United States Census

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Beginners' Corner

Federal Census Contents
Names, ages, birthplaces 1850–1950
Birthplaces of parents 1880–1950
Relationships 1880–1950
Family and Neighbors All years
Immigration year 1900–1930
Citizenship 1910–1940

For a more complete beginning introduction, see U. S. Census Records Class Handout.

Value of Censuses

A census is a count and description of the population of a country, state, county, or city for a given date. Census lists are also called “schedules." In the United States a nationwide census has been taken every ten years since 1790. A well-indexed census is one of the easiest ways to locate where an ancestor lived and when they lived there. You can also use censuses to:

  • Follow the family over time
  • Determine family relationships (more recent than 1880 as shown above)
  • Find clues to other locations where the family lived
  • Show clues for finding other records

United States Federal Censuses with Online Links

1790 1800 1810 1820 1830 1840
FamilySearch
Ancestry.com
FamilySearch
Ancestry.com
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Ancestry.com
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Ancestry.com
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Ancestry.com
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Ancestry.com
1850 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900
FamilySearch
Ancestry.com
FamilySearch
Ancestry.com
FamilySearch
Ancestry.com
FamilySearch
Ancestry.com
FamilySearch
Ancestry.com
FamilySearch
Ancestry.com
1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960
FamilySearch
Ancestry.com
FamilySearch
Ancestry.com
FamilySearch
Ancestry.com
FamilySearch
Ancestry.com
FamilySearch
Ancestry.com
NARA
Release Date
April 1, 2032

Online Resources

Contents of the Censuses

State Census Pages

U. S. Territories

County Copies of Population Schedules

Nonpopulation Census Schedules

Additional Resources

References

  1. William Thorndale and William Dollarhide. Baltimore: Genealogical Publ., 1987. At various libraries (WorldCat). FS Catalog book 973 X2th.
  2. William Dollarhide. Bountiful, Utah: Heritage Quest, 1999. At various libraries (WorldCat). FS Catalog book 973 X27d; also online database(*).
  3. G. David Dilts, "Censuses and Tax Lists" in Kory L. Meyerink, ed., Printed Sources: a Guide to Published Genealogical Records (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1998), 300-52. [FS Catalog book 016.9293 P96m]