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Accessing Census Records for Free

 

You should have no problem searching and accessing the U.S. Federal Census for free, using the tips provided here. Note: Viewing many of these documents requires Adobe Acrobat reader. Download free here. 

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If you are browsing a census and need help determining which Enumeration District, use this handy tool: https://stevemorse.org/census/unified.html

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See also: Decennial Census Official Publications

 

Countdown to the release of the 1950 census, Friday, April 1, 2022!!

Norman Rockwell - Census Taker art print

State Census

Most States performed their own census, usually at various times. Some can be found on my pages containing resources for each state. (Click here to choose a state). Others you may be able to find by doing a simple search.

 

According to census.gov, the following State Censuses were taken:

  • Alabama - 1818, 1820, 1821, 1823, 1850, 1855, 1866, 1907. (Google Search)

  • Alaska - 1870, 1878, 1879, 1881, 1885, 1887, 1890-95, 1904-07, 1914, 1917. (Google Search)

  • Arizona - 1866, 1867, 1869, 1872, 1874, 1876, 1880, 1882. (Google Search)

  • Arkansas - 1823, 1829, 1865, 1911. (Google Search)

  • California - 1788, 1790, 1796, 1797-98, 1816, 1836, 1844, 1852. (Google Search)

  • Colorado - 1861, 1866, 1885. (Google Search)

  • Connecticut - No state census records are known to exist. (Google Search)

  • Delaware - 1782. (Google Search)

  • District of Columbia - 1803, 1867, 1878. (Google Search)

  • Florida - 1825, 1855, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1935, 1945. (Google Search)

  • Georgia - 1798, 1800, 1810, 1827, 1834, 1838, 1845, 1852, 1853, 1859, 1865, 1879. (Google Search)

  • Hawaii - 1878, 1890, 1896. (Google Search)

  • Idaho - No state census records are known to exist. (Google Search)

  • Illinois - 1810, 1818, 1820, 1825, 1830, 1835, 1840, 1845, 1855, 1865. (Google Search)

  • Indiana - 1807, 1853, 1857, 1871, 1877, 1883, 1889, 1901, 1913, 1919, 1931. (Google Search)

  • Iowa - 1836, 1838, 1844, 1846, 1847, 1849, 1851, 1852, 1854, 1856, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925. (Google Search)

  • Kansas - 1855, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925. (Google Search)

  • Kentucky - No state census records are known to exist. (Google Search)

  • Louisiana - 1853, 1858. (Google Search)

  • Maine - 1837. (Google Search)

  • Maryland - 1776, 1778. (Google Search)

  • Massachusetts - 1855, 1865. (Google Search)

  • Michigan - 1837, 1845, 1854, 1864, 1874, 1884, 1888, 1894, 1904. (Google Search)

  • Minnesota - 1849, 1853, 1855, 1857, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1905. (Google Search)

  • Mississippi - 1801, 1805, 1808, 1810, 1816, 1818, 1820, 1822, 1823, 1824, 1825, 1830, 1833, 1837, 1840, 1841, 1845, 1850, 1853, 1860, 1866. (Google Search)

  • Missouri - 1797, 1803, 1817, 1819, 1840, 1844, 1852, 1856, 1860, 1864, 1876, 1880. (Google Search)

  • Montana - No state census records are known to exist. (Google Search)

  • Nebraska - 1854, 1855, 1856, 1865, 1869, 1885. (Google Search)

  • Nevada - 1862, 1863, 1875. (Google Search)

  • New Hampshire - No state census records are known to exist. (Google Search)

  • New Jersey - 1855, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915. (Google Search)

  • New Mexico - 1790, 1823, 1845, 1885. (Google Search)

  • New York - 1790, 1825, 1835, 1845, 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, 1925. (Google Search)

  • North Carolina - 1786. (Google Search)

  • North Dakota - 1885, 1915, 1925. (Google Search)

  • Ohio - No state census records are known to exist. (Google Search)

  • Oklahoma - 1890, 1907. (Google Search)

  • Oregon - 1842, 1843, 1845, 1849, 1850, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1859, 1865, 1870, 1875, 1885, 1895 1905. (Google Search)

  • Pennsylvania - No state census records are known to exist. Some local census and census substitutes are available. (Google Search)

  • Rhode Island - 1774, 1777, 1782, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1905, 1915, 1925, 1935. (Google Search)

  • South Carolina - 1825, 1839, 1869, 1875. (Google Search)

  • South Dakota - 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925, 1935, 1945. (Google Search)

  • Tennessee - 1891. (Google Search)

  • Texas - 1829-1836. (Google Search)

  • Utah - 1856. (Google Search)

  • Vermont - No state census records are known to exist. (Google Search)

  • Virginia - 1782, 1783, 1784, 1785, 1786. (Google Search)

  • Washington - 1856, 1857, 1858, 1860, 1871, 1874, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1883, 1885, 1887, 1889, 1891, 1892, 1898. (Google Search)

  • West Virginia - No state census records are known to exist. (Google Search)

  • Wisconsin - 1836, 1838, 1842, 1846, 1847, 1855, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1905. (Google Search)

  • Wyoming - 1875, 1878. (Google Search)

1790 Census

The 1790 census was America's first Federal Census. At the time, the Union consisted of only twelve states. Most of the south and west was owned by Spain. "New York City in 1790 possessed a population of only 33,131, although it was the largest city in the United States; Philadelphia was second, with 28,522; and Boston third, with 18,320". The total population was 3.9 million people in approximately 540,000 households [Source: 1790 Census Introduction​]. Schedules are available for Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Vermont. The census schedules for Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Virginia are believed to have been destroyed in the War of 1812, when the British attacked Washington, D.C.. There were no forms provided to the census takers and only a few vague facts were included: Name of family head; free white males of 16 years and up; free white males under 16; free white females; slaves; other free persons.

 

See a blank (generic) form here.

 

See the 1790 Census Helper to easily summarize results and calculate estimated birth years.

 

The 1790 Census can be searched and viewed at FamilySearch.org (click here). For those with access to HeritageQuest, the 1790 Census can can searched and viewed by logging in and clicking here. The rolls can also be browsed at Archive.org (click here). An index is also available (click here).  

1790 census helper

1800 Census

The 1800 census recorded only the following information: Names of family head; if white, age and sex; race; slaves.

 

It is reported that the following 1800 census records are missing:

Georgia (all counties), Indiana Territory (all), Kentucky (all), Maine (part of York County), Maryland (Baltimore County outside of Baltimore City), Massachusetts (part of Suffolk County), Mississippi (all), New Hampshire (parts of Rockingham and Strafford Counties), New Jersey (all), Northwest Territory (all), Pennsylvania (parts of Westmoreland County), South Carolina (Richland County), Tennessee (all), and Virginia (all). Source: The American Genealogist  1943-10: Vol 20 Iss 2, p. 121. 

 

View the blank form here.

 

See the 1800 Census Helper to easily summarize results and calculate estimated birth years.

 

The 1800 Census can be searched and viewed at FamilySearch.org (click here). For those with access to HeritageQuest, the 1800 Census can can searched and viewed by logging in and clicking here.

1800 census helper

1810 Census

The 1810 Census included the following information: Name of family head; if white, age and sex; race; slaves.

 

It is said that some parts of the 1810 census are missing. They are the Washington DC (District of Columbia, including Alexandria County, now in Virginia), Georgia (all counties), Illinois Territory (except Randolph County), Indiana Territory (all), Louisiana (all except Orleans Territory), Main (part of Oxford County), Michigan (all counties), Mississippi Territory (all, including Alabama), New Jersey (all counties), New York (Cortland County and part of Broome County), North Carolina (Craven, Green, New Hanover, and Wake Counties), Ohio (all counties), Pennsylvania (parts of Bedford County as well as Cumberland and Philadelphia Counites), Tennessee (all except Rutherford County), Virginia (Cabell, Grayson, Greenbrier, Halifax, Hardy, Henry, James City, King William, Lee, Louisa, Mecklenburg, Nansemond, Northampton, Orange, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Russell and Tazewell Counties. Also Alexandria County, then in DC). Source: The American Genealogist  1943-10: Vol 20 Iss 2, p. 121 and The American Genealogist  1944-01: Vol 20 Iss 3, p. 188.

 

View the blank form here.

 

See the 1810 Census Helper to easily summarize results and calculate estimated birth years.

 

The 1810 Census can be searched at FamilySearch.org (click here). For those with access to HeritageQuest, the 1810 Census can can searched and viewed by logging in and clicking here. The rolls can also be browsed at Archive.org (click here). An index is also available (click here).

1810 Census Helper

1820 Census

The 1820 Census included the following information: Name of family head; age; sex; race; foreigners not naturalized; slaves; industry (agriculture, commerce, and manufactures).

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Parts of the 1820 Census that are said to be missing include: Alabama (all counties), Arkansas Territory (all counties), Georgia (Franklin, Rabun and Twiggs Counties), Indiana (Daviess County), Maine (parts of Penobscot County, Washington County), Missouri (all counties), New Hampshire (Grafton County and parts of Rockingham and Strafford Counties), New Jersey (all counties), North Carolina (Currituck, Franklin, Martin, Montgomery, Randolph and Wake Counties), Ohio (Franklin and Wood Counties), and Tennessee (Anderson, Bledsoe, Blunt, Campbell, Carter, Claiborne, Coke, Grainger, Greene, Hamilton, Hawkins, Jefferson, Knox, McMinn, Marion, Monroe, Morgan, Rhea, Roane, Sevier, Sullivan and Washington Counties). Source: The American Genealogist  1944-01: Vol 20 Iss 3, p. 188.

 

View the blank form here. 

 

See the 1820 Census Helper to easily summarize results and calculate estimated birth years.

 

The 1820 Census can be searched at FamilySearch.org (click here) but in order to view the records you must subscribe to Ancestry.com. Alternatively, you can use the information from FamilySearch to locate the reel at Archive.org (click here). For those with access to HeritageQuest, the 1820 Census can can searched and viewed by logging in and clicking here.

1820 Census Helper

1830 Census

The 1830 Census included the following information: Name of family head; age; sex; race; foreigners not naturalized; slaves; industry.

 

See the blank form here. 

 

New! Check out the 1830 Census Helper to quickly and easily transcribe census results. You could be overlooking key information! Give it a try! 

 

The 1830 Census can be searched free at FamilySearch.org (click here), but in order to view the records you must subscribe to Ancestry.com. Alternatively, you can use the information from FamilySearch to locate the reel at Archive.org (click here). For those with access to HeritageQuest, the 1830 Census can can searched and viewed by logging in and clicking here.

1830 Census Helper

1840 Census

The 1840 Census included a little more information, including the following: Name of family head; age; sex; race; slaves; number of deaf and dumb; number of blind; number of insane and idiotic and whether in public or private charge; number of persons in each family employed in each of six classes of industry and one of occupation; literacy; and the names of pensioners for Revolutionary or military service.

 

See the blank form here. 

 

New! Try the 1840 Census Helper to quickly and easily transcribe census results. You could be overlooking key information! Give it a try! 

 

The 1840 Census can be searched at FamilySearch.org (click here), but in order to view the records you must subscribe to Ancestry.com. Alternatively, you can use the information from FamilySearch to locate the reel at Archive.org (click here). For those with access to HeritageQuest, the 1840 Census can can searched and viewed by logging in and clicking here.

1840 Census Helper

1850 Census

The 1850 Census collected the following information: Name; age; sex; race; whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, or idiotic; value of real estate; occupation; birthplace; whether married within the year; school attendance; literacy; whether a pauper or convict. See the blank form here. Also, supplemental schedules for slaves, and persons who died during the year, were also collected.

 

See the blank form here. 

 

The 1850 Census can be searched and viewed at FamilySearch.org (click here). For those with access to HeritageQuest, the 1850 Census can can searched and viewed by logging in and clicking here for the 1850 census.

 

Click here for the 1850 Slave Schedules can be found on Ancestry and for free on HeritageQuest.

Click here for the Mortality Schedules for those who died during the year previous to the census on HeritageQuest. 

Click here for Agricultural & Industrial Census Schedules taken from 1850-1880 on HeritageQuest.

1860 Census

The 1860 Census collected the following information: Name; age; sex; race; value of real estate; value of personal estate; occupation; birthplace; whether married within the year; school attendance; literacy; whether deaf and dumb; blind, insane, idiotic, pauper, or convict.

 

See the blank form here. 

 

Also, supplemental schedules for slaves, and persons who died during the year, were also collected. See the blank form here. The 1860 Census can be searched at FamilySearch.org (click here), but in order to view the records you must subscribe to Fold3.com. Alternatively, you can use the information from FamilySearch to locate the reel at Archive.org (click here). For those with access to HeritageQuest, the 1790 Census can be searched and viewed by logging in and clicking here for the census.

 

Click here for the the Slaves Schedules on HeritageQuest. 

Click here for the Mortality Schedules for those who died during the year previous to the census on HeritageQuest. 

Click here for Agricultural & Industrial Census Schedules taken from 1850-1880 on HeritageQuest.

1870 Census

The 1870 Census collected the following information: Name; age; race; occupation; value of real estate; value of personal estate; birthplace; whether parents were foreign born; month of birth if born within the year; month of marriage if married within the year; school attendance; literacy; whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, or idiotic; male citizens 21 and over, and number of such persons denied the right to vote for other than rebellion.

 

See the blank form here. 

 

Supplemental schedules for persons who died during the year were also collected. Click here for the Mortality Schedules (on HeritageQuest) for those who died during the year previous to the census.

 

The 1870 Census can be searched and viewed at FamilySearch.org (click here). The collection can also be browsed at Archive.org (click here). For those with access to HeritageQuest, the 1870 Census can can searched and viewed by logging in and clicking here. 

 

Click here for Agricultural & Industrial Census Schedules taken from 1850-1880 (on HeritageQuest).

1880 Census

The 1880 Census collected the following information: Address; name, relationship to family head; sex; race; age; marital status; month of birth if born within the census year; occupation; months unemployed during the year; sickness or temporary disability; whether blind, deaf and dumb, idiotic, insane, maimed, crippled, bedridden, or otherwise disabled; school attendance; literacy; birthplace of person and parents.

 

See the blank form here. 

 

Supplemental schedules for persons who died during the year were also collected. 

 

The 1880 Census can be searched at FamilySearch.org (click here), but in order to view the records you must subscribe to Ancestry.com. Alternatively, you can use the information from FamilySearch to locate the reel at Archive.org (click here). For those with access to HeritageQuest, the 1880 Census can can searched and viewed by logging in and clicking here. Click here for the Mortality Schedules for those who died during the year previous to the census being taken. Click here for Agricultural & Industrial Census Schedules taken from 1850-1880 (on HeritageQuest). 

1890 Census

The 1890 census was badly damaged in a fire at the Commerce Dept. Building in January of 1921. Only a few rolls survive. Read more here. The story about the fire is well documented here. 

 

To see the blank form, click here. 

 

For those with access to HeritageQuest, you can find some records by logging in and searching here. 

 

The 1890 Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War is one alternative to finding information from this period, for those involved with the war. The Veterans Census can be searched and viewed at FamilySearch.org (click here). 

1900 Census

The 1900 Census collected the following information: Address; name; relationship to family head; sex; race; age; marital status; number of years married; for women, number of children born and number now living; birthplace of person and parents; if foreign born, year of immigration and whether naturalized; occupation; months not employed; school attendance; literacy; ability to speak English; whether on a farm; home owned or rented and if owned, whether mortgaged.

 

To see the blank form, click here. 

 

The 1900 Census can be searched at FamilySearch.org (click here), but in order to view the records you must subscribe to Ancestry.com. Alternatively, you can use the information from FamilySearch to locate the reel at Archive.org (click here). For those with access to HeritageQuest, the 1900 Census can can searched and viewed by logging in and clicking here.

1910 Census

The 1910 Census offers the following information: Address; name; relationship to family head; sex; race; age; marital status; number of years of present marriage for women, number of children born and number now living; birthplace and mother tongue of person and parents; if foreign born, year of immigration, whether naturalized, and whether able to speak English, or if not, language spoken; occupation, industry, and class of worker; if an employee, whether out of work during year; literacy; school attendance; home owned or rented; if owned, whether mortgaged; whether farm or house; whether a survivor of Union or Confederate Army or Navy; whether blind or deaf and dumb.

 

To see the blank form, click here. 

 

The 1910 Census can be searched at FamilySearch.org (click here), but in order to view the records you must subscribe to Ancestry.com. Alternatively, you can use the information from FamilySearch to locate the reel at Archive.org (click here). For those with access to HeritageQuest, the 1910 Census can can searched and viewed by logging in and clicking here. 

1920 Census

The 1920 Census offers the following information: Address; name; relationship to family head; sex; race; age; marital status; if foreign born, year of immigration to the U.S., whether naturalized, and year of naturalization; school attendance; literacy; birthplace of person and parents; mother tongue of foreign born; ability to speak English; occupation, industry, and class of worker; home owned or rented; if owned, whether free or mortgaged. 

 

To see the blank form, click here. 

 

The 1920 Census can be searched at FamilySearch.org (click here), but in order to view the records you must subscribe to Ancestry.com. Alternatively, you can use the information from FamilySearch to locate the reel at Archive.org (click here). For those with access to HeritageQuest, the 1920 Census can can searched and viewed by logging in and clicking here.

1930 Census

The 1930 Census was taken in April and collected the following information: Address; name; relationship to family head; home owned or rented; value or monthly rental; radio set; whether on a farm; sex; race; age; marital status; age at first marriage; school attendance; literacy; birthplace of person and parents; if foreign-born language spoken in home before coming to U.S., year of immigration, whether naturalized, and ability to speak English; occupation, industry, and class of worker; whether at work previous day (or last regular working day); veteran status; for Indians, whether of full or mixed blood, and tribal affiliation.

 

To see the blank census form, click here.

 

The 1930 Census can be searched at FamilySearch.org (click here), but in order to view the records you must subscribe to Ancestry.com. Alternatively, you can use the information from FamilySearch to locate the reel at Archive.org (click here). For those with access to HeritageQuest, the 1930 Census can can searched and viewed by logging in and clicking here.

1940 Census

The 1940 Census offers the following information: Address; home owned or rented; value or monthly rental; whether on a farm; name; relationship to household head; sex; race; age; marital status; school attendance; educational attainment; birthplace; citizenship of foreign born; location of residence 5 years ago and whether on a farm; employment status; if at work, whether in private or non-emergency government work, or in public emergency work (WPA, CCC, NYA, etc.); if in private work, hours worked in week; if seeking work or on public emergency work, duration of unemployment; occupation, industry, and class of worker; weeks worked last year, income last year.

 

To view the blank census form, click here.

 

The 1940 Census can be searched and viewed at FamilySearch.org (click here) or at the National Archives (click here). For those with access to HeritageQuest, the 1940 Census can can searched and viewed by logging in and clicking here.

1950 Census

The 1950 Census is due to be released in April, 2022, in accordance to the "72-year rule", which prohibits the release of personally identifiable information collected by the U.S. Government until 72 years has gone by. (92 Stat.  915; Public Law 95-416; Oct. 5, 1978).

 

The 1950 census will provide us with the following information: Address; whether house is on farm; name; relationship to household head; race; sex; age; marital status; birthplace if foreign born, whether naturalized; employment status; hours worked in week; occupation, industry, and class of worker.

Indian Census Rolls

From 1885-1940, agents or superintendents of Indian Reservations submitted census rolls to the U.S. Government. More information can be found in the National Archives (click here). See also, the Index to the Final Rolls of Citizens and Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory. Search the Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1793-1999 (Click here). For those with access to HeritageQuest, you can search or browse the Indian Census Rolls by clicking here.

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