Maine Census

Online Resources
Courts
 * — index and images
 * United States Online Census, 1790-1940
 * Maine, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1800-1890, ($), index.
 * — index and images
 * Maine Court Records, 1696-1854 ($)

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.

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

Microfilm images
Family History Library Federal Census Non-Population Schedule Microfilms for Maine


 * 1890 Veterans United States. Census Office. 11th Census, 1890. Schedules Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Washington, D.C.: The National Archives, 1948. (Family History Library films for Maine Films 338165-6
 * 1880 Mortality Film 1841575
 * 1870 Mortality Film 9740
 * 1860 Mortality Film 009740
 * 1850 Mortality Film 009739])

National Archives Federal Census Non-Population Schedule Microfilms for Maine


 * 1935 Census of Business
 * 1820 Manufactures schedule

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

State, territorial, and colonial censuses
Maine 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 *1905 Scarboro only, in Cumberland County *1904 Kennebunkport only, in York County *1837 State (some towns missing). The Maine State Archives website (www.maine.gov/sos/arc/research/vitalrec.html) says, "The Archives also has partial returns of the special revenue-sharing census of 1837." Another page of the Maine State Archives website (www.maine.gov/sos/arc/research/townhist.html) says, "1837 Revenue-Sharing Census . . . covers Bangor, Portland and the unincorporated townships of that time only, and includes the name of the head of the house, and the number of other people living there." See also "Online Federal and State Population Schedules for Maine" above.

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

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
A wiki article describing an online collection is found at:

Maine, Washington County Courthouse Records - FamilySearch Historical Records