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Online Federal Censuses

Population Schedules

Starting in 1790, federal population schedules were taken every 10 years in the United States. Click here for more information about federal census records.

United States Federal Censuses with Online Links
1790 (a part of Maryland) 1800 1810 1820 1830 1840
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Ancestry.com
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1850 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900
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1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960
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NARA Index
FamilySearch Images
Release Date
April 1, 2032

Non-Population Schedules for District of Columbia

Federal non-population schedules included such things mortality schedules, agriculture schedules, slave schedules, and manufacturing schedules.

Year Type of Census Links
1890 Veterans at Ancestry
1880 Defective at Ancestry
1880 Mortality at Ancestry
1880 Industry at Ancestry
1880 Agriculture at Ancestry
1870 Mortality at Ancestry
1870 Industry at Ancestry
1870 Agriculture at Ancestry
1860 Slave owner at Ancestry
1860 Mortality at Ancestry
1860 Industry at Ancestry
1860 Agriculture at Ancestry
1850 Social Statistics at Ancestry
1850 Slave owner at Ancestry
1850 Mortality at Ancestry
1850 Industry at Ancestry
1850 Agriculture at Ancestry
1840 Pensioners at Ancestry

Existing and lost censuses

For a list of available and missing District of Columbia censuses, click here.

Online Federal District and Colonial Censuses

The District of Columbia often took censuses in the years between the federal censuses. The dates are listed below. These census records may have columns that were different or more unusual than those found on federal censuses. The responses and years of coverage may give additional information on the family.

  • 1919 Police Census
  • 1915 Police Census
  • 1913 Police Census
  • 1912 Police Census
  • 1905-1909 Police Census
  • 1897 Police Census
  • 1888 Police Census
  • 1885 Police Census
  • 1878 District Census
  • 1867 District Census
  • 1818 District Census
  • 1807 District Census
  • 1803 District Census
  • 1798 District Census

Other Census Images

  • 1890 D.C. veterans schedules for military forts, prisons, posts, etc. This does not include veterans living off their post among the civilians of D.C. whose schedules were destroyed. The veterans military posts schedule for 1890 (FS Library film 0338277).

Why Use the Census?

State census records can be one of the easiest ways to locate where an ancestor's family lived and when they lived there. Information varies based on year and location, but information that may be included in a census can include:

  • Name of each person in the family at the time the census was taken
  • Street or Avenue, or number Rural Free Delivery
  • Sex
  • Age
  • Color
  • Nativity
  • Place of birth of this person
  • Place of birth of Father of this person
  • Place of birth of Mother of this person
  • Period of Residence
  • How long a resident of this State (years and months)
  • How long a resident of this enumeration district (years and months)
  • Regular occupation
  • Military service

Sources and footnotes