Census Records

Census records are some of the best if not the best records to utilize in your family history research quest. The United States Constitution requires that a federal census is taken every ten years. Since 1790 a census has been conducted and most of those records are available for searching once 72 years have passed for privacy concerns.

The 1890 federal census is almost completely lost due to water damage trying to put out a fire in the Commerce Building on 19 Jan 1921. Almost all of the census was destroyed by government order by the mid 1930s. Fragments remain for Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas, and the District of Columbia. There are some missing records from both the 1800 and 1810 federal censuses as well; 1800 is missing GA, KY, NJ, TN and VA  while 1810 is missing the District of Columbia, Georgia, Mississippi, New Jersey, Ohio and almost all of Tennessee. 

Despite its missing records the census provides an every decade snapshot of a person over the course of his life, as a child, a young adult, married and finally his later years. Starting in 1850 every member of a household was identified by name, sex and age. There were property questions which revealed their real and personal property values. Starting in 1880 the relationship of each household member was referenced back to the head of household. In 1900 the month and year of birth of every person was recorded. 

Naturalization and immigration questions were asked over the years and 1900-1920 are particularly helpful when researching an immigrant ancestor. In 1900 and 1910 mothers were asked how many children they gave birth to and how many were still living. The length of a person’s current marriage was recorded in 1900 and 1910. Age at first marriage was asked in 1930. These can provide endless clues in finding marriage records.

The goal is to find every ancestor in each census that he appeared in over his life. This could  be several or just a single one. If an immigrant ancestor died young enough he may not appear in any census records at all. In addition to your direct line be mindful of looking for your ancestors’ other children. These collateral relatives may provide better insight into family dynamics and migration stories. 

Most states and a few localities also conducted censuses. The federal government subsidized part of the cost of 1885 censuses taken by the states of Colorado, Florida, Nebraska and the territories of Dakota and New Mexico. With the loss of the 1890 federal census this count became more helpful and important. 

Some states like New York and Iowa conducted censuses almost every five years in the middle of a decade; Iowa’s 1925 state census is possibly the best census ever conducted. It asks for the names of each person’s parents and details about their places of birth and marriage. 

Be mindful that in 1870 both New York City(Manhattan) and Philadelphia were allowed to conduct additional censuses because of complaints by their civic leaders that their cities were undercounted. Therefore, for example, the island of Manhattan was counted in Jun 18709 and following and then again in Dec 1870 into Jan 1871. 

In 1890, New York City(Manhattan and parts of the Bronx) were counted again from 19 Sep until 14 Oct 1890 by the NYC Police Department. This census included the name, age and sex of each individual in the home but did not list birthplaces or jobs. It is essential given the loss of the 1890 federal and 1892 state census for Manhattan and parts of the Bronx. 

Pay attention to each member of the household and do not dismiss a lodger or a boarder as not related. Oftentimes blood relatives are misidentified as such and only reveal their close relationship in subsequent records. In 1910 Patrick Charles was listed as Mary Gillen’s boarder. Later in the year when Mary died, Patrick buried her in a grave he had purchased a few years earlier. It would be odd to have a tenant bury his landlady. In the 1905 state census Patrick Charles was listed as Mary Gillen’s cousin which makes much more sense. Their mothers were sisters and both women interchangeably used the surnames Conry and Greaney. 

Another misidentification is of stepchildren with their father’s surname. Be mindful to look for your relatives under both their own surname and that of their stepfather even if they did not like him and he never adopted them legally.