Iowa Census

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

United States Censuses 1850-1920—Free Internet census indexes 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, and 1920 (partial index only) can be viewed on the FamilySearch Record Search. These indexes are also linked to census images (for 1850, 1870, and 1900) which show every name listed and each person’s residence, age, birthplace, occupation, other family members, and neighbors. Registered FamilySearch users can access 1880 census images by logging in and entering through the "Advanced Search" feature of FamilySearch.

Ancestry.com, a subscription Internet site, has indexes to all federal censuses including 1910, 1920, and 1930.

Many federal census records on microfilm are at the following archives:


 * State Historical Society (in Des Moines and Iowa City)
 * The Family History Library (Iowa censuses from 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930)

The National Archives
Other federal and state archives

The 1890 census schedules for Iowa and most other states were destroyed in a fire on 21 January 1921 at the Commerce Department in Washington, D.C.

Iowa state censuses are available at:


 * The State Historical Society in Des Moines and the Family History Library (Iowa censuses through 1925).
 * The State Historical Society of Iowa in Iowa City (all Iowa censuses except 1905).

Historical Background
Federal censuses for the state of Iowa begin with 1850 and were taken every ten years through 1990. See the United States Census Page 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 Census Page 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
United States Census Indexes 1850-1920—Free Internet census indexes to the 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, and 1920 (partial index only) can be viewed on the FamilySearch Record Search.

Ancestry.com, a subscription Internet site, has indexes to all federal censuses including 1910, 1920, and 1930.

The 1850, 1860, and 1870 federal censuses have statewide, head-of-household indexes (in books). 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 deciphered correctly.

The 1880 (partial), 1900, and 1920 censuses have Soundex (phonetic) indexes on microfilm.

The 1910 census does not have a Soundex index for Iowa; however, if you know the town or city where your ancestor lived, you can find the appropriate county, enumeration district number, and Family History Library film number by looking in the following source:


 * U. S. 1910 Federal Census: Unindexed States: A Guide to Finding Census Enumeration Districts for Unindexed Cities, Towns, and Villages

Mortality Schedules, 1850–1880
The 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 censuses have mortality schedules. These schedules list the names of persons who died during the year preceding the census. Mortality schedules contain information on a person’s age, state or country of birth, month of death, cause of death, number of days ill, race, occupation, and for 1880, parents’ birthplaces.

1850 United States Census Mortality Schedules—A free Internet index and images to the 1850 United States Census Mortality Schedules can be viewed on the FamilySearch Record Search - Pilot Site. Mortality schedules provided nationwide death statistics for the twelve months prior to the 1850 census. Key genealogical facts found on the 1850 mortality schedule are: Name, age, sex, color, married or widowed, birthplace, month of death, occupation, cause of death.

The State Historical Society in Des Moines and Iowa City and the Family History Library have copies of the mortality schedules.


 * 1850 (Family History Library film 1421006)
 * 1860 (Family History Library film 1421007)
 * 1870 (Family History Library films 1421008-10)
 * 1880 (Family History Library films 1421011-14)

Like the census, these records are arranged by county and then by town.

The 1850 census mortality schedule has been indexed in:


 * Iowa 1850 Mortality. North Salt Lake, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1987


 * Mortality Schedules 1850-1880
 * The Davenport Public Library has a Mortality Schedule Index on line, by clicking on Local databases.

State Censuses
State censuses were taken from 1846 to 1925 and give the following information:

The state censuses taken through 1854 list: heads of households, and the number of males and females by age groups.

The 1854 census also indicates race, citizenship, militia status and whether the person is registered to vote.

State censuses were taken in the following years:


 * 1840, 1841, 1842, 1843, 1844 (Keokuk County)
 * 1846 (Louisa, Polk, and Wapello Counties)
 * 1847, 1849, 1851, 1852, 1853, 1854
 * 1856 (statewide, by county)
 * 1881 (Mason City, Cerro Gordo County)
 * 1882 (town of Keokuk, Lee County)
 * 1885 (statewide)
 * 1888 (town of Algona, Kossuth County)
 * 1889 (town of Cherokee, Cherokee County)
 * 1891 (town of Emmetsburg, Palo Alto County, town of Spencer, Clay County, town of Villisca, Montgomery County)
 * 1892 (town of Carroll, Carroll County, town of Eagle Grove, Wright County, town of Estherville, Emmett County, town of Greene, Jefferson County, and town of Tama, Tama County)
 * 1893 (town of Mystic, Appanoose County, town of Hampton, Franklin County, town of Ames, Story County, town of Bloomfield, Davis County, town of Nevada, Story County, and town of West Union, Fayette County)
 * 1895 (statewide)
 * 1905 (statewide)
 * 1915 (statewide, alphabetical by county)
 * 1925 (statewide)

The following indexes are available for 1841 to 1859:


 * Iowa Census Records, 1841–1849


 * Iowa Census Records, 1851 to 1859


 * Iowa 1852. North Salt Lake, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1988.

For 1856 a census substitute for many cities in Iowa is:


 * Personal Name Index to the 1856 City Directories of Iowa

The 1856, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, and 1925: Iowa census records list each person in the household and give the following information:

1856: Name, sex, age, birthplace, marital status, length of residence, race, citizenship, native or naturalized voter, occupation, militia status, years of residence in Iowa, land ownership, disability, economic status, and agriculture or manufacturing information.

1885: Name, address, age, race, marital status, occupation, state or country of birth, county of birth (if born in Iowa), native or foreign parentage, military service eligibility and whether they are registered to vote. If the person is an alien, it also lists whether he or she has applied for citizenship.

1895: Name, age, race, marital status, state or country of birth, occupation, religious affiliation, military service eligibility, whether they are registered to vote, citizenship status, births and deaths in 1894, and Civil War service (and unit).

1905: There is a card for each person, and the cards are arranged by county. They contain: name, city, ward, post office address, sex, race, age, state or country of birth, parents’ state or country of birth, home or farm ownership, estimated property value, mortgage debt, citizenship status, years of residence in the United States and in Iowa, marital status, occupation, and military service (war and unit, with dates of enlistment and discharge). Note: some of the cards are difficult to read.

1915: Name, age, race, marital status, citizenship status, years in the United States and in Iowa, occupation, education, state or country of birth, home or farm ownership, military service (war and unit), religious affiliation, and parents’ state or country of birth.

1925: Name, relationship to head of family, race, age, marital status, home ownership or rental information, citizenship status, years in the United States and in Iowa, education, state or country of birth, father’s name, state or country of birth and age, mother’s full maiden name, state or country of birth and age, and parents’ place of marriage.

For the 1925 census, there is an index for the following cities: Boone, Cedar Falls, Centerville, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Council Bluffs, Dubuque, Ottumwa, Sioux City, Waterloo, Davenport, and Des Moines. Under each city, residents are listed alphabetically. You can find this information in: 1925 'Iowa State Census Index''

Note that the 1925 census images available at Ancestry.com includes only the first page of the four pages of information.

Iowa state censuses are available at:


 * The State Historical Society in Des Moines and the Family History Library Catalog (Iowa censuses through 1925).
 * The State Historical Society of Iowa in Iowa City (all Iowa censuses except 1905).

The Davenport Public Library has the following Censuses on line, by clicking on Local databases:


 * 1856 Census
 * 1885 Census
 * 1925 Iowa State Census
 * Mortality Schedule Index

For further information about state censuses of Iowa, see:


 * State Census Records

Territorial Censuses
Territorial census enumerations were taken for the following years (although in most cases only records of a few counties have survived):


 * Wisconsin Territory: 1836 and 1838
 * Iowa Territory: 1840, 1844, and 1846

The above censuses give the name of the head of household and the county of residence.

The 1840 territorial census also provides the name of the head of household and the number of males and females with age indications: under 5, 5–10, 10–15, 15–20, 20–30, and ten-year increments to 100 plus.

Indexes to the territorial censuses for 1836, 1838, 1840, and 1841–1846 are available in book form at the Family History Library.

Online Population Schedule Indexes and Images
United States Censuses 1850-1920—Free Internet census indexes 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, and 1920 (partial index only) can be viewed on the FamilySearch Record Search. These indexes are also linked to census images (for 1850, 1870, and 1900) which show every name listed and each person’s residence, age, birthplace, occupation, other family members, and neighbors. Registered FamilySearch users can access 1880 census images by logging in and entering through the "Advanced Search" feature of FamilySearch.

Ancestry ($), a subscription Internet site, has indexes and images to all available federal census population, veterans, slave, and mortality schedules from 1790 to 1930.

HeritageQuest, an Internet service available at selected libraries, has images to all available federal census population and slave schedules from 1790 to 1930, and indexes to some but not all.

Footnote ($), a subscription Internet site has indexes and images to the 1860 and 1930 censuses for some states.

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