United States Census

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Census records can give valuable information about your ancestors. The information found could include: names of family members, location, year/month of birth, occupation, plus more. The first U.S. Census was in 1790 and there has been one every ten years since. Information In United States Population Census, 1790 - 2000 lists the information that the different censuses contain.

Availability
United States Censuses 1850-1920—Free Internet census indexes and images to the 1850, 1860, 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.

1885 Census--In 1885 the federal government helped five states or territories conduct a special census with population and mortality schedules. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of the 1885 census for Colorado, Florida, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Dakota Territory.

1890 Surviving schedules--The 1890 population schedule was destroyed by fire except for 6,160 names. The following population schedules have survived for the 1890 federal census:


 * Alabama--Perry County, Perryville beat number 11 and Severe beat number 8.
 * District of Columbia-- Q. Thirteenth, Fourteenth, R.Q. Corcoran, Fifteenth,S.R., Riggs Streets, Johnson Avenue, S Street
 * Georgia--Muscogee County, Columbus Township
 * Illinois--McDonough County, Mound Township.
 * Minnesota--Wright County, Rockford Township.
 * New Jersey--Hudson County, Jersey City
 * New York--Suffolk County, Brookhaven Township, Westchester County, Eastchester Township.
 * North Carolina--Gaston County, South Point, River Bend Townships, Cleveland County,Township No. 2
 * Ohio--Hamilton County, Cincinnati, Clinton County, Wayne Township
 * South Dakota--Union County, Jefferson Township
 * Texas--Ellis County, J.P. No. 6, Mountain Peak, Ovilla Precinct, Hood County, Precinct No. 5, Rusk County, No. 6, J.P. No. 7, Trinity County, Trinity Town, Precinct No. 2, Kaufman County, Kaufman

Censuses and other records that were microfilmed by the National Archives can be rented through them at: National Archives.

Content
You will find the following types of information in the population censuses:

1790 to 1840--The population schedules for the 1790 to 1840 censuses give the name of the head of each household, and the number of others in the house grouped by ages and sex.

1850 and later--The 1850 and later censuses list the names, ages, occupations, and birthplaces (country or state only) of each member of a household.

1870--The 1870 census also indicates if the individual's parents were foreign born.

1880 and later--The 1880 and later censuses add the birthplaces (country or state only) of each person's parents. They also identify relationships to the head-of-house.

1900-1910--The 1900 and 1910 censuses include the age of each individual, how many years he had been married, his year of immigration, and his citizenship status. The 1900 census also gives the month and year of birth. For mothers it lists the number of children born and surviving. The 1910 census identifies Civil War veterans.

1920--The 1920 census gives ages but not the month and year of birth. It also lists the year of naturalization, the only census to do so.

1930--

Enumeration Districts
Federal census records are arranged by census year, by state, and then usually alphabetically by the name of the county. The term subdivision was used in early censuses to refer to part of a supervisor's or marshall's district. Beginning in 1880, these geographical areas were called enumeration districts. If there is no index to a census and you know the address in a large city or county where an individual lived, you can use the descriptions of the geographical areas or enumeration districts to more quickly search the census. These are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library under UNITED STATES - CENSUS - YEAR:

1880 enumeration district descriptions (Family History Library films 1402860-62)                       1900 enumeration district descriptions (Family History Library films 1303019-28)                        1910 enumeration district descriptions (Family History Library films 1374001-13)                        1920 enumeration district descriptions (Family History Library films 1842702-21)

For the 1910 census there is an index on 51 fiche that can help you identify the enumeration districts by address in 39 cities. (If you need to learn an individual's address, see the “Directories” section of this outline.) This index is the:


 * United States. Bureau of the Census. Cross Index to Selected City Streets and Enumeration Districts. Washington, DC: National Archives, [1984]. (Family History Libary fiche 6331480-81 [set of 51].)

Ward Maps--The Library of Congress has detailed ward maps of major cities. These show the census districts and political divisions of large cities. The Family History Library has:


 * Ward Maps of United States Cities: Microfilm Reproduction of 232 Maps Described in Ward Maps of United States Cities. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, [1975?]. (Family History Library film 1377700; fiche 6016554-782.)

A description of each map and a chart that shows which maps to use with each U.S. census is in:


 * Ward Maps of United States Cities: A Selective Checklist of Pre-1900 Maps in the Library of Congress

County boundary maps--These maps are available for each census year, 1790 to 1920:


 * Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1920 This source also includes helpful information about the availability of census records.

Historical Background
Censuses have been taken by the federal government every ten years since 1790. The censuses through 1930 are available to the public. These counted the population as of the following dates:                       1790-1820:  First Monday in August                        1830-1900:  June 1 (June 2 in 1890)                        1910:   April 15                        1920:   January 1                        1930:   April 1

The following types of schedules were taken in various years:

Population schedules--(residents in an area) in all years. A census is a count and description of the population of a country, colony, territory, state, county, or city. Census lists are also called “schedules." The federal population schedules are especially valuable because they list such a large proportion of the population, most are well-indexed, and they are readily available at many repositories.

The National Archives and the Family History Library have complete sets of the existing 1790 to 1930 censuses on over 18,000 microfilms. These are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under [STATE] - CENSUS - [YEAR]. Most state archives and university libraries also have copies of the census microfilms, particularly for their own states. (See the state research outlines for more information about each state.) If you can provide the specific pages, the National Archives and the Family History Library will make photocopies.

Mortality schedules--Persons who died during the 12 months prior to the census, from 1850 to 1885 Veterans' or Pensioners' schedules--Veterans and their widows in 1840 and 1890 Slave schedules--Slave owners and the number of slaves they owned, in 1850 and 1860 Agricultural schedules--Data on farms and the names of the farmers, from 1850 to 1880 Manufacturing or industrial schedules--Data on businesses and industries, 1810 (fragments only), 1820, and 1850 to 1880

Indexes
United States Censuses 1850-1920—Free Internet census indexes and images to the 1850, 1860, 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.

Ancestry has online images &amp; every name indexes for 1790-1930, 1850 &amp; 1860 slave schedules, 1890 Veteran's Schedule, and 1930 Merchant Seamen.

Heritage Quest has online indexes for 1790-1820, 1860-1920 &amp; 1930 (Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Texas, and Virginia) and images for 1790-1930.

1790 to 1870--All of the existing 1790 to 1860 censuses and most of the 1870 census have statewide indexes. These have usually been printed and may also be on microfilm, microfiche, or compact disc. There are also many indexes of individual counties, often published by local genealogical societies. Many of these are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under one of the following:

[STATE] - CENSUS - [YEAR] - INDEXES

[STATE], [COUNTY] - CENSUS - [YEAR] - INDEXES

Soundex
1880 Census--For the 1880 census, the federal government created statewide indexes to households with children who were born between 1869 and 1880. These are “soundex” (phonetic) indexes that group names together by how they sound rather than how they are spelled. For example, the name Smith and all similar spellings (such as Smythe or Schmidt) would be listed together under the soundex code S-530. These indexes are on microfilm and are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under [STATE] - CENSUS - 1880 - INDEXES. Instructions on how to use the soundex are provided in the catalog.

1900 Census--For the 1900 census, there are statewide soundex indexes on microfilm for every household. The 1900 indexes are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under [STATE] - CENSUS - 1900 - INDEXES.

1910 Census--There are soundex and miracode (similar to soundex) indexes for 21 states in the 1910 census. These states are Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Some cities and counties are indexed separately from the state in the 1910 indexes:

Alabama: Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery                       Georgia: Atlanta, Augusta, Macon, Savannah                        Louisiana: New Orleans, Shreveport                        Pennsylvania: Philadelphia County                        Tennessee: Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, and Nashville

For the unindexed states of the 1910 census see:


 * U.S. 1910 Federal Census: Unindexed States: A Guide to Finding Census Enumeration Districts for Unindexed Cities, Towns, and Villages. Lists towns (or wards) with their 1910 census enumeration district numbers and Family History Library film numbers. Major cities each have special instructions which often mention a city directory with Family History Library book or film numbers.

1920 Census--There is a complete soundex to the 1920 census. The state by state 1920 soundex and population schedules are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under [STATE] - CENSUS - 1920. Unlike other census years, the soundex and schedules are listed in the catalog together.

AIS Microfiche--Thisindex includes indexes of federal 1790 to 1850 censuses, a few 1860 censuses, and scattered slave schedules, state tax lists, and non-federal censuses.


 * Jackson, Ronald Vern. AIS Microfiche Indexes of U.S. Census and Other Records. Bountiful, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems. International, 1984. (No Family History Library fiche number, but available at many Family History Centers.) A composite federal mortality schedule index is on Search 8. For more information see the AIS Census Indexes Resource Guide (30970).

1890 Census--The few remaining names listed in the 1890 population schedules have been transcribed in:


 * 1890 U.S. Census Index to Surviving Population Schedules and Register of Film Numbers to the Special Census of Union Veterans All surviving veterans schedules are indexed except for Ohio and Pennsylvania. Veterans schedules for states in alphabetical order from Alabama through Kansas and half of Kentucky were destroyed.

Free Records or Indexes at Census Finder

Colonial Censuses
Censuses for some towns and counties exist for the early American colonies and for areas colonized by France, Spain, and Mexico. There are also lists of early residents, sometimes referred to as “censuses,” that have usually been reconstructed from other records, such as tax and land.

Mortality Schedules
1850-1885--Mortality schedules are lists of persons who died during the twelve months before 1 June of the census years of 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880. Colorado, Florida, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, and South Dakota also have mortality schedules for 1885.

The Family History Library has copies of most of the available mortality schedules and indexes. These are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under [STATE] - CENSUS or [STATE] - VITAL RECORDS. You can also find mortality schedules in state archives, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Library (see the “Societies” section), and the National Archives. Jackson's AIS Microfiche Indexes described under “Indexes to Federal Population Censuses” above.

Mortality Schedules 1850-1880

Veteran's Schedules
1840 List of Pensioners--When the 1840 census was taken, the enumerators listed living pensioners of the Revolutionary War or other military service; they listed pensioners' ages and persons with whom they were living. These names are published in:


 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Service

An index to this is:


 * A General Index to a Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Service 1840

1890 List of Union Veterans--Along with the 1890 census, schedules were made of Union Civil War veterans or their widows:


 * Schedules Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Only the schedules for the states alphabetically from Kentucky (partial) through Wyoming exist. Military installations and ships, especially in the District of Columbia, follow Wyoming. These are on 118 films at the National Archives and the Family History Library. There are also published indexes for the states with surviving schedules, except Ohio and Pennsylvania. These indexes are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under [STATE] - CENSUS - 1890 - INDEXES.

State Censuses
State censuses--They were often taken in the years between the federal censuses, such as 1875 or 1892. For some states these exist from about 1825 to 1925. They are found in state archives, and copies of most are on microfilm at the Family History Library. The library's most complete collections of state censuses are for Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. They are usually listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under [STATE] - CENSUS RECORDS.

Here is a list of state and territorial censuses:


 * State Census Records State-by-state list of censuses, and selected census substitutes. Describes dates, coverage, content, indexes and availability. In addition, the staff of the Family History Library has compiled the following register which lists all state census records available at the library:
 * State Census Register

There are several websites and articles about state census records.

A list of states with state census records can be found in this article:

Territorial Censuses
The population of territories was often listed by the federal government in anticipation of statehood. These were generally taken in the years between the federal censuses. These censuses are usually incomplete and most are not indexed.

A special census was made in 1885 for Colorado, Florida, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The Family History Library has copies of most of the territorial censuses. These are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under [STATE] - CENSUS - [YEAR].

You can find further information about special censuses in research outlines available for each state.

Web Sites

 * FamilySearch Record Search
 * Ancestry
 * Census Diggins (Option: Select Freebies)
 * Census Finder
 * Census Links
 * Census Online
 * |Free Records or Indexes
 * Heritage Quest
 * United States Census Online
 * Information in the United States Population Census, 1790-2000
 * Finding a Person in the 1930 Census (Even without an Index)
 * Mortality Schedules
 * U.S. Census
 * USGenWeb