Federal Censuses for Family History
The u.s. government takes a population count every ten years. Census records are available to the public for 1790 to 1920 (except most of the 1890 census, which was destroyed in a fire). Census records after 1920 are not readily avail- able.
Microfilmed census records and indexes to them (arranged by state) can be found in the National Archives and its regional branches, the Family History Ubrary and its family history centers, and in many public and private libraries across the nation. A census index is often the best source for locating individu- als and families whose residence is not known. Census information is often the only way to distinguish individuals with the same given name. It is usualJy best to begin a census search in the most recently available census records ( 1920) and to work from what is already known about a family.
Many states took their own censuses. State census records are usualJy available on microfilm in the state archive or state historical society in the state in which the census was taken.
Catalogs
Four catalogs produced by the National Archives Trust Fund Board are especial- ly helpful in conducting research in federal census records. Each catalog may be purcha.~ed for a small fee from the National Archives
Trust Fund, NEPS Dept. 735, P.O. Box 100793, Atlanta, GA 30384. They are:
.The 1790-1890 Federal Population Censuses: Catalog of National Archives Microfilm.
.1900 Federal Population Census: A Catalog of Microfilm Copies of the
Schedules-
.The 1910 Federal Population Census: A Catalog of Microfilm Copies of the Schedules.
.The 1920 Federal Population Census: Catalog of National Archives Microfilm.
An index system called the Soundex is the key to finding names of individuals in the 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 federal censuses. The Soundex indexe.o; include heads of households and persons of different surnames in e-..ch household. Soundex indexentrie.o; are arranged on microfilmed cards. Names are arr.m~ed first in Soundex code order and then alphabetically by first name of the head of household For each person in the house, the Soundex card should show the name, race, age, birthplace, citizenship Status and other biographical details, depending on the year of the census. The cards also provide the volume numbet; enumeration district numbet; and page and line number that Ie-.td back to the original census schedule.
Soundex Coding a Surname
To search for a name, it is necessary to detennine its Soundex code. Every Soundex code consists of a letter and three numbers; for example, S655. The letter is always the first letter of the surname. The numbers are assigned according to the Soundex coding guide below.
I B, P, F, V
IC.S,K,G,J,Q,X,Z 3 D,T 4 L
5 M,N 6 R
The letters A, E, 1,0, U, W, Y, and H are disregarded. Consonants in each sur- name which sound alike have the same code.
Use of Zero in Coding Surnames A surname that yields no code numbers, such as Lee, is LO 00; one yielding only one code number, such as Kuhne, takes two zeros and is coded as K500; and one yielding two code numbers takes just one zero; thus, Ebell is coded as E140. No more than three digits are ever used, so Ebelson would be coded as £142, not E1425.
Names With Prefixes Because the Soundex does not treat prefixes consistently, sur- names beginning with, for example, Van, Vander, Von, De, Di, or Le may be listed with or without the prefix; search for both possibilities.
Mc- and Mac- are not con- sidered prefixes.
Adjacent Letters Having the Same Equivalent Number When two key letters or equiva- lents appear together or one key letter immediateiy follows or precedes an equivalent, the two are coded as one letter with a single number. pfeiffer, for example, is coded P160. Because thep and thefare both coded a.~ 1, onlyone (P) is used.
The letters e and j separate the coded Pj from the second and third appearance of the letter J, so one of these is coded. The double fi; again require that only one be considered in the code. The letter r is represented by 6, and in the absence of additional consonants, the code is rounded off with a zero. Different Names Within a Single
Code Different surnames may be included within the same Soundex code. For example, the names Scherman,
Schurman, and Sherman are indexed together a.~ s655 and will appear with other surnames, such as Sauerman or

Sermon. Names that do not sound alike may be included within a single code: Sinclair, Snegolski, and Sanislo are all coded as S524. 1790 Census --
Begun on 2 August 1790, the count wa.~ extended untill March 1792.
Questions asked: Name of family head; number of free white males 16 years and older; number of free white males under 16; number of free white females; number of slaves; number of other persons; sometimes town or district of re.~i- dence.
The 1790 census identified, by ~e brackets, free white males 16 years of age or older and those under 16.
Additionally, the first census wa.~ to count the number of free white female.~; all other free persons regardless of race or gen- der; and slaves.
1800 Census
Begun on 4 August 1800. Questions asked: Name of family head; number of free white males and females in age categories 0 to 10, 10 to 16, 16 to 26, 26 to 45, 45 and older; number of oiher free persons (except Indians) not taxed; number of slaves; town or district and county of residence.
Most 1800 census entries are arranged in the order of visitation, but some have been rearranged to appear in alphabetical order by initial letter of the surname.
1810 Census
Begun on 6 August 1810. Questions a.'iked: Name of family he-ad; number of free white males and females in age categories 010 10, 10 to 16, 16 to 26, 26 to 45, 45 and older; number of other free persons (excepllndians) not taxed; number of slaves; town or dislrict and county of residence.
1820 Census
Begun on 7 August 1820. Questions a.~ked: Name of family head; number of free while males and females in age calegories 010 10, 10 to 16, 1610 18, 16 10 26, 26 to 45, 45 and older; number of other free persons (except
Indians) not taxed; number of slaves; town or district and county of residence. Additionally, the 1820 census for the first time asked the number of free white males 16 to 18; number of persons not naturalized; number engaged in agri- cullllre, commercial, or manufacture; number of .'colored" persons (some- times in age categories); number of other persons (except Indians).
1830 Census
Begun on 1 June 1830. Questjons asked: Name of head of household; number of free white malc.~ andfemale.~ in age categoriesO to 5.5 to 10,10 to 15,15 to 20, 20 to 30, 30 to 40, 40 to 50, 50 to 60, 60 to 70, 70 to 80, 80 to
90, 90 to 100, over 100; number of slaves and free ..colored" persons in age cate-
Stories; categories for deaf, dumb, and blind persons and aliens; town or dis- trict; county of residence.
1840 Census Begun on I June 1840. Questions asked: Name of head of household; number of free white males and females in age categories 0 to 5, 5 to 10, 10 to 15, 15 to 20, 20 to 30, 30 to 40, 40 to 50, 50 to 60, 60 to 70,
70 to 80, 80 to 90, 90 to 100, over 100; number of slaves and free .'colored" ;persons in age cate- gories; categories for deaf, dumb, and blind persons and aliens; town or dis- trict; county of residence. Additionally, the
1840 census asked ages of revolution- ary war pensioners; number of individuals engaged in mining, agriculture, com- merce, manufacturing and trnde, navigation of the ocean, canals, lakes and rivers, learned profes.'iions and engineering; number in school, number in family over age 21 who could not read and write, and number of insane.
1850 Census- Begun on I June 1850. Questions asked: Name; age; sex; color; territory or country of birth; whether the peThOn attended school or was married within the year; whether the person could read or write if over age twenty; whether the person was deaf-mute, blind, insane, or "idiotic"; whether or not a fugitive from the state; and real estate value. The census also asked the occupation of males over age fifteen. Separate slave schedules for 1850 asked the name of each slave-owner, the number of slave.~ owned, and the number of slaves manu- mitted (relea.o;ed from slavery). While the schedules, unfortunately, do not name individual slaves, they a.o;ked the age, color, sex, and whether or not slaves were deaf-mute, blind, insane, or idiotic; and whether or not a fugitive from the state. t86OCensus Begun on I June 1860. Questions asked: For all free persons, the census a.c;ked: name; age; sex; color; occupation of persons over age fIfteen; value of real estate; value of personal estate; name of state, territory, or country of birth; whether married during the year; whether deaf-mute, blind, insane, an "idiot," a pauper, or a convict. Information in slave schedules is the same as those for 1850.
1870 Census
Begun on I June 1870. Questions asked: The 1870 census fonn called for dwelling houses to be numbered in the order of visitation; families numbered in order of visitation; and the name of every person whose place of abode on the first day ofJune 1870 wa.~ with the family. The census further asked the age of each individual at the last birthday. If a child was under one year of age, months of age were to be stated. Additionally, the census asked the sex, color, profes- sion, occupation or trade of every person. There were also columns for disclo- sure of value of real estate and personal property. The 1870 census asked for the place of birth, specifiC'd!ly in which state or territory of the United States, or in which country if foreign born (including the province if born in
Germany) ; whether or not the father and the mother of the individual was foreign born; if an individual was born or married within the year, the month in which the event occurred wa.~ to be entered; who had attended school within the year; could

not read; could not write; and the deaf and dumb, blind, insane and the ..idiot- ic" were to be identified. The schedules identified any male citizen of the U.S. of age 21 and older, and any male citizen of the United States age 21 and older whose right to vote was denied or abridged on grounds other than rebellion or other crime.
1880 Census
Begun on I June 1880. Questions asked: For each person, the census asked name; whether white, black, mulatto,
Indian, or Chinese; sex; age; month of birth if born within the year; relationship to the head of the household; whether single, married, widowed, or divorced; if married within the year; occupation and months unemployed; name of state, territory, or country of birth; parents' birthplaces; school attendance within the year; if unable to read if age ten or older; and if sick or temporarily disabled on the day of enumeration and the reason therefor. Those wbo were blind, deaf-mute,
..idiotic," insane, or penna- nently disabled were also indicated as such.
1890 Census
Begun on 1 June 1890. Questions asked: The surviving 1890 schedules pro1;ide the address, number of families in the house, number of persons in the house and family. 1ndi1;iduals are listed by name; whether a soldier, sailor, or marine during the Civil War; and if Union or Confederate or if the widow of a veteran; relati.onship to head of family; race; sex; age; marital status; whether married during the year; if a mother, number of children and number living; place of birth of the indi1;idual and his or her parents; if foreign born, how many years in the
United States; whether naturalized or in the process of naturalization; profession, trade, or occupation; months unemployed during census year; abili- ty to read and write; ability to speak English; if not, language or dialect spoken; whether suffering from acute or chronic disease (if so, name of disease and length of time afilicted) ; whether defective in mind, sight, hearing, or speech; or whether crippled, maimed, or deformed (with name of defect); whether a prisoner, con1;ict, homeless child, or pauper; whether the home is rented or owned by the head or a member of the family (if so, whether mortgaged) ; if the head of family was a farmer, if he or a family member rented or owned the farm; and, if mortgaged, the post office address of the owner.
1900 Census
Begun on I June 1900. Questions a.'iked: The 1900 population schedules pro- vide dIe name of each person in the household; addre.'is; relationship to dIe head.of dIe household; color or race; sex; mondI and year of birth; age at last birthday; marital status; number of years married; total number of children born of dIe mother; number of dIose children living; places of birth of each individual and dIe parents of each individual; if dIe individual was foreign born, the year of immigration and dIe number of years in dIe United States; citizenship status of foreign-born individuals over age 21; occupation; whether dIe person could read, write, and speak
English; whether dIe home was owned or rented; whedIer dIe home was on a farm; and whedIer the home was mortgaged.
1910 Census--- Begun on 15 Apri11910. Questions asked: The 1910 census schedule.~ record each person's name and relationship to the head of household; sex; color or race; age at Ia.~t birthday; marital status; length of present marriage; if a mother, number of childrel1 and l1umber of living childrel1; birthplace and parents' birthplaces; if foreign borl1, year of immigration and citizenship status; laIJ- guage spoken; occupatiOI1; type of industry employed in; whether employer, employee, or self-employed; number of weeks unemployed in 1909 if applica- ble; ability to read and write; if attended daytime school since 1 September 1909; if home was rented or owned; if owned, whether free or mortgaged; if home was a house or a farm; if a veteran of the Union or
Confederate army or navy; if blind in both eyes; if deaf and dumb. The Indian schedule also recorded the tribe and/or band.
1920 Census
Begun on 1 january 1920. Questions asked: Name of street, avenue road, etc.; house number or farm; number of dwelling in order of visitation; number of family in order of visitation; name of each person whose place of abode was with the family; relationship of person enumerated to the head of the family; whether home owned or rented; if owned, whether free or mortgaged; sex; color or race; age at last birthday; whether single, married, widowed, or divorced; year of immigration to United States; whether naturalized or alien; if naturalized, year of naturalization; whether attended school any time since 1 September 1919; whether able to read and write; place of birth; mother tongue; father's place of birth; father's mother tongue; mother's place of birth; mother's mother tongue; whether able to speak English; trade, profession, or particular kind of work done; industry, business, or establishment in which at work; whether employer, salary or wage worker, or working on own account; number of farm schedule.
For detailed information on census records and how to use them, see Loretta Dennis Szucs and Sandra
Hargreaves Luebking, eds., The ,Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy, rev. ed. (Salt Lake City:
Ancestry, 1997).