United States, Special Census of Indians - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States

Why Should I Look at This Collection?
If you suspect you have Native American ancestry, and had relatives living in Washington, the Dakota Territories, or California, this collection may help identify your relatives.

What is in This Collection?
This collection is a special enumeration of Indians living near military installations in Washington and Dakota Territories and in California during 1880. Some of the agencies include:
 * Ihanktonwan Sioux, Crow Creek Agency
 * Tulalip Agency, Washington Territory (includes Swinomosh, Muckleshoot, and Lunmi Schedules)
 * Yakama Agency, Washington Territory (includes Simcoe, Central, Sattas, Yakam, Ahtanum, and Piute)
 * Standing Rock Agency, Dakota Territory
 * Round Valley Agency, California Territory

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The census includes:
 * The Indian name
 * The translation of name
 * English or other name habitually used
 * Relationship of each person to head of family
 * Civil conditions
 * Personal description
 * Occupation
 * Health, education, and personal property
 * Land occupied
 * Land in severalty
 * Sources of subsistence

Sample Images
Only add sample images if there are no image visibility restrictions

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the person
 * Where they lived during the 1880 enumeration

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?

 * Find what tribes were located in the area where your ancestor lived, and learn who kept the records (Tribe, Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs, etc.)
 * Search all the records for the location where your ancestor lived
 * Look for the family in vital records
 * Search for land allotments

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

 * The name of your ancestor may have changed from one Indian name to a different Indian name, consider alternative names
 * The name of your ancestor may have changed from an Indian name to a Christian name
 * The name of your ancestor may have been abbreviated

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.

"United States, Special Census of Indians, 1880." Database and images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 2018. Custodian.
 * Collection Citation:

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