District of Columbia Census

Tips
 * If at first you don't find a name, try again under another spelling.
 * Photocopy each ancestor's census. Identify where you found it.
 * Look for an ancestor in every census during her or his lifetime.
 * On the family group record show each person's census listings.
 * Study others in the same household, neighbors, and anyone with the similar names nearby on the census in community context.


 * For a list of the exact date of each federal census, click here.

Indexes: fiche, film, or book
For a list of microform and book indexes for the population schedules of District of Columbia, click here

Microfilm images

 * 1890 D.C. veterans schedules for military forts, prisons, posts, etc. This does not include veterans living off their post among the civilians of D.C. whose schedules were destroyed. The veterans military posts schedule for 1890 (FHL ).

Indexes: fiche, film, or book
For a list of microform and book indexes for the non-population schedules of District of Columbia, click here.

Federal district and colonial censuses
The District of Columbia often took censuses in the years between the federal censuses. The dates are listed below. State census records may have columns that were different or more unusual than those found on federal censuses. The responses and years of coverage may give additional information on the family.


 * 1919 police census
 * 1915 police census
 * 1913 police census
 * 1912 police census
 * 1905-1909 police census
 * 1897 police census
 * 1888 police census
 * 1885 police census
 * 1878 District census
 * 1867 District census
 * 1818 District census
 * 1807 District census
 * 1803 District census
 * 1798 District census

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

Why use a census?
A well-indexed census is one of the easiest ways to locate where an ancestor's family lived and when they lived there. You can also use censuses to follow the changes in a family over time, and identify neighbors. These and other clues provided by censuses are important because they help find additional kinds of records about the family.

More about censuses
Click here for additional details about how to use censuses, such as:


 * index searching tips
 * analyzing and using what you find
 * census accuracy
 * historical background
 * contents of various census years and types