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United States Bureau of the Census
May 2000

Availability of Census Records About Individuals


Introduction
The U.S. population census records contain a wealth of information about people. They are useful in learning about one's family and local social and economic conditions at various times in history. For more recent years especially, they are official documents for persons who need to prove their age (in the absence of a birth certificate), relation-ship, citizenship, residence, and other facts in order to qualify for pensions; get jobs, naturalization papers, pass-ports, or insurance policies; establish an inheritance; or trace ancestry. There was a population census taken in 1790 and every 10th year after that. (Page 3 lists the items covered in the existing censuses for each year.) The U.S. Census Bureau publication, 200 Years of U.S. Census Taking: Population and Housing Questions, 1790-1990 (Washington, DC, 1989), shows the specific questions and the way they appear on the records. It also reproduces instructions given to the enumerators for taking each census.

This Factfinder explains what census materials are available and how to obtain them and also lists the sources for some other useful records about individuals.
Census Schedules Available to the Public

Individual records from the Federal population censuses are confidential for 72 years, by law (Title 44, U.S. Code). Thus, April 2002 is the scheduled date for the National Archives to open the 1930 records to public use.

Microfilm copies of the original population schedules, from 1790 through 1920 (virtually all of the 1890 records were destroyed in a 1921 fire), are available
at the National Archives in Washington (http://www.nara.gov) and its 13 region-al archives (see page 4), and many libraries in various parts of the United States. Most have facilities for making paper copies from the microfilm. The National Archives also rents and sells the microfilm rolls (see below). The Reference Branch at National Archives headquarters (see listing on page 4) will accept photocopy orders by mail, given exact page numbers; it will not do research.
There are Soundex (that is, by the sound of the surname rather than its spelling) indexes on microfilm for the 1880, 1900, and 1920 censuses for each state, and for 1910 for 21 states, principally in the South. Ten Southern States, plus a few counties in West Virginia and Kentucky were soundexed for 1930. Alphabetic indexes to the 1790-1860 and most of the 1870 censuses are available in genealogical libraries. Most states began keeping a more accurate birth registration in the early 1920s.
Researchers may find two U.S. Census Bureau publications useful; most major libraries have copies. Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790 (12 vols.,
Washington, DC, 1907-1908, reprinted 1965-75), contains specific names. A Century of Population Growth–1790-1900 (Washington, DC, 1909, reprinted 1967-1970), includes the incidence of surnames in 1790, and a variety of summary tables from colonial censuses from 1790 to 1900.

A number of state and territorial census-es were taken in the intradecennial years, particularly in the 19th century.
See Henry J. Dubester, An Annotated
Bibliography of Censuses Taken After the Year 1790, by States and Territories of the United States (Washington, DC,
1948, reprinted 1969 and 1975) and State Census Records, Ann S. Lainhart, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1992. An appendix to the Dubester book tells where the existing records (some including names) were located; copies of many can be obtained commercially on microfiche.
Some 19th century economic, agriculture, and mortality census schedules have survived, mainly in state archives but generally are available on microfilm. These records frequently can be related to individuals listed in the population
censuses.
Microfilm Rental and Sales
Rental. The National Archives rents microfilm copies of historical records to libraries and individuals. These copies are of Federal population census schedules 1790-1920; Soundex indexes, 1880-1920; Revolutionary War compiled military service records; and pension and bounty-land-warrant application files. For details, contact the National Archives Microfilm Rental Program, P.O. Box 30, Annapolis Junctions, MD 20701-0030, telephone 301-604-3699.

Sales. Microfilmed copies of census schedules, 1790-1920, and Soundex indexes, 1880-1920, can be purchased from the Customer Service Center (NWCC2), College Park, MD 20740; telephone 800-234-8861. The office has catalogs, prices, and ordering information.
Access to Closed Records
The Census Bureau can release details from recent files in the form of official transcripts, but only to the named per-sons, their heirs, or legal representatives. There is a congressionally mandated fee for this service. Since by
U.S. Department of Commerce
Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

law, this census information is confidential and collected only for statistical purposes, it is exempt from the disclosure provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act. This means that no one can gain access to confidential census records or avoid the search fees through these acts. Transcript application forms (BC-600) may be obtained from the following:

Personal Census Search Unit
U.S. Census Bureau
P.O. Box 1545 Jeffersonville, IN 47131 812-218-3046 Fax: 812-288-3371

History Staff
U.S. Census Bureau Washington, DC 20233 301-457-1167

Census Bureau regional offices Atlanta, GA 404-730-3832 Fax: 404-730-3835

Boston, MA 617-424-0510 Fax: 617-424-0547

Charlotte, NC 704-344-6142 Fax: 704-344-6515

Chicago, IL 708-562-1350 Fax: 708-562-1788

Dallas, TX 214-640-4400 Fax: 214-640-4433

Denver, CO 303-969-6750 Fax: 303-969-6777

Detroit, MI 313-259-1158 Fax: 313-259-5045

Kansas City, MO 913-551-6728 Fax: 913-551-6789

Los Angeles, CA 818-904-6393 Fax: 818-904-6427

New York, NY 212-264-3860 Fax: 212-264-3862

Philadelphia, PA 215-656-7550 Fax: 215-656-7575

Seattle, WA 206-553-5837 Fax: 206-553-5857

National Archives and regional branches (see page 4)

Many social security and post offices have blank forms
Other Sources
Some of the major types of information not found in census records, and their sources, are the following:
Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records, U.S. and outlying areas
Birth and death records, Americans overseas
Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records, foreign
Immigration or naturalization records, 1906 to present
(earlier records are held by local courts)
Birth records of aliens, children adopted by U.S. citizens
Death records of members of U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, or Coast Guard
Military records from World War I and later (those prior to World War I a
re in the National Archives) Selective Service records
U.S. Government civilian personnel whose service ended after 1909
Historical map records, family and local histories, and other historical records
Homestead applications, ships' passenger lists, American Indian tribal census rolls
See U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' annual
"Where to Write for Vital Records...,"
DHHS Publication (PHS) [year]-1142 (Customers may purchase this through GPO), http://www.cdc.gov/nchswww
Correspondence Branch
Passport Services
U.S. Department of State Washington, DC 20522-1705
American citizens:
Correspondence Branch
Passport Services
U.S. Department of State Washington, DC 20522-1705
Aliens:
Nearest consular office of the Country in question
Immigration & Naturalization Service U.S. Department of Justice Washington, DC 20536
National Personnel Records Center (Military Personnel Records)
9700 Page Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
Military Records Division
National Personnel Records Center 97in the
Page Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63132
Records Manager
National Headquarters Selective Service System Washington, DC 24035
Civilian Personnel Records National Personnel Records Center
111 Winnebago
St. Louis, MO 63118
Geography and Map, and Local History & Genealogy Division Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20540
Textual Reference Branch National Archives & Records Administration
Washington, DC 20408
Detailed information on Archives holdings of the above and other useful materials about individuals can be found in "Using Records in the National Archives for Genealogical Research," NARA/General Information Leaflet No. 5 (Rev. 1990; free), "Military Service Records in the National Archives of the U.S.," NARA/General Information Leaflet No. 7 (Rev. 1985); Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives (Rev. 1985; for sale) and other NARA family history research tools available from Archives Customer Services Center (see page 4).

Besides these Federal sources, persons interested in researching their families or communities also should consider some of the following: local and state historical societies, local and state libraries, the American Association for State and Local History in Nashville, TN, Ancestry, Inc., in Salt Lake City, UT, and various other associations, bookstores, and publishers.

2 CFF-2 U.S. Census Bureau
Population Census Items 1790-2000
(Includes only those supplemental schedules still in existence; excludes questions asked on a sample basis only––the long-form questionnaire.)
1790
Name of family head; free white males of 16 years and up; free white males under 16; free white females; slaves; other persons.

1800
Names of family head; if white, age and sex; race; slaves.

1810
Name of family head; if white, age and sex; race; slaves.

1820
Name of family head; age; sex; race; foreigners not naturalized; slaves; industry (agriculture, commerce, and manufactures).

1830
Name of family head; age; sex; race; foreigners not naturalized; slaves; industry.

1840
Name of family head; age; sex; race; slaves; number of deaf and dumb; number of blind; number of insane and idiotic and whether in public or private charge; number of persons in each family employed in each of six classes of industry and one of occupation; literacy; pensioners for Revolutionary or military service.

1850
Name; age; sex; race; whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, or idiotic; value of real estate; occupation; birthplace; whether married within the year; school attendance; literacy; whether a pauper or convict.

Supplemental schedules for slaves, and persons who died during the year.

1860
Name; age; sex; race; value of real estate; value of personal estate; occupation; birthplace; whether married within the year; school attendance; literacy; whether deaf and dumb; blind, insane, idiotic, pauper, or convict; number of slave houses.

Supplemental schedules for slaves, and persons who died during the year.

1870
Name; age; race; occupation; value of real estate; value of personal estate; birthplace; whether parents were foreign born; month of birth if born within the year; month of marriage if married within the year; school attendance; literacy; whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, or idiotic;
male citizens 21 and over, and number of such persons denied the right to vote for other than rebellion.

Supplemental schedule for persons who died during the year.

1880
Address; name, relationship to family head; sex; race; age; marital status; month of birth if born within the census year; occupation; months unemployed during the year; sickness or temporary disability; whether blind, deaf and dumb, idiotic, insane, maimed, crippled, bedridden, or otherwise disabled; school attendance; literacy; birthplace of person and parents.
Supplemental schedules for persons who died during the year.

1890
General schedules––destroyed.

Supplemental schedules for Union veterans of the Civil War and their widows.

1900
Address; name; relationship to family head; sex; race; age; marital status; number of years married; for women, number of children born and number now living; birthplace of person and parents; if foreign born, year of
immigration and whether naturalized; occupation; months not employed; school attendance; literacy; ability to speak English; whether on a farm; home owned or rented and if owned, whether mortgaged.

1910
Address; name; relationship to family head; sex; race; age; marital status; number of years of present marriage for women, number of children born and number now living; birthplace and mother tongue of person and parents; if foreign born, year of immigration, whether naturalized, and whether able to speak English, or if not, language spoken; occupation, industry, and class of worker; if an employee, whether out of work during year; literacy; school attendance; home owned or rented; if owned, whether mortgaged; whether farm or house; whether a survivor of Union or Confederate Army or Navy; whether blind or deaf and dumb.

1920
Address; name; relationship to family head; sex; race; age; marital status; if foreign born, year of immigration to the U.S., whether naturalized, and year of naturalization; school attendance; literacy; birthplace of person and parents; mother
tongue of foreign born; ability to speak English; occupation, industry, and class of worker; home owned or rented; if owned, whether free or mortgaged.

1930
Address; name; relationship to family head; home owned or rented; value or monthly rental; radio set; whether on a farm; sex; race; age; marital status; age at first marriage; school attendance; literacy; birthplace of person and parents; if foreign born language spoken in home before coming to U.S., year of immigration, whether naturalized, and ability to speak English; occupation, industry, and class of worker; whether at work previous day (or last regular working day); veteran status; for Indians, whether of full or mixed blood, and tribal affiliation.

1940
Address; home owned or rented; value or monthly rental; whether on a farm; name; relationship to household head; sex; race; age marital status; school attendance; educational attainment; birth-place; citizenship of foreign born; location of residence 5 years ago and whether on a farm; employment status; if at work, whether in private or nonemergency government work, or in public emergency work (WPA, CCC, NYA, etc.); if in private work, worked in week; if seeking work or on public emergency work, duration of unemployment; occupation, industry, and class of worker; weeks worked last year, income last year.

1950
Address; whether house is on farm; name; relationship to household head; race; sex; age; marital status; birthplace if foreign born, whether naturalized; employment status; hours worked in week; occupation, industry, and class of worker.

1960-1970
Address; name; relationship to household head; sex; race; age; marital status.

1980-1990
Address; name; household relationship; sex; race; age; marital status; Spanish/Hispanic origin or descent.

2000
Address; home owned or rented; name; house-hold relationship; sex; age; birth date; race; Spanish/Hispanic/Latino origin or descent.
Transcripts ordinarily show age (not birth date) at the time of the census,
gender, relationship to the householder, and––where requested––race. If obtained in the particular census, state or country of birth (but not place), citizenship, or occupation can be listed as well. A "full schedule" showing all of the information collected for one individual in a given census (see page 3 for questions) can be ordered at extra cost.

The records are organized geographically, rather than by name, so except
for those censuses that have indexes (see page 2), addresses are necessary to find them. Thus, the U.S. Census Bureau's files cannot be used to locate missing persons, obtain addresses (prohibited by law in any case), or even discover how many people have the same surname.

The Census Bureau publication, Age Search Information (Washington, DC, 1990), has details about this service and also discusses other possible sources of data about individuals.
Factfinder for the Nation
Inquiries about census data.
The U.S. Census Bureau publishes data summarized for various geographic units (as distinguished from information about individuals) in considerable detail in printed reports (paper or microfiche), on computer tape and cartridges, diskettes, compact discs, and online through the U.S. Census Bureau's Internet site (http://www.census.gov). These statistics are useful in assessing
U.S. Census Bureau CFF-2 3
local, regional, and national conditions at the time of a census. The latest publications (most of them sold by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402) are described in the Census
Bureau's annual Census Catalog and Guide; a separate catalog available in many libraries lists reports covering the period 1790 to 1972. There are over 1,500 Federal and U.S. Census Bureau depository libraries in the United States that have reference collections of these materials. The Census Bureau's regional offices and state data centers and the International Trade Administration's
district offices also have current reports on hand.

Questions about these and other Census Bureau products may be directed to:
Customer Services Center
Marketing Services Office
U.S. Census Bureau Washington, DC 20233 301-457-4100
Fax: 301-457-4714

For more information. Two Factfinders in this series explain the Census Bureau's past and present, respectively-CFF-4, "History and Organization," and
CFF-18, "Bureau Programs and Products." CFF-5, "Reference Sources," includes prices and ordering information for some publications useful to family and local historians. Single copies of Factfinder may be obtained free from the History Staff (see
page 2).

Questions, comments, or suggestions about any of the U.S. Census Bureau's activities are welcomed and may be addressed to:

Director
U.S. Census Bureau Washington, DC 20233

NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION HEADQUARTERS AND REGIONAL BRANCHES
(Business hours: 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., M-F; contact each office to find out about extended hours)
Washington, DC Headquarters NARA 7th & Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC 20408
202-501-5400
http://www.nara.gov
Reference Branch
Telephone 202-501-5400
Customer Services Center
Telephone 800-234-8861
Fax: 301-713-6169

Pacific Region NARA (San Francisco) 10 Conte Dr.
1000 Commodore Dr.
San Bruno, CA 94066-2350
650-876-9009
E-mail: archives@sanbruno.nara.gov
(Serves CA [except southern CA], HI, NV
[except Clark county], Pacific Ocean NARA—Northeast Region
area)

NARA—Northeast Region (Pittsfield)
Pittsfield, MA 01201-8230
413-445-6885
E-mail: archives@pittsfield.nara.gov
(Microfilm only)

NARA—Rocky Mountain Region
Building 48, Denver Federal Center
West 6th Ave., and Kipling St.
Denver, CO 80225-0307
303-236-0817
Send correspondence to
P.O. Box 25307
Denver, CO 80225-0307
E-mail: center@denver.nara.gov
(Serves CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY)

(New York City)
201 Varick St.
New York, NY 10014-4811
212-337-1300
E-mail: archives@newyork.nara.gov
(Serves NJ, NY, PR, VI)

NARA—Mid Atlantic Region
(Center City Philadelphia)
900 Market St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107-4292
215-597-3000
E-mail: archives@philarch.nara.gov
(Serves DE, MD, PA, VA, WV)

NARA—Southeast Region
1557 St. Joseph Ave.
East Point, GA 30344-2593
404-763-7477
E-mail: center@atlanta.nara.gov

NARA—Southwest Region
(Fort Worth)
501 West Felix St., Building 1
Fort Worth, TX 76115-3405
817-334-5525
Send correspondence to—
P.O. Box 6216
Fort Worth, TX 76115-0216
E-mail: archives@ftworth.nara.gov
(Serves AR, LA, NM, OK, TX)

NARA—Great Lakes Region
7358 South Pulaski Rd
Chicago, IL 60629-5898
773-581-7816
E-mail: archives@chicago.nara.gov
(Serves IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI)

NARA—Pacific Alaska Region
(Seattle)
6125 Sand Point Way, NE
Seattle, WA 98115-7999
E-mail: archives@seattle.nara.gov
(Serves ID, OR, WA)

NARA—Northeast Region (Boston)
380 Trapelo Rd.
Waltham, MA 02452-6399
781-647-8104
E-mail: archives@waltham.nara.gov
(Serves CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT)

Regional Records Services Facilities
NARA—Pacific Alaska Region —
654 West Third Ave.
Anchorage, AK 99501-2145
907-271-2441
E-mail: archives@alaska.nara.gov
(Serves Alaska)

NARA—Pacific Region
(Laguna Niguel)
24000 Avila Rd.,
1st Floor-East Entrance
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677-3497
(Serves AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN)
Send correspondence to—
P.O. Box 6719
Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-6719 .
949-360-2641
E-mail: archives@laguna.nara.gov
(Serves AZ, southern CA counties of Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles,
Orange, Riverside, San Bernadino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura; Clark County,
NV)
206-526-6501

4 CFF-2 U.S. Census Bureau

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