Minnesota Census

Online Resources

 * United States Online Census, 1790-1940
 * — index and images
 * Minnesota, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1835-1890 Index and images ($)
 * Minnesota, Territorial and State Census, 1849-1905($)
 * Index and images. Also FindMyPast, and MyHeritage, indexing may vary
 * Index and images. Also FindMyPast, and MyHeritage, indexing may vary
 * Index and images. Also at FindMyPast, and MyHeritage, indexing may vary
 * Index and images. Also FindMyPast, and MyHeritage, indexing may vary
 * Index and images. Also FindMyPast, and MyHeritage, indexing may vary
 * Index and images. Also FindMyPast, and MyHeritage, indexing may vary

Microfilm images

 * 1900 The schedule for White Earth Indian Reservation follows Yellow Medicine County Census.

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

Microfilm images

 * United States. Census Office. 11th Census, 1890. Schedules Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War. National Archives Microfilm Publication M123. (On 118 Family History Library microfilms.) The Minnesota returns are available at the Family History Library on Family History Library.

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

State, territorial, and colonial censuses
Minnesota took censuses in different years than the federal censuses. These censuses may have different data compared to federal censuses. Check these censuses for more information on a family.


 * 1905 State census.
 * 1895 State census. A partial card index exists at the Minnesota Historical Society for Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, and Big Stone counties.
 * 1885 State census.
 * 1875 State census.
 * 1865 State census. Missing: Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Benton, Big Stone, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Douglas, Itasca, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Murray, Nobles, Otter Tail, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Stevens, Traverse, Wadena, and Wilkin counties.
 * 1857 Territorial census. Some people and places are fictional.
 * 1855 Territorial census. Incomplete.
 * 1853 Territorial census. Incomplete.
 * 1849 Territorial census.
 * 1838 Territorial census as part of Wisconsin Territory (Crawford and Clayton counties).
 * 1836 Territorial census as part of Wisconsin Territory (Crawford and Dubuque counties).

Most of the original censuses are located at the Minnesota Historical Society. Some of the early territorial censuses have been published in the Minnesota Genealogist and the Minnesota Genealogical Journal.

Existing and lost censuses
For a list of available and missing Minnesota 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

Sources and footnotes
Wiki articles describing online collections are found at:


 * Minnesota 1857 Territorial Census (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Minnesota 1865 State Census (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Minnesota 1875 State Census (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Minnesota 1885 State Census (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Minnesota 1895 State Census (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Minnesota 1905 State Census (FamilySearch Historical Records)