Facts For State Census Records

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Facts For State Census Records

Tips for General Census Records

There are numerous ways to determine the location in which to concentrate research for an ancestor. One of the most popular and productive is the census.
Alice Eichholz, Ph.D., In Ancestry’s Red Book: American State,County and Town Sources

Since 1790, the U.S. government has taken a nationwide population count every ten years. Unique in scope and often surprisingly detailed, the census population schedules created from 1790 to 1920 are among the most used of records created by the federal government. Over the course of two centuries the United States has changed significantly, and so has the census. From the six basic questions asked in the 1790 census, the scope and categories of information have changed and expanded dramatically.

Early censuses were essentially basic counts of inhabitants; but as the nation grew, so did the need for statistics that would reflect the characteristics of the people. In 1850, the focus of the census was radically broadened. Going far beyond the vague questions previously asked of heads of households, the 1850 census enumerators were instructed to ask the age, sex, color, occupation, birthplace, and other questions regarding every individual in every household. Succeeding enumerations solicited more information; by 1920, census enumerators asked twenty-nine questions of every head of household and almost as many questions of everyone else in the residence. (Only a very small segment of the 1890 census remains; a fire in the Commerce Department destroyed the vast majority of the original records for that year. Because of privacy considerations, census records less than seventy-two years old are not available to the general public; thus, the 1920 census is the most recent available to the public.)

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do the U.S. federal censuses. The population schedules are successive “snapshots” of Americans that depict where and how they were living at particular periods in the past. Once home sources and library sources have been exhausted, the census is often the best starting point for further genealogical research. Statewide indexes (see “Indexes,” below) are available for almost every census; they are logical tools for locating individuals whose precise place of residence is unknown. While some inaccuracies are to be expected in census records, they still provide some of the most fascinating and useful pieces of personal history to be found in any source. If nothing else, census records are important sources for placing individuals in specific places at specific times. Additionally, information found in the census will often point to other sources critical to complete research, such as court, land, military, immigration, naturalization, and vital records.

The importance of census records does not diminish over time in any research project. It is always wise to return to these records as discoveries are made in other sources because, as you discover new evidence about individuals, some information that seemed unrelated or unimportant in a first look at the census may take on new importance.

When you can’t find family, vital, or religious records, census records may be the only means of documenting the events of a person’s life. Vital registration—the official recording of births, deaths, and marriages—did not begin until around 1920 in many areas of the United States, and fires, floods and other disasters since have destroyed some official government records. When other documentation is missing, census records are frequently used by individuals who must prove their age or citizenship status (or that of their parents) for Social Security benefits, insurance, passports, and other important reasons.

How to Find Census Records
All available federal census schedules (those made from 1790 to 1930) have been microfilmed and are available at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.; at the National Archives’ regional archives; at the Family History Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS church) in Salt Lake City and LDS family history centers throughout North America at many large libraries; in genealogical society libraries; and through companies that lend microfilmed records. Some state and local agencies have census schedules for the state or area they serve. Generally, microfilm copies may be borrowed through interlibrary loan.

Starting With the Census
It is usually best to begin a census search in the most recently available census records (1930) and to work from what is already known about a family. With any luck, birthplaces and other clues found in these more recent records will point to locations of earlier residence.

Search Federal Censuses
1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1850-1880 Mortality Schedules, 1890 Veterans Schedules, 1850 Slave Schedules & 1860 Slave Schedules, Census Extraction Forms

Alabama - Federal Population Schedules that exist for Alabama are 1820 (Partial, see below), 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. The first federal census was taken in 1820. Records exist for only eight of the thirty enumerated counties. These counties include Baldwin, Conecuh, Dallas, Franklin, Limestone, St. Clair, Shelby, and Wilcox. Part of the 1820 state census, Lawrence County, still exists and is also housed at the state archives. It has been published as 1820. The only extant records for Alabama of the almost destroyed 1890 census are portions of Perryville (Beat No. 11) and Severe (Beat No. 8) of Perry County. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms

Alabama Territorial and State census records are scant when compared with other states of the same age. There are 12 groups of census or census substitute materials for 1706 through 1816-19. State censuses were taken sporadically, and sizable but not complete collections exist for 1855 and 1866. The originals are housed in the Alabama Department of Archives and History. In 1907 a census was taken of Alabama's Confederate veterans. Another census was taken in 1921 of Confederate pensioners in Alabama.

There are many other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in the state of Alabama. There are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.

Alaska -

Arizona -

Arkansas - Statewide Records that exist for Arkansas are 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. The Arkansas Genealogical Society is currently sponsoring a statewide program to reconstruct the missing 1890 federal census with compilations of tax and other local records for that period. Of the seventy-five counties in Arkansas, sixty-six have a completed replacement of the 1890 federal census. Only Grant, Chicot, Drew, Hot Spring, Franklin, Poinsett, Sharp, Woodruff, and a portion of Lee counties remain to be finished. The Arkansas Genealogical Society should be contacted for the current status of the project. There are Industry and Agriculture Schedules 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.

Territorial Records: A collection of French and Spanish records that lists early Europeans in Arkansas between 1686–1804 is Morris S. Arnold and Dorothy Jones Core, comps. and eds., Arkansas Colonials.

Federal territorial census records for 1810 included those settlements in the Arkansas District of Hopefield (West Memphis), St. Francis, and settlements along the Arkansas River, but these enumerations were lost. The 1820 federal territorial census included Miller County, which was organized that year by the Arkansas territorial government but actually was partially in Texas under Spanish control. This census was also lost.

Arkansas Territory sheriffs were to enumerate the citizens biennially beginning in 1823. Although these censuses were recorded in 1823, 1825, and 1827, only the 1823 schedule for Arkansas County remains of the three early enumerations. The 1829 sheriff's census includes the name of the head of household, but only fragments remain. Those counties for which complete returns are available are Arkansas, Chicot, Clark, Conway, Crawford, Crittenden, Independence, Lawrence, Miller (old), St. Francis, and Washington. None are available for Pope or Sevier counties, and only the total number of inhabitants were submitted by the sheriffs of Hempstead, Izard, Lafayette, Phillips, and Pulaski counties.

District of Columbia -

Florida -

Georgia - Federal Population Schedules that exist for Georgia are 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. The 1820 census is the earliest enumeration of Georgia's population to have survived, making it necessary to substitute other lists for the missing censuses. Land lottery, military and tax lists, and other records, are available as census substitutes and supplements for the 1820 and earlier censuses.

The first three census schedules for Georgia (1790, 1800 & 1810) are missing. A total of seventeen volumes of 1790-1820 censuses were lost by the federal government, evidently before 1895, and the cause is unknown. Tax lists for various years for a few of the counties have been published.. These can be used as a substitution for the first three census schedules. Additionally, Wills, deeds, tax digests, court minutes, voter lists, and newspapers can be searched to locate ancestors during this period The 1820 schedules for Franklin, Rabun, and Twiggs Counties are missing.

Georgia conducted state censuses for various years from 1787 to 1866. Only a relatively few of these returns survive, and they are only lists of heads of households with some minor statistical information. The returns prior to 1852 have been published in various sources. Later census returns, when they survive, are almost all on microfilm at the Georgia Department of Archives and History . The Georgia Census, 1790-1890 contains the following indexes: 1790 Tax Substitute Index; 1792-1819 Tax Lists Index; 1800 Oglethorpe County Territorial Census Index; 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860 & 1870 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners List; 1838 & 1845 State Census Index; ,1860 Slave Schedule; 1890 Veterans Schedule.

Hawaii -

Idaho -

Illinois -

Indiana -

Iowa -

Kansas -

Maine -

Montana -

Nevada -

Ohio -

Oregon -

Pennsylvania - Federal Population Schedules that exist for Pennsylvania are 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 18701870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. From the first federal census of 1790, the records are nearly complete for Pennsylvania. Two enumerations were taken in Philadelphia in 1870. Gaps in the records are the following: 1800 (parts of Bedford and Westmoreland counties); 1810 (parts of Bedford, Cumberland, and Philadelphia counties); and 1820 (parts of Lancaster, Lehigh, Luzerne, and Monroe counties).

There are three indexes for the 1800 census and two for 1810. The 1850 census also has two indexes, one arranged by county. For the 1910 Miracode, Philadelphia County is indexed apart from the rest of the commonwealth. After it was filmed by the National Archives, the 1880 census was sent to the University of Pittsburgh. The state copies of the 1840–70 censuses are no longer extant, but a few county copies are known to exist.

There are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Union Veterans Schedules were conducted in 1890.

State Schedules: Pennsylvania took no state censuses, but an enumeration of taxpayers compiled every seven years from 1779 through 1863 is commonly called the Septennial Census. These records have only survived in small numbers and are available at the state archives.

Texas -

Utah -

Vermont -

Virginia - Statewide Records: The 1810 census is the earliest enumeration of Virginia's population to have survived, making it necessary to substitute other lists for the missing censuses. Federal census records for the State of Virginia are lost for 1790, 1800, and 1890. Virginia Tax lists from 1782 through 1785 were used as a substitute for the 1790 census, reportedly lost when the British burned the city of Washington during the War of 1812. The 1790 census listed only heads-of-household but enumerated their families, including women. In contrast, tax commissioners in 1787 were required to list all free males subject to taxation, not just heads-of-household; women were only included if they owned personal property subject to taxation or were widows with sons aged sixteen to twenty-one. Beginning in 1820 and continuing every ten years through 1910 (except for the 1890 census, which was also destroyed by fire),

The Virginia State census lists taken in 1782-1785 recorded either the number of white souls, number of dwellings and number of other buildings (1782-1783) or number of blacks and number of whites (1784-1785). A list for Greenbrier County was compiled from the 1783--6 personal property tax lists; a list for Richmond was compiled from a 1782 tax lists. Not all of the state census records survive for a given year and none survive for some counties.

Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in the State of Virginia are Industry and Agriculture Schedules which are availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.

Colonial Records: Two early censuses of Virginia have survived intact; only statistical abstracts remain of other censuses conducted. The first census is dated 16 February 1624 and is a list of the names of persons living in Virginia and the names of those who died since April 1623. The colony conducted a second census in January and February 1625. The Musters of the Inhabitants of Virginia were taken by household and includes ages, relationships, dates of arrival in Virginia, the name of the ship each person arrived in, and enumerations of weapons, buildings, foodstuffs, and boats. The information actually included varies from household to household and from plantation (or town) to plantation. Another census was conducted in 1634, but is apparently lost.
Other lists of Virginia inhabitants include militia musters, tithables lists, and quitrent rolls. These lists cover a single county or precinct rather than the entire colony.

Washington -

West Virginia -

Wisconsin -

Wyoming -

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