U.S. Urban Research: Difference between revisions

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Family history research for ancestors living in big cities in the United States involves the same research processes as in other places but adds opportunities and challenges.
Family history research for ancestors living in big cities in the United States involves the same research processes as in other places but adds opportunities and challenges.  


== Sources To Use  ==
== Sources To Use  ==
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*Immigration Records  
*Immigration Records  
*Naturalization Records  
*Naturalization Records  
*City Maps
*City Maps  
*"A Handy Guide to Record Searching in the Larger Cities of the United States" by E. Kay Kirkham can be found in the Library Catalog fiche {{FSC|216818|item|disp=# 6010059}}, where it can be viewed online.


== Characteristics of Big Cities  ==
== Characteristics of Big Cities  ==


Residents in large U.S. cities share the following characteristics:
Residents in large U.S. cities share the following characteristics:  


*Many families rent their home or apartment. A smaller percentage of the population are found in the land, probate, tax, and other records involving property.
*Many families rent their home or apartment. A smaller percentage of the population are found in the land, probate, tax, and other records involving property.  
*A lot of residents are new immigrants
*A lot of residents are new immigrants  
*Many people are looking to move
*Many people are looking to move  
*Neighbors are less likely to be relatives than in rural areas
*Neighbors are less likely to be relatives than in rural areas


Other considerations:
Other considerations:  


*The wide economic span--the city will have very wealthy residents and very poor residents.
*The wide economic span--the city will have very wealthy residents and very poor residents.  
*Big cities have ethnic neighborhoods and communities. Families may move to be closer to a church congregation or ethnic group.
*Big cities have ethnic neighborhoods and communities. Families may move to be closer to a church congregation or ethnic group.  
*Big cities offer a variety of churches and congregations.
*Big cities offer a variety of churches and congregations.  
*For health reasons, registration of births and deaths began sooner in big cities, but many people were missed.
*For health reasons, registration of births and deaths began sooner in big cities, but many people were missed.


Research cautions:
Research cautions:  


*Search the indexes and records carefully because different people can have the same name.
*Search the indexes and records carefully because different people can have the same name.  
*More people were overlooked in vital records and other local records.
*More people were overlooked in vital records and other local records.  
*City and county officials may have kept separate records, some of which overlap. Check the vital records in both jurisidictions.
*City and county officials may have kept separate records, some of which overlap. Check the vital records in both jurisdictions.


== U.S. Cities Through Time  ==
== U.S. Cities Through Time  ==
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*Cleveland (OH) with 381,768  
*Cleveland (OH) with 381,768  
*Buffalo (NY) with 352,387
*Buffalo (NY) with 352,387
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