Delaware Census

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

Location
1790 Census -- The 1790 census for Delaware is missing. A substitute for the 1790 census created from tax lists is:


 * Devalinger, Leon, Jr. Reconstructed 1790 Census of Delaware. Washington, DC: National Genealogical Society, 1962. (Family History Library book 975.1 X2d 1790; film 1000156; fiche 6019928.)

1800-1930 -- The federal censuses are available at the Family History Library and online at: www.ancestry.com

1800-1810 -- Portions of the census are missing.

United States Censuses 1850-1920—Free Internet census indexes and images to the 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (index only), 1900, and 1920 (partial index only) can be viewed on the FamilySearch Record Search. These indexes show every name listed on the census, and except for 1880 and 1920, are also linked to census images including information about each person’s residence, age, birthplace, occupation, other family members, and neighbors.

1890 Census -- The 1890 census was destroyed.

Historical Background
1776--Delaware declared its independence from Britain and created a government separate from Pennsylvania.

1787--Delaware become the first state.

Indexes
Statewide indexes are available in several forms. Indexes to all censuses that have been released are available on the internet. Many of them are free. Most are also available on microfilm. Indexes include:

Online 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--All of the Delaware federal census records are indexed on Ancestry.

Microfilm Indexes.


 * Soundex indexes are available for the 1880, 1900, 1920, and 1930 censuses.

Book Index.

Book indexes are available for the 1790 substitute census and censuses taken 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, and 1870.One of the indexes for the 1850 census is:


 * Olmstead, Virginia L. Index to the 1850 Census of Delaware. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1977. (Family History Library book 975.1 X22o 1850.) Indexes for the three counties are listed separately. An every-person index is given for each of the counties, with age, birthplace, and the original census sheet number. The New Castle County 1850 census is on two rolls of microfilm with some duplication of page numbers.

Colonial Census
1693--A special census was taken of Swedes who were associated with the Swedish Lutheran Church and who were living in Pennsylvania, Delaware, west New Jersey, and Cecil County, Maryland. The following book contains both the census and an index to it:


 * Craig, Peter Stebbins. The 1693 Census of the Swedes on the Delaware. Winter Park, Florida: SAG Publications, 1993. (Family History Library book 973 X4c.)

Mortality Schedules
1850-1880--Mortality schedules for 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 are at the Delaware Public Archives, the Historical Society of Delaware, and on microfilm at the Family History Library.

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 1870 and 1880 schedules are indexed in:


 * Jackson Ronald Vern. Delaware 1870 Mortality Schedule. Bountiful, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1981. Family History Library book 975.1 X2j 1870.


 * Jackson Ronald Vern. Delaware 1880 Mortality Schedule. Bountiful, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1981. Family History Library book 975.1 X2j 1880.
 * Mortality Schedules 1850-1880

Slave Schedules
1850-1860--Slave schedules for 1850 and 1860 list the names of slave owners, but do not normally list the names of the slaves. The numbers of slaves, their gender, and their age ranges are given. The 1850 and 1860 slave schedules are indexed in:


 * Jackson, Ronald Vern. Delaware 1850-1860 Slave Schedules. Salt Lake City: Accelerated Indexing Systems International, 1986. (Family History Library book 975.1 X22j.)

For census slave schedules see:


 * 1850 Family History Library film 442884
 * 1860 Family History Library film 803100

1850 United States Census Slave Schedules—A free Internet index and images to the 1850 United States Census Slave Schedules can be viewed on the FamilySearch Record Search – Pilot Site listing each slave owner's name and residence. It also shows the age, gender, and color of the slaves. Slave names are not normally listed.

State Censuses
1782 Delaware State Census--A 1782 state census exists for seven of the "hundreds" (townships). The state census has been reconstructed for the rest of the state from tax lists.

Web Sites
FamilySearch Record Search has free census indexes and images for 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1900; but indexes only for 1880, and 1920.

Ancestry: http://www.ancestry.com

Heritage Quest Online: http://www.heritagequestonline.com

Census Online: http://www.census-online.com/links/DE/

Genealogy Today: http://dir.genealogytoday.com/usa/de/census.html

Access Genealogy: http://www.accessgenealogy.com/census/delaware.htm

Mortality Schedules: http://mortalityschedules.com/