New Jersey Census

Colonial Censuses
The colonial censuses taken in 1726, 1738, 1745, and 1772 were destroyed. Various other records can substitute for colonial censuses. These include lists of petitioners, residents, freeholders, quit renters, jurists, voters, and taxpayers. Many of these lists have been published in periodicals. For a helpful guide in locating these lists, refer to:

Stemmons, John D. The United States Census Compendium. Logan, Utah: Everton Publishers, 1973. (FHL book 973 X2st.)

Federal Censuses
Population Schedules.


 * The National Archives at http://www.archives.gov/ and all of its regional centers
 * The Family History Library at www.familysearch.org
 * The New Jersey Historical Society at http://www.jerseyhistory.org/
 * The New Jersey State Archives at http://www.state.nj.us/state/darm/links/archives.html
 * The Newark Public Library at http://www.npl.org/
 * The Rutgers University Library at http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/
 * The New Jersey State Library at http://www.njstatelib.org/

All these repositories have microfilm copies of the U.S. federal censuses of New Jersey for 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920. The original county copies of the federal censuses, 1850 through 1880, are generally at the county clerk's offices, and the state library has the state copies.

The 1790, 1800 (except Cumberland County), 1810, and 1820 censuses are missing. The 1890 census (except the 17 names of the Nelson, Cross, and Clooney families from Jersey City, Hudson County) was destroyed, but the 1890 schedule of Union veterans and widows has survived. See the United States Research Outline (30972) for information about these censuses as well as the 1930 and later federal censuses.

As a substitute for the missing censuses, search the tax ratables described in New Jersey Taxation. Also see the 1793 militia census described in New Jersey Military Records.

Statewide indexes are available in books and on microfiche for the 1800 (Cumberland County), 1830, 1840, and 1850 censuses. The 1860 census is also indexed in book form. Soundex (phonetic) indexes are available for the 1880 (partial), 1900, and 1920 censuses.

County-wide indexes to federal censuses can sometimes help you locate names overlooked in statewide indexes. For example, the 1870 census for Essex County, Mercer County, Passaic County, Hoboken, and Jersey City, is indexed in book form. Other county-wide indexes are listed in the Family History Library Catalog Locality Search under NEW JERSEY, [COUNTY] - CENSUS.

When indexes are not available or omit a name, you can still look for the name in the census. In large cities it helps to first learn the person's address by searching the city directory for the same year as the census (see the "Directories" section). Then look for that address on the original census schedules.

The following reference tools help determine which census schedule microfilm and enumeration district to search for specific addresses:

Kirkham, E. Kay. A Handy Guide to Record- Searching in the Larger Cities of the United States. Logan, Utah: Everton, 1974. (FHL book 973 D27kc; fiche 6010059-60.) Includes ward maps and street indexes for Camden in 1878.

United States. Census Office. Census Descriptions of Geographic Subdivisions and Enumeration Districts. Contains the items below:


 * 1830 FHL film 1402857 item 1
 * 1840 FHL film 1402857 item 2
 * 1850 FHL film 1402858 item 1
 * 1860 FHL film 1402858 item 2
 * 1870 FHL film 1402859
 * 1880 FHL film 1402862
 * 1900 FHL film 1303024
 * 1910 FHL film 1374007
 * 1920 FHL film 1842712

Buckway, G. Eileen. U.S. 1910 Federal Census: Unindexed States: A Guide to Finding Census Enumeration Districts for Unindexed Cities, Towns, and Villages. Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Library, 1992. (FHL book 973 X2bu 1910; fiche 6101340.) Lists all New Jersey towns (or wards) with their 1910 census enumeration district numbers and FHL film numbers. Bayonne, Camden, Elizabeth, Hoboken, Jersey City, Newark, Passaic, Patterson, and Trenton each have special instructions, often including city directory, FHL book, or film numbers.

United States. Bureau of the Census. Cross Index to Selected City Streets and Enumeration Districts, 1910 Census. Washington, DC: National Archives, [1984]. (51 FHL fiche 6331481.) Lists street addresses of Elizabeth (fiche 19), Newark (fiche 25), and Patterson (fiche 36) with corresponding census enumeration districts.

The Family History Library and National Archives regional centers also have 1910 enumeration district maps for Bayonne, Camden, Elizabeth, Hoboken, Jersey City, Newark, Passaic, Paterson, and Trenton. These are found in the Family History Library Catalog Locality Search under NEW JERSEY, [COUNTY], [CITY] - MAPS. The National Archives in Washington, DC, also has similar maps for 19 smaller New Jersey cities.

Mortality Schedules. Mortality schedules for the 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 censuses are at the New Jersey State Library. Microfilm copies are at the state archives, the New Jersey Historical Society, and the National Archives in Washington, D.C. At the Family History Library mortality schedules are listed as:

United States. Census Office. Census of New Jersey, 1850-1880; Third Series (of Persons Who Died During the Years Ending 30 June 1850, 1 June 1860; 1 June 1870; 31 May 1880. Trenton, New Jersey: State Library of Archives and History, Department of Education, 1996. (FHL films 802952-55.) The 1880 schedules are for Atlantic to Hudson counties only.

The schedule for 1850 is indexed in:

George, Shirley J. and Sandra E. Glenn. New Jersey 1850 Mortality Schedule Index. Columbus, New Jersey: G. &amp; G. Genealogical Book, 1982. (FHL book 974.9 X22g.)

Veterans Schedules. The 1890 schedule of Union veterans and widows has survived. See:

United States. Census Office. 11th Census, 1890. Schedules Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War. File Microcopies of Records in the National Archives, number 123. Washington, DC: National Archives, 1948. (FHL films 338200-202.) Indexed in:

Jackson, Ronald Vern. New Jersey 1890. Salt Lake City, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1990. (FHL book 974.9 X22j 1890.) The index does not include the 17 people in the surviving Jersey City, New Jersey population schedules.

Master Indexes. Some of the indexes mentioned above are combined into master indexes of several census years, states, and census types:

FamilyFinder™ Index and Viewer: Version 3.0 [Novato, California]: Brøderbund Software, 1995. (FHL compact disc number 9 1995 index). FamilyFinder is a trademark of Brøderbund Software, Inc.) Not available at Family History Centers. Master index to New Jersey 1793 state census, some 1773-1822 tax lists, 1800 Cumberland County federal census, and 1830-1860 New Jersey federal censuses.

The FamilyFinder Index includes the following indexes by Ronald Vern Jackson:

Jackson, Ronald Vern. AIS Microfiche Indexes of U.S. Census and Other Records. Bountiful, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems International, 1984. (No FHL fiche number, but available at many Family History Centers.) New Jersey 1793 state census, some 1773-1822 tax lists, and 1800 Cumberland County federal census are combined together on Search 1. Separate New Jersey 1830, 1840, and 1850 indexes are on other searches.

Territorial and State Censuses
Microfilm numbers of New Jersey state censuses are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under NEW JERSEY - CENSUS - [YEAR]. They are also found in:

Buckway, G. Eileen. U.S. State and Special Census Register. Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Library, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1992. (FHL book 973 X2be; fiche 6104851-52.)

State Censuses
State censuses were taken beginning in 1855. Some records are missing, as indicated below:

1855. Missing Burlington, Cape May, Mercer, Middlesex, Ocean, and Salem counties and incomplete for the others.

1865. Missing Cape May, Mercer, Morris, Ocean, Somerset, and Warren counties and incomplete for the others.

1875. Only Sussex and Essex counties are available.

1885, 1895, 1905, 1915. All counties are available.

The 1855 and 1865 censuses name the head of household but give only the number of other males and females. The censuses from 1875 to 1895 name every person in the household, but ages are still given within groups, and birthplace is identified only as native or foreign born. The 1905 and 1915 censuses give detailed information about each member of the household, including name, age, race, marital status, month and year of birth, state of birth of the individual and his parents, number of years an immigrant has lived in the United States, occupation, and whether or not the person was naturalized (if applicable).

The original records and microfilm copies of state censuses are at the state archives, but the staff will not search these unindexed records for you. Copies of the 1905 and 1915 censuses are also at the New Jersey Department of Health (see the "Vital Records" section), and this office will search the records for a fee. The Newark Public Library, New Jersey State Library, Rutgers University Library, and Family History Library have microfilm copies of all New Jersey state censuses.

Microfilm numbers of New Jersey state censuses are listed in the Family History Library Catalog Locality Search under NEW JERSEY - CENSUS - [YEAR]. They are also found in:

Buckway, G. Eileen. U.S. State and Special Census Register. Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Library, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1992. (FHL book 973 X2be; fiche 6104851-52.)

Colonial Censuses
A colonial census of the early Swedish settlers in New Jersey has been published in the following:

Craig, Peter Stebbins. The 1693 Census of the Swedes on the Delaware: Family Histories of the Swedish Lutheran Church Members Residing in Pennsylvania, Delaware, West New Jersey and Cecil County, Maryland, 1638-1693. Studies in Swedish American Genealogy 3. Winter Park, Florida: SAG Publications, 1993. (FHL book 973 X4c.) Includes index and bibliography.