Louisiana Census

United States &gt;  Maryland  &gt;  Census

Microform and book indexes
Click here for a list of microform and book indexes for federal population schedules of Maryland.

Microform and book indexes
Click here for a list of microform and book indexes for federal non-population schedules of Maryland.

Missing federal censuses
Click here for a list of missing and available Maryland federal censuses.

State or other censuses
[Colonial territorial, state or other censuses]

Maryland made in 1778 a list of citizens who had taken an oath of fidelity which list is sometimes called a census.

Maryland took a census in 1776:


 * Gaius Marcus Brumbaugh, Maryland Records, Colonial, Revolutionary, County and Church from Original Sources, 2 vols. (1915-1928; reprint, Baltimore:Genealogical Publ., 1975) [FHL book 975.2 D29b; fiche 6046943]
 * Bettie Stirling Carothers, 1776 Census of Maryland(Lutherville, Md.: B.S. Carothers, 1972) [FHL book 975.2 X2p 1776; film 928227 Item 2]

An online index to both is found in MARYLAND INDEXES (Census Index) 1776-1778 [MSA S1419].

Why use a census?
A well-indexed census is one of the easiest ways to locate where an ancestor's family lived and when they lived there. You can also use censuses to follow the changes in a family over time, and identify neighbors. These and other clues provided by censuses are important because they help find additional kinds of records about the family.

More about censuses
Click here for additional details about how to use censuses, such as:


 * index searching tips
 * analyzing and using what you find
 * census accuracy
 * historical background
 * contents of various census years and types

External sites
Many censuses and indexes are on free sites, others are at paid sites. Some may have access through library membership, and other are personal paid sites. Some sites have partial censuses and others major fee sites have the whole series, with indexes and links to images. Online indexes are searchable in different ways, see tips if you are having difficulties locating your family.


 * FamilySearch Record Search is free site. There are a few census years available now with more being added. Search the index and view the images. The index is to every name listed on the census. As of June 2009. the years that are indexed and available for Maryland are 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, and 1900.
 * Maryland State Archives has indexes to the 1776 and 1778 colonial "censuses", also the federal 1870 and 1880. 
 * Ancestry is a large Internet company that has all the Maryland censuses indexed from 1790--1930 by every name. The index is linked to the image as well to an extracted household group with source information. Ancestry is available at many libraries, the Family History Library, and certain Family History centers.You can also purchase your own subscription.
 * Heritage Quest Online is a paid site that has indexes for the 1790–1820, 1860–1880, and 1900–1930. Images for all national censuses are available for browsing, printing, and downloading. Many libraries have subscriptions which allow access for their patrons outside of their library with a library card and password.
 * Census Finder has statewide links to online indexes, then countywide links, including indexes, transcriptions, scanned copies. The links on this site are often difficult to use.
 * Two other websites that have links to other sites are Census Online and Access Genealogy. Some of the addresses are not current.

Availability
1810-1930--The Family History Library has the United States federal censuses of Louisiana.

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.

1890-- The 1890 census was destroyed, but there is a Union veterans schedule and a published index to it that is available at the Family History Library.

1890--The census for the Ascension Parish census is at the Division of Archives, Records Management, and History, and an index has been published and is available at the Family History Library.

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
1714--The first settlement was established at Natchitoches.

1717-1722--Forced immigration from France brought a few thousand settlers. Attracted by land, German-speaking people came. The importation of African slaves began.

1718--New Orleans was founded.

1763--France ceded Louisiana to Spain.

1803--The Louisiana area was purchased by the United States from France.

1804--The territory was divided, using the 33rd parallel as the boundary. The northern portion became the District of Louisiana, and the southern portion became the Territory of Orleans.

1812--The Territory of Orleans became the state of Louisiana.

Indexes
1810-1870--Statewide indexes are available for the censuses in book and microfiche format.

1880-1930-- Soundex (phonetic) indexes are available on microfilm.

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
Mortality schedules exist for 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880, and all are indexed. The schedules and indexes are available at the Family History Library and the National Archives.

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.

State and Colonial Censuses
1699-1805--In addition to the federal censuses, various military and local censuses were taken.

1805-- A special census of New Orleans was taken.

The information in these censuses varies greatly. Several give the names and ages of all residents. Most of these censuses have been published and are available at the Family History Library. Two particularly helpful publications are:


 * Maduell,Charles R.,Jr. The Census Tables for the French Colony of Louisiana from 1699 Through 1732. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1972. (Family History Library book 976.3 X2pm.) 


 * Robichaux, Alberte J., Jr. Louisiana Census and Militia Lists 1770-1789. 2 vols. Harvey, Louisiana.: A. J. Robichaux, 1973 and 1974. (Family History Library book 976.3 X2pr fiche 6088510-511,vols. 1-2.)

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

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

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

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

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

Census Finder: http://www.censusfinder.com/louisiana.htm