census 101

I got this information from my good friend when I was first learning.

One of the most useful tools in research is the census. U.S. Federal Census began in 1790. The U.S. is the first country to have a federal census. Census were taken to determine how many representatives each state would receive. The census are available from 1790 to 1930. Each census year has a different information. The 1880 census was destroyed in a fire in Washington D.C.

When reading a census remember:

1. That the female head of household is not always the mother of the children listed.
2. Surname spellings may vary. Not everyone could read and write and many did not know the spelling of their name so the census taker spelled the name.
3. County lines changed with population and might have become part of a new state.

overview of census

1790 First time recorded- about 2/3 of the census survive today. Losses were in Del., Ky., Va., N.J., and Ga.

1830 First time census were sent to Washington D.C according to a law passed by Congress.

1840 Shows veteran history

1850 First time every member of the household was recorded. Family relationships were not recorded. Be aware that children listed may not be children head of house. First time place of birth is recorded

1880 first time family relationships are recorded. Also, place of parents birth is recorded.

1890 census destroyed in fire. However, information can be gathered through tax, voting, phone directory records.

1900 census records for the first time immigration year, number of children born, number living, language spoken in home.

1910 census records military information, number of years married, naturalized or alien. First time Native Americans recorded in general census. Native Americans had other census.

1920 census records for firs time all states and territories. National origin recorded. Many country origins were difficult to identify by citizens because the world map had changed. For example citizen who emigrated from Prussia is now Poland.

1930 census records families with radios and value of home

This is just a basic summary of the census.

Also there are state census records. Many states had their own census for tax purposes. These census were recorded every ten years but different years than the federal census.

Its free

I love to look through census reports. You can find great things in a census. I have been searching for Robert's family on census records ever since I started. I can find the him when he is older but I can't find him in a census with his parents. For a long time I thought he was an only child. His obituary didn't mention any siblings, only his parents.

And of course you can tell I have found a gold mine of information through the census. I tracked my great great grandfather back and forth looking for his parents because the trail stopped with them. I couldn't ever find them recorded. One day my friend called to tell me that she might have found a brother of Robert my gg-grandfather. So I searched and searched and low and behold it is his brother!

So now I searched the brother back and forth. This is were the Civil War pension records came in so handy. I confirmed that they were brother because his mother filed for the pension. I got a look at the whole pension and found out when his father died and that his mother remarried.

Then I looked harder at the census records. I found a sister Robert lived with and then followed her backwards only to find another sister on the same census as the first sister. I then followed that sister forward and found that these sisters and their families moved together. Any time there was a move both families moved! And both sisters named their children after their parents or siblings.

So be sure to check the whole census. You might just find family you didn't know you had! Follow each of the children, you can find lots of things this way. Sometimes you can find a parent living with a sibling! Keep looking and later or sooner you will find something great!

And a great place to look though the census reports is at the library. You can long on from home and they have a free searchable data base called Heritage Quest. They also have other great books and things to look through!