United States Census

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

Key U.S. Census Internet Links 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 Footnote.com ($) index & images 1860 and 1930

For details about federal censuses see United States Federal Census .

Value of Censuses

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

Federal Censuses after 1930 Historical Census Browser 1790-1960 (University of Virginia Library)

Federal Census Years

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

Blank forms for each U.S. census year

Finding Census Records

Nationwide Census Records 

United States Census Population Schedules, 1850 (FamilySearch Historical Records)

United States Census Population Schedules, 1860 (FamilySearch Historical Records)

United States Census Population Schedules, 1870 (FamilySearch Historical Records)

United States Census Population Schedules, 1880 (FamilySearch Historical Records)

United States Census Population Schedules, 1900 (FamilySearch Historical Records)

United States Census Population Schedules 1910 (FamilySearch Historical Records)

United States Census Population Schedules 1920 (FamilySearch Historical Records)

United States Census Population Schedules, 1930 (FamilySearch Historical Records)

Statewide Census Records 

Alabama   Alaska   Arizona   Arkansas   California   Colorado   Connecticut   Delaware   District of Columbia   Florida   Georgia   Hawaii   Idaho   Illinois   Indiana   Iowa   Kansas

Kentucky   Louisiana   Maine   Maryland   Massachusetts   Michigan   Minnesota   Mississippi   Missouri   Montana   Nebraska   Nevada   New Hampshire   New Jersey   New Mexico   New York   North Carolina

North Dakota   Ohio   Oklahoma   Oregon   Pennsylvania   Rhode Island   South Carolina   South Dakota   Tennessee   Texas   Utah   Vermont   Virginia   Washington   West Virginia   Wisconsin   Wyoming

Censuses in U.S. Territories

American Samoa   Cuba

Guam   Panama Canal Zone   Philippines

Puerto Rico   U.S. Virgin Islands

Key Reference Sources

• 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.

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