Montana Census

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

Availabilty
 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. 1890--Census was destroyed.The 1890 Union veterans schedule and index are available at the Family History Library and at the National Archives.

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.

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.

1900-1930--The Family History Library has the U.S. federal censuses for Montana for 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930.

Many federal census records are found at the Family History Library, the National Archives and its regional centers, and state archives. The United States Research Outline provides more detailed information about these records.

Historical Background
1860s--Montana west of the continental divide was designated Missoula County, Washington Territory in 1860. In 1861 the unsettled eastern portion was attached to Dakota Territory, In 1863 and 1864 all of Montana was included in Idaho Territory.

1864--Montana Territory was established with nine counties.

1889--Montana became a state.

1910-1925--The number of counties doubled from 28 to the present 56 as homesteaders moved into eastern Montana.

Indexes
1860-1880--Indexes are available in book format.

To identify early settlers, see:


 * List of Early Settlers: A List of All Persons (Except Indians) Who Were in What Is Now Montana During the Winter of 1862-1863, compiled by the Montana Historical Society. It is found in:


 * Contributions to the Historical Society of Montana . . ., 1: 293-308, Second Edition. (Helena: Rocky Mountain Publishing Company, 1902; Family History Library film 1000177 item 2).

State Census
There are no state censuses for Montana.

Mortality Schedules
1870-1880--Mortality schedules for the 1870 and 1880 censuses are at the Montana Historical Society and at the DAR library in Washington, DC. The Family History Library also has published indexes for the 1870 and 1880 mortality schedules.

Mortality Schedules 1850-1880

Territorial Censuses
1860--The area that is now western Montana was part of the Washington Territory. Eastern Montana was part of the unorganized area of Nebraska Territory. The 1860 censuses for these two territories list the individuals who lived in what is now Montana.

1870-1880--Federal censuses for Montana Territory are available.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mortality Schedules: http://mortalityschedules.com/