Missouri Census

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

Availability
Many federal census records (1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930) are at the following archives:


 * State Historical Society of Missouri (University of Missouri–Columbia Campus)
 * Missouri State Archives (Jefferson City)
 * The Family History Library
 * The National Archives

The 1890 census schedules for Missouri and most other states were destroyed in a fire on 21 January 1921 at the Commerce Department in Washington, D.C. Missouri state censuses or transcriptions of those census records are available at: *The State Historical Society in Columbia and the Family History Library.

Residents of Missouri may borrow microfilm of federal census records through 1880 from the Missouri State Historical Society on interlibrary loan through public or college libraries. State census microfilm. Soundexes, and other indexes may not be borrowed.

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.

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
Federal censuses for the state of Missouri begin with 1830 and were taken every ten years. Census records become public 72 years after the census was taken. See the United States Research Outline for more information about nationwide census records and indexes. Census records from 1850 on can show names of each member of the household, his or her age, state or country of birth, occupation and race. Censuses can also give clues about marital status, marriage dates, death dates, immigration and naturalization information, migration patterns, previous residence, adoptions, and divorces. (See the United States Research Outline for more details.) Censuses for 1840 and earlier list only heads of families. Most families were listed when a census taker made his visits, making these records rich in clues. Other persons in the county with the same surname may be related to each other. Statewide indexes can also help to locate families when only the state where they lived is known.

Indexes
The 1830 through 1870 federal censuses have statewide, head-of-household indexes in book form. These were compiled by various organizations. If an ancestor does not appear in one index, check another for the same year as the handwriting may not have been transcribed correctly. The State Historical Society has individual indexes to each Missouri county for 1840 and 1850. The 1880 (partial), 1900, 1910, and 1920 censuses have Soundex (phonetic) indexes on microfilm. These indexes are available at the State Historical Society, the Family History Library and its branches, and the National Archives — including regional branches and presidential libraries. Many Missouri local genealogical and/or historical societies have prepared individual county indexes for these later census years, including the 1930 census.

Special Censuses
Mortality Schedules "The 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 censuses included inquiries about persons who had died in the twelve months immediately preceding the enumeration. Mortality schedules list deaths from 1 June through 31 May of 1849–50, 1859–60, 1869-70, and 1879–80. They provide nationwide, state-by-state death registers that predate the recording of vital statistics in most states. While deaths are under-reported, the mortality schedules remain an invaluable source of information.""Mortality schedules asked the deceased's name, sex, age, color (white, black, mulatto), whether widowed, his or her place of birth (state, territory, or country), the month in which the death occurred, his or her profession/occupation/trade, disease or cause of death, and the number of days ill. In 1870, a place for parents' birthplaces was added. In 1880, the place where a disease was contracted and how long the deceased person was a citizen or resident of the area were included (fractions indicate a period of time less than a year). Loretto Dennis Szucs and Matthew Wright, 'Census Records.' The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy, 3d ed., Loretto Dennis Szucs and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking. (Provo, UT : Ancestry, 2006), 196-97."

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.

Territorial and State Censuses
The Territory of Missouri took censuses in 1814, 1817, and 1819. The State of Missouri took censuses in 1821, then every four years beginning in 1824 through 1868, and in 1876. Most of these Territorial and State Censuses no longer exist. Listed below are copies currently available. Some censuses only gave head of household and others listed all household members.

At Ancestry.com

1844- Callaway County 1856- Audrain County 1857- St. Louis County 1858- St. Louis County 1867- Cape Girardeau, Franklin, and Greene Counties. 1868-Cape Girardeau and Franklin Counties 1869-Franklin County 1873-Cole County                                                                                                                                                1876- Atchison, Benton, Butler, Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Carroll, Cass, Christian, Daviess, St. Francois, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Holt, Howard, Madison, McDonald, Moniteau, Montgomery, Osage, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, Stone, Texas, Worth and Webster Counties. 1880-Cass                                                                                                                                                                 1881-Reynolds 1887-Phelps

At the State Historical Society of Missouri (University of Missouri–Columbia Campus):


 * 1817 - St. Charles Territorial Censuses (transcription)


 * 1819 - St. Charles Territorial Censuses (transcription)


 * 1840 - Rives County [now Henry County] (transcription)


 * 1844 - Callaway County (microfilm), Marion County (transcription) *1852 - St. Charles County (transcription)


 * 1864 - Gasconade County (transcription)


 * 1868 - Cape Girardeau, Ste. Genevieve, and Webster counties (all microfilm)


 * 1876 - Benton, Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Christian, Greene, Holt, Howard, McDonald, Montgomery, Osage, Phelps, Reynolds, St. Francois counties (all microfilm) Butler, Iron and Texas counties (transcriptions).

At the Missouri State Archives (Jefferson City):


 * 1840 - New Madrid, Newton, Pike, Randolph, Ray, Rives (later Henry), Shelby, Stoddard and Warren counties (all transcriptions)


 * 1844 - Callaway County (microfilm); Greene County (transcription)


 * 1868 - Cape Girardeau County (microfilm)

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

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

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

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

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

Mortality Schedules: http://mortalityschedules.com/

Web Sites
http://www.archives.gov/

http://www.censusfinder.com/missouri.htm

http://www.slpl.org/