Arkansas Census

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

Location
1790-1800--No federal census records exist for Arkansas.

1810-1820--The 1810 and 1820 censuses for the area that became Arkansas were destroyed.

United States Censuses 1850-1920—Free Internet census indexes and images to the 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (index only), 1900, and 1920 (partial index only) can be viewed on the FamilySearch Record Search. These indexes show every name listed on the census, and except for 1880 and 1920, are also linked to census images including information about each person’s residence, age, birthplace, occupation, other family members, and neighbors.

1890--The 1890 census was destroyed.

Historical Background
1803--The United States acquired the area that is now Arkansas with the Louisiana Purchase.

1812--The Missouri Territory was established including Arkansas in its boundaries.

1813--Territorial legislature established Arkansas County.

1819--Arkansas became a separate territory.

1836--Arkansas became a state. 1861--Arkansas seceded from the Union.

1868--Arkansas was readmitted to the Union.

Indexes
1850-1920—Free Internet census indexes to the 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, and 1920 (partial index only) can be viewed on the FamilySearch Record Search.

1840-1870--Statewide indexes are available for the 1840, 1850, 1860, and 1870 censuses in book and microfiche format. Soundex--A Soundex (phonetic) index is available on microfilm for part of the 1880 and all of the 1900, 1910, and 1920 censuses.

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 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.

1850-1880--Mortality schedules exist for the 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 censuses. The schedules for the years 1850 to 1880 are indexed in book and microfiche format. The indexes are available at the Family History Library. The schedules are at the Arkansas History Commissionand the University of Arkansas. These are online at www.ancestry.com for a fee.

Sheriff's Censuses
The Arkansas History Commission has sheriff's censuses for several counties in 1829 and Arkansas County in 1823 (1823 census is on Family History Library film 977363 item 2.) These are indexed in:


 * Ronald Vern Jackson, Arkansas Sheriff's Censuses: 1823 and 1829  (Bountiful, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1978) (Family History Library book 976.7 X2s 1823, 1829.) Only the heads of households are listed in these censuses.

State Censuses and Territorial Censuses
1830--The federal census for the Territory of Arkansas is available and indexed for 1830. The Family History Library has transcriptions for Arkansas census records in the following years:

1723--Sotehouy (French name for Arkansas section of Louisiana Territory)

1726, 1749, 1766, 1768, 1770, 1777, 1791,1793, 1794, 1796, 1798--Arkansas

1823--Arkansas County, transcription and original

1829--Transcriptions for Arkansas, Chicot, Clark, Conway, Crawford, Crittenden, Independence, Lawrence, Miller, St. Francis and Washington Counties. Lawrence County is the original record.

1833--Scott County

1865--Washington County

1887--Jackson County: Newport

Web Sites
FamilySearch Record Search has free indexes and images for 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1900; but indexes only for 1880, and 1920.

Ancestry: http://www.ancestry.com

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

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

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

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