United States Census

United States U.S. Census

See also Beginning Census Research and Record Keeping and Exploring Census Records in the FamilySearch Learning Center.

Key U.S. Census Internet Links

 * Record Search free indexes &amp; images 1850-1920
 * U.S. Census Online Internet links
 * U.S. Census Bureau Free images of 1790 census for 12 states
 * Ancestry.com ($) indexes &amp; images 1790-1930
 * HeritageQuest ($) images 1790-1930 + a few indexes
 * Fold3.com ($) index &amp; images 1860 and 1930
 * Census Finder free census links and how to use census records for genealogical research.
 * Cyndi's List - United States - U.S. Census free index of links

Value of Censuses
A census is a count and description of the population of a country, state, county, or city. Census lists are also called “schedules." In the United States a nationwide census has been taken every ten years since 1790. A well-indexed census is one of the easiest ways to locate where an ancestor lived and when they lived there. You can also use censuses to:


 * Follow the family over time.
 * Determine family relationships.
 * Show clues for finding other records.
 * U.S. Presidents appearing in census schedules.

Contents of Federal Censuses
Historical Census Browser 1790-1960 (University of Virginia Library)

Blank forms for each U.S. census year

Key Reference Sources

 * William Thorndale, and William Dollarhide, Map Guide to U.S. Federal Censuses 1790-1920 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publ., 1987) []. Shows county boundary changes in each state from 1790 to 1920, and which census areas were lost or still exist.
 * William Dollarhide, The Census Book: a Genealogist's Guide to Federal Census Facts, Schedules and Indexes: with Master Extraction Forms for Federal Census Schedules, 1790-1930. (Bountiful, Utah: Heritage Quest, 1999)[]. An online edition is at HeritageQuestOnline. Discusses indexes, regular, and non-population schedules.
 * G. David Dilts, "Censuses and Tax Lists" in Kory L. Meyerink, ed., Printed Sources: a Guide to Published Genealogical Records (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1998), 300-52. [] Strategies for finding elusive ancestors, and history of indexing.
 * Tiffany Perkins, Tiff's Census Class (27 minute online video) FamilySearch Research Classes Online, and Mid-Continent Public Library, Midwest Genealogy Center, 2010.
 * Gary Toms, State and Special Census Records (36 minute online video) FamilySearch Research Classes Online, and Mid-Continent Public Library, Midwest Genealogy Center, 2010.
 * Angela McComas, Heads of Household Only: Analysis of Pre-1850 Federal Census (19 minute online video) FamilySearch Research Classes Online, and Mid-Continent Public Library, Midwest Genealogy Center, 2010.

Things you can do
In order to make this wiki a better research tool, we need your help! Many tasks need to be done. You can help by: