Mississippi Census

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

Availability
1820-1930--The Family History Library has the U.S. federal censuses of Mississippi

1830--The census for Pike County is missing.

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. The records for Washington and Sunflower counties are missing.''

 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.

1890--The census has been destroyed. The 1890 Union veterans schedule and index are available at the Family History Library and at the National Archives.

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
1699--The French established a settlement called Fort Maurepas on Biloxi Bay.

1716--Fort Rosalie, now Natchez, was established by the French on the Mississippi River.

1763--France ceded its claims to the Mississippi region to Great Britain.

1783--Britain ceded the Gulf Coast area to Spain. The rest of the Mississippi region was claimed by Georgia. The boundary was in dispute until 1795.

1798--Congress organized the Mississippi Territory.

1817--The eastern part of the Mississippi Territory was organized as the Territory of Alabama. Mississippi became a state.

Indexes
1820-1870--Statewide indexes are available for the censuses.

1880-1930-- Soundex (phonetic) indexes are available on microfilm. Large cities in Mississippi have their own soundex.

Special Censuses
1850-1880--Mortality schedules are at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Indexes to the 1850, 1860, and 1870 schedules are available at the Family History Library.

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.

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.

Territorial and State Censuses
1792-1866--Territorial and state censuses were taken at frequent intervals for various counties. Few are complete and the information in the censuses varies.

1792--Maiden names are included in the census.

These censuses are available at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and at the Family History Library (Family History Library film 899868-870).

For an index covering the years 1792 to 1816, see:


 * Norman E. Gillis, Early Inhabitants of the Natchez District.Baton Rouge, Louisiana: N.E. Gillis, 1963 (Family History Library book 976.2 X2p) This includes a list of residents in 1810.

Published indexes are available for the surviving censuses for the years 1810, 1820-25, 1830/37, 1840/41, and 1845.

Some additional information about research and records in Mississippi is in:


 * Richard Stephen Lackey, “Mississippi,” Genealogical Research: Methods and Sources, Volume 2: 188-218 (Washington, D.C.: American Society of Genealogists, 1980;).(Family History Library book 973 D27gr)

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

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

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

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

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