U.S. Census Records: Tips, Resources & Online Records

Online Census Records (USA)
  • U.S. Federal Census Records, 1790-1950 Online (at Ancestry/requires payment; 1940 and 1950 censuses are free with registration) includes the following indexes and digitized images of the census records (from National Archives microfilm)...
    • Surviving 1790-1950 U.S. Federal Census Records (most of the 1890 census was destroyed)
    • Small Fragment of the 1890 U.S. Federal Census
    • 1890 Veteran's Schedules (Mostly Union Civil War Veterans or their Widows)
    • U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules 1850-1880 (records of deaths in the year prior to the census being taken; coverage varies)
    • 1850 and 1860 Slave Schedules of Slave Owners
Clues in Census Records State Census Records 1930 and 1940 Census Records Free Blank Census Forms, 1790-1950
The 1890 Census
  • 1890 Census Substitutes
    Research guide to help find alternate records around the time of the 1890 census. Includes information about State Census Records, city directories, the 1890 Civil War Veterans Census, and more.
  • 1890 Census an article at NARA that explains the history of the destruction of the 1890 census. Included is a listing of the surviving records.
Where are most American's ancestors from? + Cost of the Census Soundex Information
The U.S. Census records from 1880-1920 (and some states for 1930) were originally indexed (on microfilm) using the Soundex system...
  • What Does Soundex Mean? [on this website]
    Briefly describes the Soundex coding system. Included is a link to an online Soundex converter.
International Census Records