New Mexico, Territorial Census, 1885 - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States New Mexico

What is in the Collection?
This collection contains indexes and images of the population schedule listing inhabitants of the New Mexico Territory in 1885. This collection coincides with NARA publication M846.

What Can these Records Tell Me?
The following information is usually found in this collection:


 * Name
 * Color
 * Sex
 * Age
 * Month of birth if born within the census year
 * Relationship to head of the household
 * Marital status
 * Occupation
 * Sick, deaf, dumb, blind, or mentally ill
 * Attending school
 * Can read and write
 * Birthplace (state or country)
 * Birthplace of parents (state or country)

How Do I Search the Collection?
You can search the index or view the images or both. Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * The age and place of residence

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the Browse Page. br>
 * 1) Select County
 * 2) Select City/Town/Village/Precinct

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.

For more tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line article FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks.

I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now?

 * In case you need to find this record again later, copy the citation below in the Citing This Collection section.
 * Use the ages listed to determine approximate birth dates and find the family in additional Censuses such as [[United States Census, 1900 (FamilySearch Historical Records)] or Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War, 1890.
 * Use the ages or estimated birth dates to find county or New Mexico Vital Records such as birth, baptism, marriage, and death records.
 * Use the information found in the record to find Tax Records.
 * Use the information found in the record to find land records in the United States, Bureau of Land Management Tract Books (FamilySearch Historical Records).
 * If they are subject to military service they may have military files in the War with Spain 1898 Records.
 * Search for death or burial information in BillionGraves Index.
 * Use the information found in the record to find New Mexico, Naturalization Records (FamilySearch Historical Records).
 * Repeat this process with additional family members found, to find more generations of the family.

I Can't Find Who I'm Looking for, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives.
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching a nearby locality.
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name.
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well.
 * Check the info box above for additional FamilySearch websites and related websites that may assist you in finding similar records.

Citing this Collection
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information; that is, cite your sources. This will help people find the record again and evaluate the reliability of the source. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records. Citations are available for the collection as a whole and each record or image individually.

Collection citation:

Record citation (or citation for the index entry):

Image citation: Top of Page