Louisiana Census

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Availability

1810-1930--The Family History Library has the United States federal censuses of Louisiana.

 

1850 United States Census—A free Internet index and images to the 1850 United States Census can be viewed on the FamilySearch Record Search – Pilot Site. This index includes every name listed on the census and is linked to an image including information about each person’s residence and age in 1850, birthplace, occupation, other family members, and neighbors.

1860 United States Census—A free Internet index and images to the 1860 United States Census can be viewed on the FamilySearch Record Search – Pilot Site. This index includes every name listed on the census and is linked to an image including information about each person’s residence and age in 1860, birthplace, occupation, other family members, whether married or single, and neighbors.

 1870 United States Census---A free internet index and images can be viewed on FamilySearch Record Pilot site. This index includes the full name, age, sex, race, birthplace, occupation, month if born in census year, month if married in census year, birth place of father and mother, if born in a foreign country.

1880 United States Census– A Free Internet Index and Images to the US Census can be viewed on the Family Search Record Pilot – Pilot Site. This index includes an every name index to population schedules listing inhabitants. It includes the full name, race, sex, age, birth month (if born during the previous year), relationship to head of household, whether married, single or divorced, whether married during the previous year, country or state of birth of each person and his parent’s, occupation and street address and house number.

1890-- The 1890 census was destroyed, but there is a Union veterans schedule and a published index to it that is available at the Family History Library.

1890--The census for the Ascension Parish census is at the Division of Archives, Records Management, and History, and an index has been published and is available at the Family History Library.

1900 Federal Census - A free Internet index and images to the 1900 United States Census can be viewed on the  FamilySearch Record Search – Pilot Site. Important additions to this census are month and year of birth of each household member, number of years married for each married person, number of children born to each mother and the number of those still living, year of immigration, and number of years in the United States.

Historical Background

1714--The first settlement was established at Natchitoches.

1717-1722--Forced immigration from France brought a few thousand settlers. Attracted by land, German-speaking people came. The importation of African slaves began.

1718--New Orleans was founded.

1763--France ceded Louisiana to Spain.

1803--The Louisiana area was purchased by the United States from France.

1804--The territory was divided, using the 33rd parallel as the boundary.  The northern portion became the District of Louisiana, and the southern portion became the Territory of Orleans.

1812--The Territory of Orleans became the state of Louisiana.

Indexes

1810-1870--Statewide indexes are available for the censuses in book and microfiche format.

1880-1930-- Soundex (phonetic) indexes are available on microfilm.

Special Censuses

Slave Holder Schedules

1850 United States Census Slave Schedules—A free Internet index and images to the 1850 United States Census Slave Schedules can be viewed on the FamilySearch Record Search – Pilot Site listing each slave owner's name and residence. It also shows the age, gender, and color of the slaves. Slave names are not normally listed.

Mortality Schedules 

Mortality schedules exist for 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880, and all are indexed. The schedules and indexes are available at the Family History Library and the National Archives.

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.

State and Colonial Censuses

1699-1805--In addition to the federal censuses, various military and local censuses were taken.

1805-- A special census of New Orleans was taken.

The information in these censuses varies greatly. Several give the names and ages of all residents. Most of these censuses have been published and are available at the Family History Library. Two particularly helpful publications are:

• Maduell,Charles R.,Jr. The Census Tables for the French Colony of Louisiana from 1699 Through 1732. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1972. (Family History Library book 976.3 X2pm.)

• Robichaux, Alberte J., Jr. Louisiana Census and Militia Lists 1770-1789. 2 vols. Harvey, Louisiana.: A. J. Robichaux, 1973 and 1974. (Family History Library book 976.3 X2pr fiche 6088510-511,vols. 1-2.)

Web Sites

Ancestry:  http://www.ancestry.com

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

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

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

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

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

References

Louisiana Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1998, 2001.