CENSUS RECORDS

Federal censuses in Nebraska began in 1860 and continued every ten years thereafter. They are currently available through 1920 (except for the mostly destroyed 1890 census). All but the 1910 census are indexed in at least one format. The Nebraska State Historical Society has the original enumerations for the territorial censuses. Territorial censuses are available for 1854, 1855, and 1856 and are indexed in Nebraska and Midwest Genealogical Records. All volumes of this now defunct publication are at the Nebraska State Historical Society. A few counties were recorded in censuses taken in 1867, 1874, 1875, 1878–79.
Microfilmed copies of the 1885 state census are at the Nebraska State Historical Society and the National Archives. The original 1885 population and special schedules are housed at the National Archives. They include the names of all members of each household and encompass agricultural, industrial, and mortality schedules. Although this census is not currently indexed, the researcher can use the 1886 Nebraska Gazetteer and Business Directory Index, on microfilm at the Nebraska State Historical Society, as a fairly accurate guide to the 1885 census. This is an alphabetical index listing farmers and businessmen in Nebraska. There is also an 1890 Nebraska Gazetteer and Business Directory, which lists farmers and businessmen by towns and counties. Microfilmed copies of these gazetteers are available by interlibrary loan.
Required by law, school censuses are taken every year in Nebraska. Many counties are available at the Nebraska State Historical Society, some complete and some fragmented. Some are also available on microfilm at the FHL.

Nebraska Research Sources

Nebraska State Genealogical Society. Nebraska: A Guide to Genealogical Research. Lincoln: the society, 1984.
Perkey, Elton A. Perkey's Nebraska Place Names. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, 1982.
White, John Browning. Published Sources on Territorial Nebraska: An Essay and Bibliography. Vol. 23, Nebraska State Historical Society Publications. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, 1956.

Archives, Libraries and Societies
Nebraska State Historical Society/State Archives Division, 1500 R Street, P.O. Box 82554, Lincoln, NE 68501

National Archives-Central Plains Region, 2312 East Bannister Road, Kansas City, MO 64131