Indiana Census

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

Availability
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.

1820-1930--The Family History Library has microfilms of the U.S. federal censuses of Indiana.

1800--The 1800 census for Indiana was lost.

1810-- The 1810 census for Indiana were lost, except the 1810 Harrison County census.

1820-- Davies County census was lost.

1890-- Census schedules for all of Indiana were destroyed.

Existing and lost censuses
Click here for a list of available and missing Indiana censuses.

Historical Background
1700-1735--The French established three outposts along the Wabash-Maumee trade route: one at the present site of Fort Wayne, one near present-day Lafayette, and the largest and most important at Vincennes.

1784--Clarksville, (on the north bank of the Ohio River, opposite Louisville Kentucky), became the first authorized American settlement in Indiana.

1787--The United States government established the Northwest Territory to open the land to Revolutionary War veterans and other settlers.

1800-1809--The Indiana Territory was established in 1800. Michigan Territory was detached in 1805, and the Illinois Territory was set off in 1809.

1816--Indiana became a state.

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.

1820-1860--Statewide indexes are available for Indiana.

1880, 1900, 1920--Soundex (phonetic) indexes are on microfilm. The 1880 census index includes only families with children born from 1869 to 1880. The 1900 and 1920 censuses have indexes to all heads of households.

1870-1880--Special ethnic indexes are also available for African-Americans, Mulattoes, and Indians in the censuses of Indiana.

1910-1930-- In large cities it helps to first learn the person’s address by searching the city directory under the census year (see the "Directories" section of this outline). Determine which enumeration district held that address. Then look for that enumeration district and address on the original census schedules.

To learn which enumeration district in a big city held a specific address:


 * Buckway, Eileen G., comp. U. S. 1910 Federal Census: Unindexed States: A Guide to Finding Census Enumeration Districts for Unindexed Cities, Towns, and Villages. Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Library, 1992. (Family History Library book 973 X2bu 1910; fiche 6101340 set of 8.) This lists all Indiana towns, or wards, with their 1910 census enumeration district numbers and the Family History Library film numbers. Evansville, Fort Wayne, Gary, Indianapolis, South Bend, and Terre Haute each have special instructions, often including the library’s city directory book and film numbers.

The Indiana Division of the Indiana State Library has additional 1910 city directories for Kokomo, Lafayette, New Albany, Richmond, Terre Haute, and Vincennes. Local public libraries may also have city directories for their communities for 1910.

Selected enumeration district maps for Indiana in 1910 are listed in:


 * United States. Bureau of the Census. Cross Index to Selected City Streets and Enumeration Districts, 1910 Census. National Archives Microfiche Publications, M1283. Washington, DC: National Archives, 1984. (Family History Library fiche 6331481)

The enumeration district maps are on the following microfiche:

Fort Wayne and Gary-- fiche 6331481, part 19 Indianapolis-- fiche 6331481, part 21 South Bend-- fiche 6331481, part 49


 * Davidson, J. W. Map of Evansville, and Howell, Indiana, 1910: With Suburban Plats. [N.p., 1910?] (Family History Library map case 977.233/E1 E7d; fiche 6049928)

Mortality Schedules
1850-1880-- Indiana mortality schedules exist. They list persons who died during the 12 months before 1 June of the census year (for 1850, 1860, and 1870) and before 31 May for 1880. They list name, sex, color, age, free or slave, married or widowed, state or country of birth, month of death, occupation, cause of death, and number of days ill prior to death. For 1880 the state or country of birth of the parents is listed. The original mortality schedules are available at the Genealogy Division of the Indiana State Library. Indiana mortality schedules are not available at the Family History Library on microfilm.

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 following published mortality schedule indexes are available:


 * Volkel, Lowell M. 1850 Indiana Mortality Schedule. Three volumes. N.p.: L. M. Volkel, 1971. (Family History Library book 977.2 X21p; film 1428705 item 6.) Volume one has counties A through Harrison; volume two, Hendricks through Posey; and volume three, Pulaski through Whitley. Each volume includes a separate every-name index. These books have the full data from the schedules.


 * Jackson, Ronald Vern. Mortality Schedule, Indiana, 1850. South Bountiful, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1979. (Family History Library book 977.2 X2j 1850.) This is an alphabetical index.


 * Index to Indiana Mortality Schedules, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880. Eight volumes. These volumes are not available at the Family History Library, but you can write to the Indiana State Library for a search.
 * Mortality Schedules 1850-1880

1890 Veterans Census Substitute
As a substitute for the 1890 census, use the military enrollment records made in 1886, 1890, and 1894 by the county assessor of each township. The assessor made a record of veterans who served in the War of 1812, the Civil War, and other wars, or their widows or orphans who were residing in Indiana at the time of enrollment.

These enrollments and index can be found in the following record:


 * Index to Indiana Enrollments of Soldiers, Their Widows and Orphans, 1886, 1890, and 1894. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1988. (On 13 Family History Library films beginning with 1556996.)

Territorial and State Censuses
1801-1820-- The portion of the 1800 census that included the area that is now Indiana was lost or destroyed. A census substitute for this early period is:


 * Franklin, Charles H. Indiana Territorial Pioneer Records 1801-1820. N.p.: Heritage House, 1983- 1985. (Family History Library book 977.2 N4i.) Volume 1 covers 1810–1815, and volume 2, 1801–1820. 1807. An 1807 census was published in:

1807--An 1807 census was published in:


 * Census of Indiana Territory for 1807. Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana Historical Society, 1980. (Family History Library book 977.2 X2c 1807; film 1033927 item 4.)

1810-- The only remaining portion of the 1810 census is for Harrison County. These records covered the northern part of the county and included most of the south-central part of the state in 1810. They are found in the following:


 * Beanblossom, Walter S. Early Records of Harrison County, Indiana. N.p.: Beanblossom, 1975. (Family History Library film 928263 item 5.)
 * "1810 Census of Harrison County, Indiana (Harrison and Exeter Townships)." The Hoosier Genealogist 16 (June 1976): 22–50. (Family History Library book 977.2 B2h.)

1820-- In 1820 an enumeration was made of all white male inhabitants (voters) age 21 or older. The records for Crawford, Gibson, Jackson, Jennings, Knox, Monroe, Orange, Perry, Posey, Ripley, Vanderburgh, Washington, and Wayne counties are at the Indiana State Archives. These records have been published and are available as:


 * Moran, Mary M. The Indiana 1820 Enumeration of Males. Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana Historical Society, Family History Section, 1998. (Family History Library book 977.2 X2m 1820.)

1853, 1866, 1871 and 1877-- The 1851 Constitution provided for an enumeration every six years. The first enumeration under this Constitution was to be completed in 1853, before 1 June. Apparently, in 1859 and 1865 voter enumerations were not taken. Starting with the 1866 enumeration, the age of the individual also was required. Beginning in 1877, the census listed the name and age of white male residents, 21 or over, and included a separate list of names of African-American males 21 or over. This is listed under the heading "Negro". A few fragments of the 1877 census are at the Indiana State Archives.

A few scattered fragments of the 1853, 1866, 1871, 1877 and later enumerations are at the Indiana State Archives. Many of these fragments have been published in periodicals. The Family History Library has one of these records on microfilm:


 * Hendricks County (Indiana). County Clerk. Male Census, 1853. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1967. (Family History Library film 488432.).

Some of these voter enumeration lists include:

1853-- Hendricks County 1857--Blackford County, Hartford City 1871, 1877, 1883, 1889-- Blackford County (various townships) 1877-- Fayette County (five townships) 1889-1919-- Pike County 1901-- Washington County, Jackson Township 1913, 1931-- Henry County 1919-- Ripley County, Jackson Township 1919--Starke County, Center Township


 * Beatty, John D. "Indiana Census Records and Census Substitutes." Indiana Genealogist 8, no.1 (March 1997): 1–17.

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/IN/

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

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

Census Finder: http://www.censusfinder.com/indiana.htm

USGenWeb Census Project: http://www.rootsweb.com/~census/states/indiana/

Mortality Schedules: http://mortalityschedules.com/mortalityschedules.com/