U.S. Census Research Guide
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
WHAT INFORMATION WILL I FIND ON THE CENSUS?
1790 | 1800 | 1810 | 1820 | 1830 | 1840 | 1850 | 1860 | 1870 | 1880 |
1890 | 1900 | 1910 | 1920 | 1930 | 1940 | 1950 |
WHERE CAN I FIND CENSUS INFORMATION AT THE GFO?
INDEXES TO THE CENSUSES
HOW ARE CENSUSES ARRANGED?
Census population schedules, compiled every decade since 1790, are a survey of American households by the federal government.
The earliest census records contain information on people born before the American Revolution. The 1950 schedules contain information on many people who are still living. It is possible to trace a family line from a living person back to an ancestor born more than 250 years ago.
Genealogists use censuses to learn personal information about ancestors and to track them from place to place. However, the censuses are not conducted for genealogical purposes. The censuses are used to apportion legislative districts for the House of Representatives, and they influence the distribution of federal dollars. They also provide the raw data for statistics that genealogists can use to add details to family stories.
Due to privacy laws, census schedules are restricted for 72 years after the census is taken. The most recent one available for research is 1950; the 1960 census will be released on April 1, 2032.
To obtain information from censuses after 1950, you can request an "Age Search" from the Bureau of the Census, PO Box 1545, Jeffersonville, IN 47131. You can download the request form from the Census Bureau's website. There are several restrictions involved in this search. You can ask for searches for entries for yourself, a deceased person who was your spouse, a parent, or a deceased person in your direct ancestry. You get only an extract of the census entry - not the whole page. There is a search fee for this service.
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WHAT INFORMATION WILL I FIND ON THE CENSUS?
The 1790 population census was the first census issued by the U.S. Federal government. It is believed that the British invasion during the War of 1812 is to blame for the destruction of some of the records from this census. The population of the State of New York at the time of the census was just over 33,000 people. The data collected for this census was the name of the head of household and a count of the people living in the household, grouped by age and sex.
| Enumerator Questions | Enumerator Instructions |
| Fast Facts | Census Date: 2 Aug 1790 |
| Sample Page | Blank Form |
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In the 1800 population census, the name of the head of the family was collected. Free white males and females were tallied in five different age groups. Tallies were also collected for the number of Indians, slaves, and free Blacks into their respective categories and were not divided into age groups.
| Enumerator Questions | |
| Fast Facts | Census Date: 4 Aug 1800 |
| Sample Page | Blank Form |
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In 1810, the assistant marshals collecting data for the demographic data were asked to collect economic data as well. The order to collect the additional data was followed without a defined schedule or clear instruction. The recording of manufacturing establishments within the census districts, territories, and divisions was made, but the data was very erratic. The manufacturing data was considered useless with the exception of identifying broad industrial trends.
| Enumerator Questions | |
| Fast Facts | Census Date: 6 Aug 1810 |
| Sample Page | Blank Form |
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This fourth census was the first to ask the respondents if the head of the family was engaged in agriculture, commerce, or manufacturing. Once again, the manufacturing data was collected and deemed not useful due to dramatic variations in both data quality and accuracy.
| Enumerator Questions | |
| Fast Facts | Census Date: 7 Aug 1820 |
| Sample Page | Blank Form |
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It was the 1830 population census that first began counting the number of blind individuals in the household. The enumerator also asked for the number of White persons that were non-naturalized foreigners. More importantly, uniform printed schedules were used by the enumerators for the first time.
| Enumerator Questions | |
| Fast Facts | Census Date: 1 Jun 1830 |
| Sample Page | Blank Form |
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Enumerators began counting the number of blind, deaf, dumb, insane, and idiots for the 1840 population census. The names and ages of pensioners for Revolutionary War or military service were also collected, as was information pertaining to school attendance, literacy, and vocation.
| Enumerator Questions | |
| Fast Facts | Census Date: 1 Jun 1840 |
| Sample Page | Blank Form |
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The 1850 population census, for the first time, collected the name of every free person within the household, not just the head of household. Information on taxes, schools, crime, wages, the value of the estate, and mortality was also collected.
| Enumerator Questions | Enumerator Instructions |
| Fast Facts | Census Date: 1 Jun 1850 |
| Sample Page | Blank Form |
Other schedules include Agricultural, Industrial, Mortality, Social Statistics, and Slave Schedule.
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1850 - Slave Schedule
A separate Slave Schedule was used for the first time with the 1850 census. Enumerators were supplied with two separate questionnaires, one for free inhabitants and another for slaves. The enslaved were listed by the owner and not named individually.
| Enumerator Questions | Enumerator Instructions |
| Fast Facts | Census Date: 1 Jun 1850 |
| Sample Page | Blank Form |
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The data collected for the 1860 census was not much different from that collected for the 1850 census. The only added question was in regard to the value of the person's personal estate.
| Enumerator Questions | Enumerator Instructions |
| Fast Facts | Census Date: 1 Jun 1860 |
| Sample Page | Blank Form |
Other schedules include Agricultural, Industrial, Mortality, Social Statistics, and Slave Schedule.
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1860 - Slave Schedule
The Slave Schedule for the 1860 census used the same questions as the 1850 Slave Schedule*. The slaves were listed by the owner and not named individually. The 1860 Slave Schedule was omitted from the census taken in the free states.
| Enumerator Questions* | Enumerator Instructions |
| Fast Facts | Census Date: 1 Jun 1860 |
| Sample Page | Blank Form |
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A tallying machine, invented by Charles W. Seaton, a chief clerk and superintendent of the Census Office, was used for tallying and tabulating the 1870 population census questionnaire responses. The voting eligibility of a male citizen of the United States 21 years of age or older was recorded, as was a denied right to vote. The 1870 census was the first to enumerate every resident in the U.S. by name, with one exception - "Indians not taxed" were not to be enumerated.
| Enumerator Questions | Enumerator Instructions |
| Fast Facts | Census Date: 1 Jun 1870 |
| Sample Page | Blank Form |
Other schedules include Agricultural, Industrial, Mortality, and Social Statistics.
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Enumerators for the 1880 population census were asked to collect census information from the head of the family or the member of that family that was deemed credible and trustworthy. If unavailable, a person or persons living nearest the abode may be asked for the information for the family. An 1880 population census was also taken of Alaska. This was the first census to have information collected by specially hired and trained census takers, repacing the U.S. marshals.
| Enumerator Questions | Enumerator Instructions |
| Fast Facts | Census Date: 1 Jun 1880 |
| Sample Page | Blank Form |
Other schedules include Agricultural, Manufacturers, Mortality, and Social Statistics.
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Nearly all of the 1890 population census was destroyed by fire and water damage in 1921. The population schedule asked nearly the same questions for the 1880 census, but the form used was very much different. The 1890 census forms were spread 2 pages per household. Each person in that household appears in their own column, labeled 1 through 10. The 1890 census was also notable as the first in which an electronic tabulating system was used. This system was invented by Herman Hollerith, a former employee of the Census Office. The system used punch cards and metal pins. Completed electronic circuits that made it through the punched holes helped to count or cross-tabulate different characteristics that were collected such as age, sex, color, or marital status.
For the first time, enumerators were given detailed maps to follow so they could account for every street or road and not stray beyond their assigned boundaries.
| Enumerator Questions | Enumerator Instructions |
| Fast Facts | Census Date: 2 Jun 1890 |
| Sample Page | Blank Form |
Other schedules include Agricultural, Manufacturers, Mortality, and Veterans' Special Schedule.
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For the 1900 population census, the Departments of War and the Navy enumerated military personnel including those who were abroad. With the cooperation of the commissioner of Indian affairs, the Indian Territory was enumerated. Having been annexed in 1898, Hawaii was included in the census for the first time.
| Enumerator Questions | Enumerator Instructions |
| Fast Facts | Census Date: 1 Jun 1900 |
| Sample Page | Blank Form |
Other schedules include Agricultural, Indian Population, Manufacturers, and Mortality.
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April 15th became the official census day for the 1910 census. It was suggested that the date be moved from the traditional June 1st date because the Director of the Census Bureau felt that many of the urban dwellers would be absent from their homes on summer vacations in June.
Enumerators in large cities were able to distribute questionnaires a day or two in advance of April 15th so those responding to the census could prepare their answers.
Survivors of the Civil War are indicated on this census.
| Enumerator Questions | Enumerator Instructions |
| Fast Facts | Census Date: 15 Apr 1910 |
| Sample Page | Blank Form |
Other schedules include Agricultural, Indian Population, and Manufacturers.
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Added to the 1920 census was the year of naturalization and the "mother tongue" of the individual. Items that were removed from the questionnaire include: number of years of present marriage; number of children; survivor of Civil War; weeks out of work; and if blind, deaf, or dumb. The determination of race was based on the enumerator's impressions. The results of this census revealed that there was a major shift in the population from rural to urban areas.
| Enumerator Questions | Enumerator Instructions |
| Fast Facts | Census Date: 1 Jan 1920 |
| Sample Page | Blank Form |
Other schedules include Agricultural.
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The 1930 census encompassed each state, along with Washington DC, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Governers of the Panama Canal Zone, Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands each completed a census. In 1929, the nation entered into the Great Depression as a result of the stock market crash. Much of the economic data collected in the 1930 census were argued to be too low, and so Congress called for a special unemployment census to be taken in January 1931. This special census confirmed the severity of the economic impact resulting from the crash.
| Enumerator Questions | Enumerator Instructions |
| Fast Facts | Census Date: 1 Apr 1930 |
| Sample Page | Blank Form |
Other schedules include Agricultural.
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Statistical sampling was first used in the 1940 population census. Five percent of those taking the census were asked an additional 16 questions having to do with birthplace of their parents, the mother's mother tongue, military service if they had been given a Social Security number, their usual occupation, a woman's marital history, and the number of children born to that woman. Two of the 40 rows on each printed census page were earmarked for this sampling, and the sampling rows would change from one page to the next. All persons were to report where they were living in 1935.
| Enumerator Questions | Enumerator Instructions |
| Fast Facts | Census Date: 1 Apr 1940 |
| Sample Page | Blank Form |
Other schedules include Agricultural.
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Statistical sampling continued with the 1950 population census, but the number of samples increased to 20 percent of each page (6 rows out of 30). For those sampled, they were asked many additional questions such as where they were living the year before, their parents' place of birth, how many grades they completed in school, if they finished school, if they were attending school on February 1st, if they were looking for work, the industry of their last job, if they were married more than once, the number of years in their current marriage, and the number of children born to them if they were female. The respondent to the questionnaire not only had to report their own income, but they also had to report the combined income of the rest of the household. For the first time ever, artificial intelligence (AI) software was used to help index the information found on the handwritten census response sheets. The AI software was used for the initial pass and volunteers from across the country were asked to verify the correctness of the handwriting recognition process.
| Enumerator Questions | Enumerator Instructions |
| Fast Facts | Census Date: 1 Apr 1950 |
| Sample Page | Blank Form |
No other schedules were included in this census.
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WHERE CAN I FIND CENSUS INFORMATION AT THE GFO?
You can search for censuses in GFO's online library catalog.
The microfilm collection is located on the north wall of the library research area. They are arranged by call number.
The library has many books explaining the U.S. census, the mistakes that were made, and suggesting substitutes for censuses that are missing. The books about the U.S. census in general have call numbers beginning with 973 .Cens.
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Published Indexes
Most census years indexed in print form were discarded from the GFO Library because many websites provided indexed U.S. census images. However, print indexes that provide additional or potentially more accurate information are still available in the collection.
Soundex
Indexes to Federal censuses from 1880 to 1920 were prepared by W.P.A. crews to assist individuals in proving their birth date for Social Security applications. These were indexed by a system called "Soundex." To learn how to code a surname by Soundex, click here.
The 1880 census is indexed by Soundex for households with children less than 10 years of age. The 1900 and 1920 censuses are completely Soundexed. The 1910 census was indexed for those states not having a Department of Vital Records in 1910. The states indexed are: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
The GFO Library has the complete Soundex set for Oregon on microfilm. The Oregon 1910 census was Soundexed by members of the GFO.
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Census schedules were microfilmed by the National Archives. They are arranged by census year (1790, 1800, 1810, etc.) Within each year they are arranged by state. (Alabama, Arkansas, etc.) Then, they are organized alphabetically by county. Each county is divided into districts or precincts.
The arrangement of the families on a page of the schedules is in the order in which the census takers wrote them down as they went door to door. Searching for a particular name on the schedules involves scanning each page from top to bottom until the desired name is located.
Originally compiled by Connie & Gerry Lenzen, February 1997.
Revised by the GFO Website Team, May 2021.
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