Minnesota State Census, 1885 - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This census is for the year 1885.

The record is a printed form that was filled in by hand by the enumerator. The forms are arranged by county and community.

For a list of records by localities and dates currently published in this collection, select the Browse.

The census includes most individuals within the counties enumerated. State censuses were taken in Minnesota every ten years beginning in 1865 through 1905.

The census was compiled to obtain a description and a count of the population of the state of Minnesota. This helps in apportioning political representation at all levels of government.

The information is generally reliable. However, use the information with some caution since it may have been given to a census taker by any member of the family or by a neighbor. Some information may have been incorrect or deliberately falsified

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Records collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.

Record Content
Key genealogical facts found in the Minnesota 1885 State Census are:


 * Name
 * Age
 * Gender
 * Color
 * Place of birth (state or territory if in the U.S., country if foreign born)
 * Length of residence
 * Occupation
 * If a soldier or sailor in the Civil War
 * Whether mother and father foreign born or not
 * Residence or location within a country (The location within a county may not be a town name but a legal land description instead which gives the township number and the range number.)

How to Use the Record
A census can provide you with names and ages of family members, which can be used to calculate birth or marriage dates. It can also provide the name of the county and town where your ancestor lived. People living with the family may be relatives. Relatives may also have lived nearby. The census may identify individuals for whom other records may not exist.

Related Web Sites
Census Project Minnesota

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Related Wiki Articles

 * Minnesota Census
 * Minnesota Censuses Existing and Lost

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
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A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
"Minnesota State Census, 1885." database and digital images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/: accessed 27 March 2012). entry for John Church, age 25; citing Census Records, FHL microfilm 000,565,734; State Library and Records Service, St. Paul, Minnesota.