Questions
What is a census?
What is a census index?
What information does this census index collection
contain?
What is the scope and value of this census index
database?
How can the actual census records help me in my family
history research?
What can I learn about my family from a census record?
Why am I unable to find certain individuals in census
schedules or in the indexes to them?
Which censuses are indexed in this collection?
If no federal census is available for the years I am
searching, where should I search?
What do I do when I find someone listed in the census
indexes?
What are some helpful tips when searching the indexes?
How accurate is this census data?
What are some common census mistakes or pitfalls to be
aware of while doing research?
Is there any way to receive census information for
schedules completed after 1920?
Responses
1. What is a census?
A census is defined as an official enumeration of the people of a nation,
state, district, or city, together with the collecting of statistics
concerning their property, nativity, age, sex, occupation, etc. Since
1790, the U.S. government has taken a nationwide population count every
ten years. Early censuses were essentially basic counts of inhabitants;
but as the nation grew, so did the need for statistics that would reflect
the characteristics of the people. Succeeding enumerations solicited
more information; by 1920, census enumerators asked twenty-nine questions
of every head of household and almost as many questions of everyone
else in the residence. Few, if any records reveal as many details about
individuals and families as do the U.S. censuses.
2. What is a census index?
Census indexes serve as the gateway to original and compiled records
by identifying where people lived. Few sources are as comprehensive
or easy to use. They are the first place most American genealogists
begin their research. Census and tax list indexes save time and can
lead to much more information.
3. What information does this census index
collection contain?
Like other indexes, the U.S. Federal Census Index database contains only a portion
of what is found in the records to which it refers. In this case, the
census indexes contain name, state and county (and often township) of
residence, census year and type, and page number where the individual
is found in the census record. It is important that researchers continue
on in their research to locate an individual in the census records themselves,
as they will contain more information and verify that the index entry
was correct. Even if an entry is not located in an index, researchers
should still check the census records for the appropriate locality in
the event indexers missed the individual.
The contents of each field in the database are described
below:
Year: The year in which the census was taken,
or, when dealing with "early" census records (see below),
the year recorded in the record serving as substitute.
Last Name, First Name: The last name and first
name of the individual being indexed. The First Name field will occasionally
contain middle names or initials, titles (like Rev. for Reverend or
Maj. for Major), or other descriptive information. Entries for which
the indexer was unsure of the actual spelling are marked with one or
more asterisks. Researchers finding asterisked entries should be especially
sure to verify the index entry against the census schedules themselves.
Township/Other Info: This field generally
describes the residence of the indexed entry in greater geographic detail.
Often times this description takes the form of a township, district,
division, enumeration district, or ward within a county or area (often
abbreviated in the field as "Twp.", "Dist.", "Div.",
"E.D.", and "W.", respectively. Occasionally this
field will contain descriptive information about the entry. For example,
entries indexing earlier censuses (i.e. 1790 Federal Censuses) may contain
statistical information about the other members of the household.
Record Type: A brief description of the type
of record being indexed. In most cases the record type is a federal
census population schedule. Other records, particularly for the "early
census" series, were also used. These include voter lists, probate
records, resident's lists, tax lists, state censuses, and non-population
schedules (i.e. veterans schedules, slave schedules).
Database: A description of the year, state,
and record from which the index material was created.
ID#: A unique identification number assigned
to each entry in the index. Researchers who would like to use our Feedback
Form to report inaccurate census entries must incorporate this ID# into
the form.
4. What is the scope and value of this census
index database?
The databases which comprise the U.S. Federal Census Indexes are one of the largest
sets of census indexes available. The broad time period and large number
of states covered make these indexes very important locator tools. Researchers
frequently use them to find ancestors when the researcher does not know
where they lived. You can sometimes identify a relative with no more
prior information than a name. The indexes often help trace the movements
of a family from state to state over many years. They are an easy way
to locate specific places where your ancestor lived and to identify
when they lived there. The broad nature of these indexes also makes
them valuable for identifying previously unknown places to search for
relatives. You may discover you have been searching the "wrong"
county or state and find new areas to try for further or larger clusters
of family members.
5. How can the actual census records help me in my
family history research?
Few records reveal as many details about individuals and families as
do the federal censuses. The census is often the best starting point
for further genealogical research. If nothing else, census records are
important sources for placing individuals in specific places at specific
times. When you can't find any family, vital, or religious records,
census records may be the only means to find any details of a person's
life.
6. What can I learn about my family from a census
record?
A census record provides information including the age, sex, race, occupation,
and birthplace of each person in a household. You can also find information
about whether or not members of the household attended school, are literate,
or married within the year. You might also find answers to these questions:
What is the name of the slave owner? What were the places of birth of
the person's parents? In what year did this person immigrate to the
United States and if naturalized, what was the year of naturalization?
7. Why am I unable to find certain
individuals in census schedules or in the indexes to them?
From the first enumeration in 1790 to the most recent in 1990, the government
has experienced difficulties in gathering the precise information it
desired for a number of reasons. At least one of the problems experienced
in extracting information from individuals for the first census continues
to vex officials today: There were and still are many people who simply
do not trust the government's motives. Many citizens have worried that
their answers to census questions might be used against them, particularly
regarding issues related to taxation, military service, and immigration.
Despite the wealth of information available in census
indexes, there are limitations. These include incomplete information,
mis-transcribed information, mis-recorded information, and incorrect
information. Reasons for these problems include persons who refused
to answer the enumerators questions, persons who lied in answer to the
enumerators questions, persons missed by the enumerators, and human
error in writing down the information originally or transmitting it
incorrectly.
8. Which censuses are indexed in this
collection?
Most U.S. states are covered in the AIS Census Index collection. The
data runs generally from 1790 to 1870, though many states have an "early
census" series, which are census substitutes compiled from tax
lists, probate indexes, and the like. These early records may cover
a time period in a state before federal censuses were taken. In addition,
some states have census indexes for later census years (Wyoming 1880,
Hawaii 1910, Colorado 1880, etc.). For a complete listing of the indexes
available online at Ancestry.com, see Census Records.
In addition to the prescribed enumeration, the census
records in this collection include three different types of questionnaires
or schedules. These are the mortality, veteran, and slave schedules.
MORTALITY SCHEDULES
Included in the 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 censuses were a separate
set of questions regarding those who died in the twelve months prior
to the enumeration. They list persons who died between 1 June - 31 May
of the year prior to the census. Even though these mortality lists are
widely believed to underreport the actual numbers of deceased, they
are still a valuable source of information. In many states where vital
records were not kept at that time, they provide a nation-wide death
register for each of five years between 1849 and 1880. The schedule
lists the deceased's name, sex, age, race, whether widowed or not, place
of birth, month of death, occupation, and cause of death. In 1870 the
parents' birthplace was added.
VETERAN SCHEDULES (1840-1890)
In 1840 a listing of living Revolutionary War veterans was included
in the census. This enumeration took the form of a handwritten list
recorded on the backside of the original printed census forms. Beginning
in 1870, the enumerators asked questions regarding Civil War veterans
and lists were compiled from these records. In both cases, only the
name of the veteran is available.
SLAVE SCHEDULES
In 1850 and 1860, an enumeration of slaves was performed in connection
with the federal census. Although each slave was individually numbered,
full names were rarely recorded. Organized by owner, each person was
listed with age, sex, and race. With these details, along with other
facts gathered outside the schedule, it is possible to locate a specific
person without actually finding their name.
9. If no federal census is available for
the years I am interested in, where should I search?
Remember that colonial, territorial, state, and other censuses may help
to fill in the gaps of unavailable Federal census indexes. Many of these
indexes are also available in the AIS Census Index collection. You may
try the census before or after the year you are searching. Often you
will find helpful information you are seeking there.
10. What do I do when I find someone
listed in the census indexes?
Remember than an index entry is only a reference to more detailed information
found in census records themselves. It is important that researchers
consult the actual census records to which these indexes refer.
All available census schedules, from 1790 to 1920,
have been microfilmed and are available at the National Archives in
Washington, D.C., at the National Archives' regional archives in twelve
states, at the LDS Family History Library and LDS family history centers
throughout North America, at many large libraries, and through microfilm
lending companies. Some state and local agencies may have census schedules
only for the state or area served.
11.What are some helpful tips when searching the
indexes?
Realize that the advanced search capabilities offered on our AIS Census Indexes page offer the researcher a number of powerful search
options. Researchers can search by first name only (especially helpful
with uncommon first names), by last name only, and by SOUNDEX-coded last name
(to account for spelling variation).
The collection allows researchers to search all
fifty states at the same time, though you may also choose to restrict
your search to a particular U.S. state. The search page also allows
you to filter your search to specific counties or even townships or
districts within a given county.
The results of a given census search can fill most
of your computer's screen. When printing out the results of a search,
set your browser to print the page in the "landscape" orientation
so important material is not lost off the margin.
12. How accurate is this census data?
Every effort has been made to make this volume as accurate as possible,
but some errors or omissions are inevitable in a work of this size.
Enumerator errors, spelling errors, or incorrect data may contribute
to inaccurate records, but every effort possible has been made to provide
a correct listing.
If an entry in the AIS Census Index is found to
inaccurately reflect the individual as listed in the census records
themselves, Ancestry has provided a Feedback Form where members can submit corrections. These will be reviewed
and posted periodically to improve the core index.
13. What are some common census mistakes
or pitfalls to be aware of while doing research?
Be aware that due to human error incurred at the time of enumeration
and at the compilation of an index, census data may contain misspellings,
undercounts, overcounts, false information, missing years and records,
and boundary confusions. But be patient, information can be located
and your research enhanced even with the problems of census data.
Even when people cooperate fully with census takers
and tax collectors, as most do, censuses and tax lists are still subject
to data errors. Researchers find misspelled names on almost all census
and tax records. Even when the census taker and census informant spoke
the same language, it doesn't mean they understood each other. Spelling,
even of names, was inconsistent two hundred years ago. William Shakespeare
signed his own name with three different spellings. A census taker late
for dinner on a long, hot, dusty, summer day may not care whether a
name is spelled STUART or STEWART.
Cope with this common problem by being flexible.
Consider unusual name spellings as candidates for a name that may be
missing from the schedule or index. When a researcher cannot find the
correct spelling, he should search using the SOUNDEX feature or other,
alternate spellings. If the census taker recorded the name incorrectly,
the most likely error was an incorrect vowel.
14. Is there any way to receive census
information for schedules completed after 1920?
To protect privacy of living individuals, access to population schedules
is restricted for seventy-two years after the census is taken, so they
are not available to researchers during that time. The Personal Service
Branch, Bureau of the Census, P.O. Box 1545, Jeffersonville, IN 47131,
will provide, for a fee, official transcripts of census records from
1930 to 1990. Access is restricted to whomever the information is about,
their authorized representatives, or, in the case of deceased persons,
their heirs or administrators. Use Form BC-600 to request information.
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