New Jersey Census

Portal:United States Census &gt;New Jersey

Availability
1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920--Copies of these censuses can be found in the following repositories: the National Archives and all of its regional centers, the Family History Library, the New Jersey Historical Society, The New Jersey State Archives, the Newark Public Library, the Rutgers University Library, the New Jersey State Library.

1790, 1800 (except Cumberland County), 1810, and 1820 censuses are missing

1890 census (except the 17 names of the Nelson, Cross, and Clooney families from Jersey City,                               Hudson County) was destroyed                        1890 schedule of Union veterans and widows has survived

See the United States Research Outline (30972) for information about these censuses a

As a substitute for the missing censuses, search the tax ratables described in New Jersey Taxation. Also see the 1793 militia census described in New Jersey Military Records.

Historical Background
1664-1676--New Jersey consisted of two separate proprietorships, East and West Jersey. 1702--The two Jerseys were united to form a singel royal colony. 1776--New Jersey declared itself an independent state.

Indexes
1800 (Cumberland County), 1830 1840, 1850 and 1860--Statewide indexes are available in books.

1800 (Cumberland County), 1830 1840, and1850--Statewide indexes are available in microfiche.

1880 (partial), 1900 and 1920--Soundex (phonetic) indexes are available.

County-wide indexes are listed in the Family History Library Catalog Locality Search under NEW JERSEY, [COUNTY] - CENSUS.


 * Kirkham, E. Kay. A Handy Guide to Record- Searching in the Larger Cities of the United States. Logan, Utah: Everton, 1974. (FHL book 973 D27kc; fiche 6010059-60.) Includes ward maps and street indexes for Camden in 1878.
 * Buckway, G. Eileen. 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.  (FHL book 973 X2bu 1910; fiche 6101340.) Lists all New Jersey towns (or wards) with their 1910 census enumeration district numbers and FHL film numbers. Bayonne, Camden, Elizabeth, Hoboken, Jersey City, Newark, Passaic, Patterson, and Trenton each have special instructions, often including city directory, FHL book, or film numbers.
 * United States.Bureau of the Census. Cross Index to Selected City Streets and Enumeration Districts, 1910 Census. Washington, DC: National Archives, [1984]. (51 FHL fiche 6331481.) Lists street addresses of Elizabeth (fiche 19), Newark (fiche 25), and Patterson (fiche 36) with corresponding census enumeration districts.
 * Buckway, G. Eileen. U.S. State and Special Census Register. Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Library, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1992. (FHL book 973 X2be; fiche 6104851-52.)

Colonial Censuses
The colonial censuses taken in 1726, 1738, 1745, and 1772 were destroyed. Various other records can substitute for colonial censuses. These include lists of petitioners, residents, freeholders, quit renters, jurists, voters, and taxpayers. Many of these lists have been published in periodicals. For a helpful guide in locating these lists, refer to:


 * Stemmons, John D. The United States Census Compendium. Logan, Utah: Everton Publishers, 1973. (FHL book 973 X2st.)

A colonial census of the early Swedish settlers in New Jersey has been published in the following:


 * Craig, Peter Stebbins. The 1693 Census of the Swedes on the Delaware: Family Histories of the Swedish Lutheran Church Members Residing in Pennsylvania, Delaware, West New Jersey and Cecil County, Maryland, 1638-1693. Studies in Swedish American Genealogy 3. Winter Park, Florida: SAG Publications, 1993. (FHL book 973 X4c.) Includes index and bibliography.

Mortality Schedules

1850-1880--The 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 censuses have mortality schedules, which are lists of the people who died in the year before the census was taken. The censuses are at the New Jersey State Library. Microfilm copies are at the state archives, the New Jersey Historical Society, and the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

At the Family History Library mortality schedules are listed as:


 * United States. Census Office. Census of New Jersey, 1850-1880; Third Series (of Persons Who Died During the Years Ending 30 June 1850, 1 June 1860; 1 June 1870; 31 May 1880. Trenton, New Jersey: State Library of Archives and History, Department of Education, 1996. (FHL films 802952-55.) The 1880 schedules are for Atlantic to Hudson counties only.

The schedule for 1850 is indexed in:


 * George, Shirley J. and Sandra E. Glenn. New Jersey 1850 Mortality Schedule Index. Columbus, New Jersey: G. &amp; G. Genealogical Book, 1982. (FHL book 974.9 X22g.)

Veterans Schedules

The 1890 schedule of Union veterans and widows has survived. See:

United States. Census Office. 11th Census, 1890. Schedules Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War. File Microcopies of Records in the National Archives, number 123. Washington, DC: National Archives, 1948. (FHL films 338200-202.) Indexed in:

Jackson, Ronald Vern. New Jersey 1890. Salt Lake City, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1990. (FHL book 974.9 X22j 1890.) The index does not include the 17 people in the surviving Jersey City, New Jersey population schedules.

State Censuses
State censuses were taken beginning in 1855. Some records are missing, as indicated below:

1855. Missing Burlington, Cape May, Mercer, Middlesex, Ocean, and Salem counties and incomplete for the others.

1865. Missing Cape May, Mercer, Morris, Ocean, Somerset, and Warren counties and incomplete for the others.

1875. Only Sussex and Essex counties are available.

1885, 1895, 1905, 1915. All counties are available.

The original records and microfilm copies of state censuses are at the New Jersey State Archives. Copies of the 1905 and 1915 censuses are also at the New Jersey Department of Health. The Newark Public Library, New Jersey State Library, Rutgers University Library, and Family History Library have microfilm copies of all New Jersey state censuses.


 * Buckway, G. Eileen. U.S. State and Special Census Register. Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Library, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1992. (FHL book 973 X2be; fiche 6104851-52.)

Territorial Censuses
New Jersey has no Territorial Census.

Web Sites
Ancestry: http://www.ancestry.com

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

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

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

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

National Archives: http://www.archives.gov/

New Jersey Historical Society: http://www.jerseyhistory.org/

New Jersey State Archives: http://www.state.nj.us/state/darm/links/archives.html

Newark Public Library: http://www.npl.org/

Rutgers University Library: http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/

New Jersey State Library: http://www.njstatelib.org/

Bibliographic Citations
New Jersey Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1998, 2001.