Oklahoma Census

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

Historical Background
Many special censuses were taken in Oklahoma, especially censuses of Indians. For more information about these, see the Special Censuses section. For information on censuses of specific Indian Tribes, see Indians of Oklahoma.

In 1819 Arkansas Territory (including most of what is now Oklahoma) was created from the southern part of the Missouri Territory.

1820. Some general white settlememt had started in what is now the far southeast corner of Oklahoma. They were counted on the census of Miller County, Arkansas, which included parts of what is now Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. But these population schedules are lost.

In 1828 the western boundary of Arkansas was established, separating the Indian Territory (to become Oklahoma) from what had been Arkansas Territory and including part of the southern edge of what had been Missouri Territory.

At first, some white settlers departed when the area was set aside for the Indians. After Indian government proved effective, more whites began to settle in Indian Territory.

1830-1850. No other federal censuses were taken in present-day Oklahoma in 1830, 1840, or 1850.

1860. The non-Indians of what is now Oklahoma were counted in 1860 in what were called the Indian Lands of Arkansas Territory. This census does not list Indians, but lists free and slave inhabitants in the Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole nations. The slave schedules provide the names of slave owners, but not the names of slaves.

1870. No census available.

1880. All non-Indian and most Indian schedules are lost. Only the Cherokee Indian schedules survive.

1890. The population schedules were destroyed. The special census of Civil War Union veterans and widows survives for both the Oklahoma and Indian Territories.

In addition to the federal censuses, a separate census was taken in 1890 of the Oklahoma Territory. Censuses exist for Logan, Oklahoma, Cleveland, Canadian, Kingfisher, Payne and Beaver counties. This includes information on the entire household but is incomplete for some areas.

1900. Oklahoma was split between Indian Territory to the southeast, and Oklahoma Territory to the northwest on the 1900 census. The following map shows modern county boundaries and the division between Indian and Oklahoma territories.

In 1907 Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory combined to become the state of Oklahoma.

'''1910, 1920, and 1930. '''Federal censuses of Oklahoma are available, and have been indexed for each of these years.

Internet
1860. To search an index of the Arkansas Territory "Indian Lands" (now Oklahoma) non-Indian population schedules for free at the Family History Library on Ancestry.com, click here. You can also search the same index on a home computer if you click here, but you will be asked to subscribe to see the search results list.

If you find a name in this Internet index you can click "View Image" to see a picture of the actual passenger list page including the home town of each emigrant, and his or her relatives on the same ship.

To browse Ancestry.com 1860 census images at the Family History Library, click here. To browse at home with a subscription, click here.

 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.

1880. The Cherokee Nation 1880 Indian census is indexed on the Internet at www.accessgenealogy.com/native/cherokeecensus.php This index does not include census images.

'''1890 Veterans. '''To search an index of the Civil War Union veterans schedules for Oklahoma and Indian territories for free at the Family History Library on Ancestry.com, click here. You can also search the same index on a home computer if you click here, but you will be asked to subscribe to see the search results list.

If you find a name in this Internet index you can click "View Image" to see a picture of the actual passenger list page including the home town of each emigrant, and his or her relatives on the same ship.

To browse Ancestry.com 1890 veterans census images at the Family History Library, click here. To browse at home with a subscription, click here.

'''1890 Territorial Census. '''To search an index of the 1890 territorial census of seven Oklahoma counties for free at the Family History Library on Ancestry.com, click here. You can also search the same index on a home computer if you click here, but you will be asked to subscribe to see the search results list.

To browse Ancestry.com 1890 territorial census images at the Family History Library, click here. To browse at home with a subscription, click here.

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.

1900 To search an index of the 1900 territorial censuses of Indian and Oklahoma territories for free at the Family History Library on Ancestry.com, click here. You can also search the same index on a home computer if you click here, but you will be asked to subscribe to see the search results list.

At the Family History Library to browse Ancestry.com 1900 census images for Indian Territory, click here. For Oklahoma Territory, click here.

At home to browse 1900 Indian Territory census images with a subscription, click here. For Oklahoma Territory, click here.

'''1907 Seminole Census. '''To search an index of the 1907 territorial census of Seminole County for free at the Family History Library on Ancestry.com, click here. You can also search the same index on a home computer if you click here, but you will be asked to subscribe to see the search results list.

To browse Ancestry.com 1907 Seminole County census images at the Family History Library, click here. To browse at home with a subscription, click here.

Microfilm
1860. The "Indian Lands" (Oklahoma) non-Indian population schedules are at the very end of Family History Library film 803054 (M653 roll 52) after Yell County, Arkansas. This census and a published index are available at the National Archives — Southwest Region, the Oklahoma Historical Society, and the Family History Library.

1880. The Cherokee Nation 1880 census covering the Canadian, Cooweescoowee, Delaware, Flint, Going Snake, Illinois, Saline, Sequoyah and Tahlequah districts is for Indians only. Also includes census rolls of various years of Delaware Indians holding citizenship in the Cherokee Nation. FHL film 989204. Indexed on the Internet.

1890. The Civil War Union veterans and their widows schedules are on Family History Library film 338235 (M123 roll 76).

The First Territorial Census of Oklahoma, 1890 is on Family History Library film 227,282 (M1811, roll 1). A card index is available at the Oklahoma State Historical Society. A helpful source for locating families in this census is Smith's First Directory of Oklahoma Territory: For the Year Commencing August 1st, 1890 (see the “Directories” section of this Oklahoma Wiki article)

1900. All populiation schedules for Indians and non-Indians are available:


 * Indian Territory Family History Library films 1241843-54 (T623, rolls 1843-54)
 * Oklahoma Territory Family History Library film 1241335-44 (T623, rolls 1335-44)

1910. Indian and non-Indian schedules are on Family History Library films 1375255-90 (T624, rolls 1242-77).

1920. Indian and non-Indian schedules are on Family History Library films 1821451-90 (T625, rolls 1451-90).

1930. Indian and non-Indian schedules are on Family History Library films 2341626-72 (T626, rolls 1892-1938).

Many of the federal census records are found at the Family History Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The "Census" section of the United States Research Outline provides more detailed information regarding these federal records.

Indexes
1880. The Cherokee Nation 1880 Indian census is indexed on the Internet at www.accessgenealogy.com/native/cherokeecensus.php

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

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

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

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

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