New York Census
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Online New York Census Indexes and Images
Template:Census Online New York
* 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
| 1790 | 1820 | 1850 | 1880 | 1910 |
| 1800 | 1830 | 1860 | 1890 | 1920 |
| 1810 | 1840 | 1870 | 1900 and soundex | 1930 |
| 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
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:
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.
Sources and Footnotes
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