Unreleased United States Censuses

United States U.S. Census  Federal Censuses after 1940

Census records are generally released to the public 72 years after enumeration. The National Archives will release the 1950 census digitally on April 2, 2022. Only the named persons, their heirs, or their legal representatives can gain access to individual records of censuses not yet released to the public.

Abstracted Information
The Census Bureau will search one census for one person only for $65. Individuals can use these transcripts, which may contain information on a person’s age, sex, race, State or country of birth, and relationship to the householder, as evidence to qualify for social security and other retirement benefits, in making passport applications, to prove relationship in settling estates, in genealogy research, etc., or to satisfy other situations where a birth or other certificate may be needed but is not available. Requests must be submitted on Form BC-600 Application For Search of Census Records (PDF) or BC-600 Application For Search of Census Records (En Español) (PDF). If a person is not found, a form letter will be sent with that information.

Full Schedule Copy
For an additional $10, the line the individual is on will be copied and sent in addition to the above information. This only includes the individual. This service is not available for 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000 Censuses.

More Information
For more information on what material can be accessed from unreleased census records go to United States Census Bureau, Age Search Service.

FamilySearch Research Wiki Articles
The FamilySearch Research Wiki has articles about other unreleased federal censuses. • 2