New York Census

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Tips If at first you don't find a name, try again under another spelling. Photocopy or save a digital copy of each ancestor's census. Identify where you found it. Look for an ancestor in every census during her or his lifetime. On the family group record show each person's census listings. Study others in the same household, neighbors, and anyone with the similar names nearby on the census in community context. Click here for a list of the exact date of each federal census.

Online New York Census Indexes and Images

* Ancestry and HeritageQuest and Footnote are free at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, at some Family History Centers around the USA,  at the National Archives, and at the New York Public Library.  HeritageQuest is also available free in many areas at home with your city library card number, and you must log into that system first before accessing the links in the chart.

1791-1930--The National Archives and its regional centers, the Family History Library, the New York Public Library, and the New York State Library have microfilm copies of the U.S. federal censuses of New York for 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930. The original county copies of the federal censuses, 1850–1880, are normally at the county clerk's offices. These copies are more accurate than the federal copies. The Family History Library has county copies on microfilm.

Microfilm Images

New York Federal Census Microfilms Available from the Family History Library

1790	1820	1850	1880	1910
1800	1830	1860	1890	1920
1810	1840	1870	1900 and soundex	1930

New York Federal Census Microfilms Available from the National Archives

1790 M637	1820 M33	1850 M432	1880 T9 and Soundex T753	1920 T625 and Soundex M1566
1800 M32	1830 M19	1860 M654	1900 T623 and Soundex T1050	1930 T626
1810 M252	1840 M704	1870 M593	1910 T624	1940 N/A

Federal non-population schedules and indexes

For more information on New York Federal non-population schedules and indexes.

Special Censuses

Colonial Censuses

Colonial censuses were taken approximately every ten years beginning in 1690. Several have been partially destroyed. To locate existing colonial censuses and lists of petitioners, taxpayers, militia lists, freeholders (those who owned property), and persons taking oaths of allegiance, use:

•  John D. Stemmons, The United States Census Compendium (Logan, Utah: Everton Publishers, 1973; Family History Library book 973 X2st).

The following are some of the major published transcripts and indexes of colonial censuses. They list individuals and the towns where they lived:

• Meyers, Carol M. Early New York State Census Records. 1663–1772. Gardena, California: RAM Publishers, 1965. (Family History Library book 974.7 X28m; fiche 6111479.)
• O'Callaghan, Edmund B. Lists of Inhabitants of Colonial New York Excerpted from the Documentary History of the State of New York by Edmund Bailey O'Callaghan. Edited by Rosanne Conway. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1979. (Family History Library book 974.7 D4L; fiche 6046723.) This source includes lists of town and county inhabitants of many colonial localities for various dates from 1657–1799.

New York. Secretary of State. Calendar of Historical Manuscripts Relating to the War of the Revolution, in the Office of the Secretary of State, 1638–1801. Two Volumes. Albany, New York: Weed, Parsons and Company, 1868. (Family History Library film 1550750.) Index in Volume 2.

Native American Census

There are many census records held in the New York State Archives that have information on Native Americans from 1845 to 1950; however there is a restriction on records less than 75 years old. There is an Enumeration of Native Americans for payment of annuities for the Cayuga tribe taken in June 1969 which lists names, birth dates, and addresses.

Poorhouse Census

Census of Inmates in Almshouses and Poorhouses, 1875-1921 are available at the New York State Archives . These are not indexed.

1870 Manhattan Census

Census takers enumerated Manhattan (New York County) twice in 1870 and both versions are microfilmed. The second enumeration, taken in December, is not indexed but includes street addresses, which make it easier to find your ancestor. In addition, the National Archives microfilmed all of the 1870 federal census schedules twice. As a result, there are four sets of microfilms for the Manhattan 1870 federal census.

1890 Police Census

In 1890 Manhattan took a second census in which policemen asked the questions. Known as the "police census," this record is listed under New York (New York), Police Department, Police Census, 1890 (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1981; on 59 Family History Library films). The census lists the name, address, sex, and age of each person. Ancestry.com has the index to this census online. To use the census, first find the name in a city directory, then use the street directory and maps on microfilms 1304784 and 1304777 to determine the census enumeration district and volume number.

State Censuses

Census Records done by the State of New York
COUNTY	1825	1835	1845	1855	1865	1875	1892	1905	1915	1925
Albany				FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL Ancestry	FHL
Allegany				FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL	FHL
Bronx								FHL	FHL	FHL
Broome	FHL index	FHL		FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL Ancestry	FHL	FHL	FHL
Cattaraugus	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL	FHL
Cayuga				FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL
Chautauqua	FHL index	FHL	FHL index	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL FamilySearch Ancestry	FHL	FHL	FHL
Chemung				FHL	FHL FamilySearch		FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL	FHL
Chenango				FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL		FHL	FHL	FHL
Clinton							FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL	FHL
COUNTY	1825	1835	1845	1855	1865	1875	1892	1905	1915	1925
Columbia				FHL	FHL	FHL		FHL	FHL	FHL
Cortland	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL	FHL
Delaware			FHL-p	FHL Ancestry	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL	FHL
Dutchess					FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL FamilySearch		FHL	FHL
Erie				FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL	FHL
Essex				FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL Ancestry	FHL	FHL	FHL
Franklin				FHL		FHL		FHL	FHL	FHL
Fulton			FHL	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL		FHL	FHL	FHL
Genesee						FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL	FHL
Greene				FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL
Hamilton							FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL
COUNTY	1825	1835	1845	1855	1865	1875	1892	1905	1915	1925
Herkimer	FHL index	FHL  index	FHL index	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL Ancestry	FHL	FHL	FHL
Jefferson	FHL	FHL		FHL	FHL index	FHL		FHL	FHL	FHL
Kings				FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL	FHL
Lewis	FHL	FHL		FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL  Ancestry	FHL Ancestry	FHL	FHL
Livingston				FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL			FHL	FHL
Madison				FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL
Monroe				FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL	FHL
Montgomery				FHL index	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL	FHL
Nassau									FHL	FHL
New York				FHL	FHL			FHL	FHL	FHL
Niagra				FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL	FHL
COUNTY	1825	1835	1845	1855	1865	1875	1892	1905	1915	1925
Oneida		FHL index		FHL index	FHL index	FHL index			FHL	FHL
Onondaga				FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL
Ontario				FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL		FHL	FHL
Orange	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL			FHL	FHL
Orleans				FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL FamilySearch Ancestry	FHL Ancestry	FHL	FHL
Oswego				FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL
Otesgo	FHL			FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL	FHL
Putnam									FHL	FHL
Queens							FHL		FHL index	FHL
Rensselaer				FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL		FHL	FHL	FHL
Richmond				FHL	FHL	FHL			FHL	FHL index
Rockland				FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL FamilySearch Ancestry	FHL	FHL	FHL
COUNTY	1825	1835	1845	1855	1865	1875	1892	1905	1915	1925
Saint Lawrence			FHL		FHL			FHL	FHL	FHL
Saratoga				FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL	FHL
Schenectady		FHL		FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL	FHL
Schoharie	FHL	FHL		FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL FamilySearch Ancestry	FHL  Ancestry	FHL	FHL
Schuyler				FHL	FHL	FHL			FHL	FHL
Seneca								FHL	FHL	FHL
Steuben	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL	FHL
Suffolk					FHL				FHL	FHL
Sullivan				FHL		FHL			FHL	FHL
Tioga	FHL	FHL		FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL	FHL
Tompkins	FHL	FHL			FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL	FHL
Ulster				FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL		FHL	FHL	FHL
COUNTY	1825	1835	1845	1855	1865	1875	1892	1905	1915	1925
Warren				FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL  Ancestry	FHL Ancestry	FHL	FHL
Washington	FHL	FHL		FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL	FHL
Wayne				FHL index	index	index	FHL FamilySearch Ancestry	FHL  Ancestry	FHL	FHL
Westchester								FHL	FHL	FHL
Wyoming						FHL			FHL	FHL
Yates	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL FamilySearch	FHL	FHL	FHL

Ancestry.com comes in several different online editions, each having it own unique characteristics and user lists. For example, Ancestry.com Home Edition for use by individual subscribers; AncestryInstitution.com Family History Library Edition for patrons of that library; and AncestryLibrary.Proquest.com Library Edition for patrons of other libraries with a subscription.

New York has a wonderful collection of state census records. They have a 105-year span of population schedules that are available to researchers. Used with the federal census records it is possible to see a family unit about every five years in some towns from 1820 through 1930. For a list of the valuable content of each New York census done by the state from 1825 to 1925, click here.

Existing and lost censuses

For a list of available and missing New York censuses, click here.

Why use a census?

A well-indexed census is one of the easiest ways to locate where an ancestor's family lived and when they lived there. You can also use censuses to follow the changes in a family over time, and identify neighbors. These and other clues provided by censuses are important because they help find additional kinds of records about the family.

More about censuses

Click here for additional details about how to use censuses, such as:

• index searching tips
• analyzing and using what you find
• census accuracy
• historical background
• contents of various census years and types

External sites

See "Tips" if you cannot find a person in an online census index on the first try.

• Mortality Schedules is a site that has links for online mortality schedules.  Look for the state and then the county.
• New York Genealogy Census Records has a listing of links for statewide and countywide census years. The county links are particularly helpful.