United States Census
What is the United States Census?
The United States Census is a decennial (occurring every ten years) national survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. Its primary purpose is to count the entire population of the country and to collect detailed demographic, social, and economic information. The first U.S. Census was conducted in 1790, and it has been conducted every ten years since, as mandated by the U.S. Constitution.
US Federal Census Records
Census Bureau, NARA, Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, Fold3
Census instructions are rules to help collect information about people and homes correctly. They explain why the census is important, like helping the government make decisions and keeping your information private. These instructions tell workers which areas and homes to include, and what words like “household” mean.
They also guide workers on how to ask questions and write down answers correctly, and what to do if someone doesn’t answer. There are tips for counting people who move around a lot or don’t have homes and how to respect different languages and cultures. The instructions include checking for mistakes, following safety rules, using gadgets to collect data, and getting help if needed. This way, the census gives accurate information for making decisions and understanding history.
Information collected in various federal censuses from 1790 to the present
- Name of the head of the household.
- Number of free white males aged 16 and over.
- Number of free white males under 16.
- Number of free white females.
- Number of other free persons.
- Number of slaves.
- Similar to 1790 but with more detailed age categories for free white males and females.
- Adds categories for free white males and females by age groups.
- Number of foreigners not naturalized.
- Number of persons engaged in agriculture, commerce, and manufacturing.
- Further detailed age categories for free white males and females.
- Adds information about pensioners for Revolutionary or military services.
- Number of persons employed in various professions.
- Name, age, sex, color.
- Occupation.
- Value of real estate owned.
- Place of birth.
- Whether married within the year.
- School attendance.
- Literacy.
- Disabilities (deaf, dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, pauper, or convict).
- Name of the Slave Owner: The full name of the individual who owned the enslaved people.
- Number of Slaves: A count of the total number of enslaved individuals owned by the slave owner.
- Age of Each Enslaved Person: The age of each enslaved individual, listed separately.
- Sex: The gender of each enslaved person (male or female).
- Color: Designated as black or mulatto.
- Fugitives from the State: The number of enslaved individuals who had escaped from the state within the year.
- Number Manumitted: The number of enslaved individuals who had been freed within the year.
- Number of Slaves Deaf and Dumb, Blind, Insane, or Idiotic: Recorded if applicable.
Similar to 1850, adds value of personal estate.
The 1860 Slave Schedule was similar to the 1850 schedule but included a few additional details:
- Name of the Slave Owner: The full name of the individual who owned the enslaved people.
- Number of Slaves: A count of the total number of enslaved individuals owned by the slave owner.
- Age of Each Enslaved Person: The age of each enslaved individual, listed separately.
- Sex: The gender of each enslaved person (male or female).
- Color: Designated as black or mulatto.
- Fugitives from the State: The number of enslaved individuals who had escaped from the state within the year.
- Number Manumitted: The number of enslaved individuals who had been freed within the year.
- Number of Slaves Deaf and Dumb, Blind, Insane, or Idiotic: Recorded if applicable.
- Number of Slave Houses: The number of housing units or dwellings for the enslaved individuals on the property.
Limitations
- Lack of Names: The schedules did not record the names of the enslaved individuals, making it challenging to trace specific ancestors. Instead, the schedules listed them by age, sex, and color.
- Owner-centric: The focus was on the slave owners, with the enslaved individuals recorded as property.
- This was the first census conducted after the Civil War and the abolition of slavery. It includes formerly enslaved individuals by name, which is critical for African American genealogy.
- Similar to 1860 with additional information on parents of foreign birth.
- Whether male citizens over 21 had been denied the right to vote.
- Adds relationship to head of household. For the first time, the census recorded each person's relationship to the head of the household (e.g., wife, son, daughter, servant), clarifying family structures and connections.
- Marital status.
- Place of birth of the person and their parents.
- Exact address.
- Employment status during the year.
- For the first time, institutions like prisons, hospitals, and asylums were separately enumerated, offering a clearer picture of societal structures and the care provided to marginalized groups.
- Most of the 1890 census was destroyed in a fire, creating a significant gap in records.
- Birth month and year.
- Number of years married.
- Number of children born and number still living (for women).
- Home ownership status (owned or rented, mortgaged or free).
- Naturalization Status: Useful for tracking immigrant
Similar to 1900, adds questions about:
- Veteran status.
- Naturalization status.
- Language spoken.
Adds information on:
- Year of immigration.
- Naturalization year.
- Mother tongue. Provides insight into ethnic heritage
- Ability to read and write.
- Adds age at first marriage.
- Veteran status (and which war).
- Radio ownership.
- Detailed employment questions.
- Name, age, sex, color or race.
- Marital status.
- Birthplace.
- Employment status, occupation, and industry.
- Information about other household members.
- Name, age, sex, color or race.
- Marital status.
- Birthplace.
- Employment status, occupation, and industry.
- Information about other household members.
- Informant Knowledge: The accuracy of the information depends on the person providing it to the enumerator.
- Enumerators' Mistakes: Human error in recording information is possible.
What is the importance of the 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 Census when researching slavery?
The 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 U.S. Censuses are vital resources for researching slavery and the lives of African Americans during the transition from slavery to freedom. The 1850 and 1860 censuses include Slave Schedules, which, while not naming enslaved individuals, provide detailed information about their age, sex, and color, listed under their owners' names. These schedules help researchers understand the demographic distribution of enslaved populations and the scale of slavery's economic impact.
The 1870 Census is particularly significant as it is the first to list formerly enslaved individuals by name, along with detailed household information, including relationships, occupations, literacy levels, and property ownership.
This census marks the first federal enumeration after the abolition of slavery, offering a crucial snapshot of the lives of African Americans during Reconstruction. The 1880 Census builds on this by clearly defining relationships within households and recording the birthplace of each individual’s parents, providing further insights into family structures and migration patterns. Both the 1870 and 1880 censuses are invaluable for tracing African American lineages and understanding their socioeconomic conditions in the post-emancipation era. Together, these censuses offer a comprehensive view of the transition from slavery to freedom, enabling genealogists to link individuals listed in slave schedules to those named in post-emancipation records, thus providing continuity in family histories.
Register of Colored Person, 1866 State Enumeration of Inhabitants, Unpublished Census 1850-1860
FamilySearch
Alabama – Huntsville and Athens (claims agent) Census of black citizens and register of bounty claims received and forwarded, 1865, Jun-Jul 1868
Louisiana – Donaldsonville (agent and assistant sub assistant commissioner). Registers of black persons, undated
Owsley charts : master charts compiled from the unpublished census, 1850-1860
The Owsley Charts are detailed maps or tables created by a historian named Frank Lawrence Owsley, using data from the 1850 and 1860 censuses (which are official counts of the population). These charts are important because they give a deep look into what life was like in the Southern United States before the Civil War.
What Do the Owsley Charts Show?
1. Population: The charts show how many people lived in the South, including white people, free Black people, and enslaved Black people. This information is broken down by states and even smaller areas, so you can see how populations were spread out.
2. Wealth and Property: The charts detail how wealth was distributed among people in the South. This includes how much land people owned, how much money they had, and how many slaves they owned. It helps us understand who was rich and who wasn’t, and how much of the land and resources were controlled by a small number of people.
3. Land Ownership: Owsley’s charts provide specific information about land ownership, like how big people’s farms were and what they grew. This is important for understanding the agricultural economy, which was the main way people in the South made money at the time.
4. Slaveholding Patterns: The charts also show how many enslaved people were owned by different families. This data is crucial for understanding the role of slavery in the Southern economy and how it was connected to land ownership and wealth.
Mortality Schedules 1850-1880
Formerly in the Custody of The Daughters of American Revolution, and Related Indexes
1850-1880 included a mortality schedule enumerating the individuals who had died in the previous year. Because each of the censuses from 1850-1880 began on June 1, “previous year” refers to the 12 months preceding June 1, or June 1 (of the previous year) to May 31 (of the census year).
They serve not only as a record of who died and when, but also provide insights into the health conditions, prevalent diseases, and demographic shifts of the period.
- Georgia T655 Roll 7, 1850. Index & Schedules. Appling – Wilkinson Counties.
- Georgia T655 Roll 8, 1860. Index & Schedules. Appling – Worth Counties.
- Georgia T655 Roll 9, 1870. Index & Schedules. Appling – Worth Counties.
- GeorgiaT655 Roll 10, 1880 (pt.). Schedules. Appling – Franklin Counties.
- Georgia T655 Roll 11, 1880 (pt.). Schedules. Fulton – Pulaski.
- Georgia T655 Roll 12, 1880 (pt.). Schedules. Putnam – Worth Counties.
- Kentucky T655 Roll 13, 1850. Index & Schedules. Pendleton – Woodford Counties.
- Kentucky T655 Roll 14, 1860. Index & Schedules. Adair – Woodford Counties.
- Kentucky T655 Roll 15, 1870. Index & Schedules. Adair – Woodford Counties.
- Kentucky – 1870 – Jessamine-Woodford counties
- Kentucky T655 Roll 16, 1880 (pt). Index and Abstracts. A-Mere.
- Kentucky T655 Roll 17, 1880 (pt). Index and Abstracts. Meri – Z.
- Kentucky, T655 Roll 18, 1880 (pt). Schedules. Adair – Jackson.
- Kentucky T655 Roll 19, 1880 (pt). Schedules. Jefferson – Mason Counties.
- Kentucky T655 Roll 20, 1880 (pt). Schedules. Meade – Woodford Counties.
- Louisiana T655 Roll 21, 1850. Index & Schedules. Ascension – Vermilion Parishes.
- Another copy. Louisiana – 1850
- Louisiana T655 Roll 22, 1860. Index & Schedules. Ascension – Winn Parishes.
- Louisiana T655 Roll 23, 1870. Index & Schedules. Ascension – Winn Parishes.
- Louisiana T655 Roll 24, 1880 (pt). Index & Schedules. Index and Abstracts, A – Z. Schedules. Ascension – Natchitoches Parishes.
- Louisiana T655 Roll 25, 1880 (pt). Schedules. Orleans to Winn Parishes.
- Tennessee T655 Roll 26, 1850. Index and Schedules. Anderson to Wilson Counties.
- Tennessee T655 Roll 27, 1860. Index and Schedules. Anderson to Wilson Counties.
- Tennessee T655 Roll 28, 1880 (pt). Schedules. Anderson – Green Counties.
- Tennessee T655 Roll 29, 1880 (pt). Schedules. Grundy – Moore Counties.
- Tennessee T655 Roll 30, 1880 (pt). Schedules. Morgan – Wilson Counties.
What are Agricultural Schedules?
Agricultural Schedules are specifically designed to collect data related to agriculture. They focus on gathering information about farms, including the size of farms, types of crops grown, livestock numbers, and farming practices.
The frequency of Agricultural Schedules can vary, but they are often conducted annually or every five years, depending on the country and the specific requirements for agricultural data.
What are Population Census?
The Population Census is designed to count every person in a given area at a specific time. Its primary goal is to gather demographic information such as age, gender, race, marital status, education, and occupation.
Typically, the Population Census is conducted every 10 years in many countries.
Agricultural Schedules
Canada Censuses 1825-1931
Starting in 1851, most census records included the names of every resident, their country or province of birth, age and many other details.
Library and Archives Canada holds an extensive collection of Canadian census records from 1640 to 1926, and for Newfoundland from 1671 to 1945. Our holdings are listed in the sections below.
