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Census records are primary, contemporary evidence collected from living individuals either through person-to-person interviews or through completed forms. Censuses provide a wealth of genealogical information for family history researchers, and lots of statistics for government and social researchers. Now that the 1930 census is available, you might even find living relatives in it! When and why did the federal census begin and what does it contain? The first census was taken in 1790 in response to a Constitutional provision that “Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included with this Union, according to their respective Numbers” and it was to be taken every ten years thereafter. (See the U.S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 2.) The earliest federal censuses (1790-1840) were quite simple and had little more than the name of the head of the household and totals for the number of family members falling into categories by age and sex. Beginning with the 1850 census, a lot more information was provided. Data varies among the censuses for 1850 through 1990, but now you can generally expect to find the name, age, sex, and birthplace of each family member; values of personal and real estate; literacy level; occupation; naturalization; and more. Some years even saw special federal schedules that included slave, agriculture, and mortality information. Initially, only the original, paper copies of the censuses were available for researchers to use. Access improved as the censuses were transcribed and published in book form or the originals were simply microfilmed and widely copied. Even so, much time and money could be spent getting the data that was important to you. The addition of indexes and publication on the Internet have made federal censuses readily accessible to anyone with a computer. What a boon for family researchers! To look for your family and explore the electronic versions of the federal censuses on-line,
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If you enjoy going to physical research sites or are putting together a research library for yourself, rest assured that census records are available elsewhere in addition to being posted on-line. Federal censuses are still available on microfilm and can be purchased, (Census Microfilm Expediters), borrowed through inter-library loan, can be used on-site at places like the National Archives in Washington, D.C. or the many branch libraries (History Research Centers) of the Mormon (LDS) Church. Published versions, in book and CD-ROM format, are also available for many states and years. Published works that are annotated can provide you with a great deal of additional information to what the census alone can give you. Try: 1900 Population Census of Montgomery County, Maryland. Together with extensive explanatory notes, cross-references to other census enumerations, and genealogical information from the files of the compiler. William Neal Hurley, Jr. The late Mr. Hurley was an excellent transcriber and researcher of Maryland records, with nearly 60 Maryland census and genealogy books to his credit. Census data is also available on Native Americans. If you have Native American ancestry, records such as these can be valuable in helping you trace your people into the past. HB Digital Microfilm: New York Indian Censuses 18861924 - With an Introduction by Carol Anne Buswell, M. A. The original microfilm copy has been transferred to CD-ROM for increased convenience of handling and use with today’s computer technology. This CD contains images of actual Indian Office (later the Bureau of Indian Affairs) census schedules for 1886 to 1924. Other countries have also taken census data on their citizens. Each country has its own interval cycle for collecting the data. Canada and the United Kingdom, both of whom take census tallies as the United States does, operate on time schedules that are different from each other as well as different from the U.S. Not all records are as readily available as those in the U.S., however. 1901 Canadian Census Ontario: Cardwell Compiled by Canadian Heritage and Genealogy Enterprises. Several pertinent facts stand out about the 1901 Canadian census; one, that it was intended to be the most comprehensive listing of the population to date and two, because post 1901 censuses were taken under a statute which provided that the information collected would never be released, it may well be the last document of its kind available to the public. The U.S. Federal Government is not the only institution to collect census data. State governments also gathered information for their own purposes. Using both federal and state censuses is a great way to track your ancestors’ movements around America. |
