United States Census: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:53, 23 February 2012

This article is about censuses of the United States. For other uses, see Census (disambiguation).

See also Beginning Census Research and Record Keeping

US Census
Topics
Accuracy Analyzing/Using Data Availability Blank Forms Historical Background Indexes Maps Online Censuses Registers at the FS Library Searching Soundex Census Substitutes Abbreviations and codes
Non-Population Federal Schedules
Agriculture Schedules Defective Schedules Indian Schedules Institutions Manufacturing or Industrial Schedules Merchant Seamen Military / Naval Forces Mortality Schedules Slave Schedules Social Statistics Schedules Veterans Schedules
U.S. Census Types
Colonial Censuses Federal Censuses Indian Census Rolls School Censuses State Censuses Territorial Censuses
Substitute Records
Directories Maps (especially plat and insurance maps) Taxation Voting Records

United States U.S. Census

For details about federal censuses see United States Federal Census .

Key U.S. Census Internet Links[edit | edit source]

Record Search free indexes & images 1850-1920
U.S. Census Online Internet links
U.S. Census Bureau Free images of 1790 census for 12 states
Ancestry.com ($) indexes & images 1790-1930
HeritageQuest ($) images 1790-1930 + a few indexes
Fold3.com ($) index & images 1860 and 1930
Cyndi's List - United States - U.S. Census free index of links

Value of Censuses[edit | edit source]

A census is a count and description of the population of a country, state, county, or city. 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.
Show clues for finding other records.
U.S. Presidents appearing in census schedules.

Contents of Federal Censuses[edit | edit source]

Historical Census Browser 1790-1960 (University of Virginia Library)

**Federal Census Years**
after 1940	1910	1870	1840	1810
1940	1900	1860	1830	1800
1930	1890	1850	1820	1790
1920	1880

Blank forms for each U.S. census year

Finding Census Records[edit | edit source]

Census Records by State[edit | edit source]

Censuses in U.S. Territories[edit | edit source]

Key Reference Sources[edit | edit source]

William Thorndale, and William Dollarhide, Map Guide to U.S. Federal Censuses 1790-1920 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publ., 1987) [FHL Book 973 X2th]. Shows county boundary changes in each state from 1790 to 1920, and which census areas were lost or still exist.
William Dollarhide, The Census Book: a Genealogist's Guide to Federal Census Facts, Schedules and Indexes: with Master Extraction Forms for Federal Census Schedules, 1790-1930. (Bountiful, Utah: Heritage Quest, 1999)[FHL book 973 X27d]. An online edition is at HeritageQuestOnline. Discusses indexes, regular, and non-population schedules.
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. [FHL Book 016.9293 P96m] Strategies for finding elusive ancestors, and history of indexing.
Tiffany Perkins, Tiff's Census Class (27 minute online video) FamilySearch Research Classes Online, and Mid-Continent Public Library, Midwest Genealogy Center, 2010.
Gary Toms, State and Special Census Records (36 minute online video) FamilySearch Research Classes Online, and Mid-Continent Public Library, Midwest Genealogy Center, 2010.
Angela McComas, Heads of Household Only: Analysis of Pre-1850 Federal Census (19 minute online video) FamilySearch Research Classes Online, and Mid-Continent Public Library, Midwest Genealogy Center, 2010.

Wiki articles describing these collections are found at:

Things you can do[edit | edit source]

In order to make this wiki a better research tool, we need your help! Many tasks need to be done. You can help by:

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