S1 H2mh)

Web Sites
Ancestry: http://www.ancestry.com

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

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

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

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

National Archives: http://www.archives.gov/

Maine State Archives and Libraries: http://statearchives.us/maine.htm

Maine Historical Society: http://www.mainehistory.org/

Mortality Schedules: http://mortalityschedules.com/