Census records provide the information needed for you to trace your ancestors as
they moved from one place to another. By carefully looking at the neighbors you
can often find other family members living close together. A census search is one
of the most important things you will do in your family research.
1790
The 1790 census included the name of the head of household, the number of free white
males under 16 and 16 or older, the number of free white females of any age, the
name of a slave owner, and number of slaves owned by them.
1800
The 1800 census included the name of a head of household, the number of free white
males and free white females in specific age categories, the name of a slave owner,
& number of slaves owned by them.
1810
The 1810 census included the name of a head of household, the number of free white
males and free white females in specific age categories, the name of a slave owner,
and the number of slaves owned by that person.
1820
The 1820 census included the name of a head of household, the number of free white
males & females in specific age categories, the name of a slave owner, the number
of slaves owned by that person, the number of male & female slaves by age categories,
& the number of foreigners (not naturalized) in each home.
1830
The 1830 census included the name of a head of household; the number of free white
males & females in specific age categories; the name of a slave owner &
number of slaves owned by them; the number of male & female slaves by age categories;
the number of foreigners (not naturalized); & the number of deaf, dumb, and
blind persons in each home.
1840
The 1840 census included the name of a head of household; the number of free white
males & females in specific age categories; the name of a slave owner &
number of slaves owned by them; the number of male & female slaves by age categories;
the number of foreigners (not naturalized); the number of deaf, dumb, & blind
persons; the number & age of each person receiving a military pension; &
the number of persons attending school.
1850
The 1850 census listed the names of EVERY person in a household, for the first time.
The census was started 01 JUN 1850. The categories included the following for each
person: name; age as of the census day; sex; color; birthplace; occupation; value
of real estate; whether married within the previous year; whether deaf, dumb, blind,
or insane; whether a pauper; whether able to read or speak English; & whether
the person attended school within the previous year. No relationships between members
of a household were given.
1860
The 1860 census listed the name of every person in a household starting on 01 JUN
1860. The categories included the following for each person: name; age as of the
census day; sex; color; birthplace; occupation; value of real estate; value of personal
estate; whether married within the previous year; whether deaf, dumb, blind, or
insane; whether a pauper; whether able to read or speak English; and whether the
person attended school within the previous year. No relationships between members
of a household were given.
1870
The 1870 census listed the name of every person in a household starting on 01 JUN
1860. The categories included the following for each person: name; age as of the
census day; month of birth if born during 1870; sex; color; birthplace; occupation;
value of real estate; value of personal estate; whether married within the previous
year; month of marriage if married within the previous year; whether deaf, dumb,
blind, or insane; whether able to read or write; whether father or mother were of
foreign birth; & whether the person attended school within the previous year.
No relationships between members of a household were given.
1880
The 1880 census listed the name of every person in a household starting on 01 JUN
1860. The categories included the following for each person: name; age as of the
census day; month of birth if born during 1880; relationship to the head of house;
name of street and number of house; sex; color; birthplace; occupation; marital
status; whether married within the previous year; whether temporarily or permanently
disabled; whether crippled, maimed, or deformed; time unemployed during 1880; whether
deaf, dumb, blind, or insane; whether able to read or write; birthplace of father
and mother; & whether the person attended school within the previous year. The
indexes/Soundex to this census included only those families with children ten years
of age or younger. Those with a different surname in the household were included.
1890
An act of March 1, 1889, provided that the Superintendent of Census in taking the
Eleventh Census should "cause to be taken on a special schedule of inquiry,
according to such form as he may prescribe, the names, organizations, and length
of service of those who had served in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of the United
States in the war of the rebellion, and who are survivors at the time of said inquiry,
and the widows of soldiers, sailors, or marines." If you are lucky enough to
have one for your county then each schedule ask the following information: name
of the veteran (or if he did not survive, the names of both the widow and her deceased
husband); the veteran's rank, company, regiment or vessel, date of enlistment, date
of discharge, and length of service in years, months, and days; post office and
address of each person listed; disability incurred by the veteran; and remarks necessary
to a complete statement of his term of service. Practically all of the schedules
for the States Alabama through Kansas and approximately half of those for Kentucky
appear to have been destroyed, possibly by fire, before the transfer of the remaining
schedules to the National Archives in 1943. The schedules listed the name of each
Union soldier, sailor, marine, or widow of a veteran in a household; the veteran's
rank; company; regiment or vessel; dates of enlistment and discharge; length of
service in years, months and days; post office address; nature of disability, if
any; and remarks.
1900
The 1900 included the name of every person in a household & their ages; relationship
to the head of house; name of street and number of house; sex; color; birthplace;
occupation; marital status; number of years in the U.S.; birthplace of father and
mother; whether parents were of foreign birth; whether able to read or write, speak
English, or attended school within the previous year; month of birth for individual;
number of years married; number children born to mother and number of living children.
In some instances the names of large cities also appear.
1910
The 1910 census included the name of every person in a household & their ages;
relationship to the head of house; name of street & house number; sex; color;
birthplace; occupation; marital status; number of years in the U.S.; birthplace
of father and mother; whether parents were of foreign birth; whether able to read
or write speak English, or attended school within the previous year; number of years
married, number of children born to a mother, & number of children still living
as of 1910. In some instances the names of large cities also appear.
1920
The 1920 census included the name of every person in a household & their ages;
relationship to the head of house; name of street & house number; sex; color;
birthplace; occupation; marital status; number of years in the U.S.; birthplace
of father and mother; whether parents were of foreign birth; whether able to read
or write, speak English, or attended school within the previous year. The original
census includes defects that affect the legibility & the original schedules
no longer exist. The census films are said to have been reproduced by the NARA (National
Archives and Records Administration) from high quality negatives from the Census
Bureau.
