North Dakota, Census, 1915 - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of an index and images to the North Dakota 1915 state census.

In 1880, the state legislature directed that a census be taken every 5 years. The completed forms were sent to the Secretary of State. The census covers approximately 90% of the population.

Censuses are usually reliable, depending on the knowledge of the informant and the care of the census enumerator. Information may have been given to a census taker by any member of the family or by a neighbor. Some information may have been incorrect or deliberately falsified.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:
 * Name
 * Race
 * Gender
 * Age category
 * Nationality
 * Names of people in the same household

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The place where your ancestor lived

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the age listed to determine an approximate birth date. This date along with the place of birth can help you find a birth record
 * Use the naturalization information to find their naturalization papers in the county court records. It can also help you locate immigration records
 * Birthplaces can tell you former residences and can help to establish a migration pattern for the family
 * If they are subject to military service they may have military files in the State or National Archives
 * Occupations listed can lead you to employment records or other types of records such as school records
 * Repeat this process with additional family members found, to find more generations of the family

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Try viewing the original record to see if there were errors in the transcription of the name, age, residence, etc. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relations that can be verified by records
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality in an area search
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist during the periods our ancestors lived in. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of North Dakota.
 * North Dakota Guided Research
 * North Dakota Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step North Dakota Research, 1893-Present

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * North Dakota state census schedules, 1915
 * North Dakota state census schedules, 1925

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.