Idaho Census

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

United States Censuses 1870-1920—Free Internet census indexes and images to the 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.

The Family History Library has microfilm copies of the U.S. federal censuses for the state of Idaho for 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930.

The 1890 federal census was destroyed. However, the State of Idaho is attempting to reconstruct the 1890 census by indexing a variety of records, 1885-1894, for the counties in existence for those years. This is a work in progress and is being done by staff, interns, and volunteers of the Idaho State Historical Society Public Archives and Research Library in Boise. As counties are indexed, they are added to the statewide index, which is available online.

Historical Background
Idaho became a United States territory in 1863 and its first territorial census was taken in 1870. It was admited into the Union in 1890 as the 43rd state. Censuses 1870 to 2000 are extant. The 1940 - 2000 federal censuses are not yet released to the public.

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

Statewide indexes are available for the 1870 and 1880 censuses in book and microfiche format. A Soundex (phonetic) index is available on microfilm for part of the 1880 census. The censuses and indexes are at the Family History Library.

Mortality Schedules
1870-1880--Mortality schedules exist for the 1870 and 1880 censuses. The Family History Library has the schedules and indexes.


 * Mortality Schedules 1850-1880

The 1870 and 1880 non-population schedules for Idaho are also online on the Idaho Historical Society's web site, in an alphabetical listing.

State Censuses
Idaho did not take any state censuses.

Territorial Censuses
The area that is presently Idaho was included in the federal censuses of the Oregon Territory (1850), Washington Territory (1860), and Idaho Territory (1870 and 1880). For the 1860 census of Idaho County, see Spokane County, Washington. Parts of southern Idaho were also included in the federal 1860 and 1870 censuses of Cache County, Utah. Also, the 1856 Utah territorial census included residents in "Malad County" and Cache County who actually may have lived on the extreme south edge of Idaho.

Web Sites
FamilySearch Record Search has free census indexes and images for 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/ID/

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

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

Mortality Schedules: http://mortalityschedules.com/