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Introduction and Census IndexesThe U.S. Federal Census began in 1790 and is taken every 10 years. The resulting census records are made available to the public 72 years after the census was taken. So the 1930 census became available in 2002. The 1940 census will be available in 2012. Most of the 1890 census was destroyed after being damaged following a fire. Otherwise federal census records are presently available for all census years from 1790-1930. These records have been microfilmed and are kept by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The microfilm rolls are available at NARA and its branches. They can also be obtained from LDS Family History Centers (for a nominal fee). Some commercial firms such as Ancestry have digitized the census records and provided online indexes for them. There are also some microfilm indexes (from NARA), book indexes, and a few other online indexes.Some Free Online Census Records Indexes Ancestry's US Census Collection 1790-1930 - Online Images & Indexes Information Found in Census RecordsCensus records can be helpful for a genealogy research project because they group families together and they provide clues for further research. From 1790-1840 only the head of household is named in the census. Other family members are listed by age group and gender. Starting with 1850 all persons that were counted are named in the census. For a summary of what information is given for each person in each census year see... US Census Records - Research Tips & Clues 1790-1930The census enumerator is the person who went around recording the people in the census. The enumerators were given detailed instructions by the Bureau of the Census. Reading these instructions can sometimes be helpful when examining the information given about people in census records, especially in the later years. See... Census Enumerator Instructions 1850-1950 State Census Records & Other CensusesSome individual states took their own censuses between the federal census years. Sometimes you can find census records for certain states for 1885 and 1895. Some earlier and later state censuses also exist. Occasionally you may also find special censuses that were taken. For example, in New York City, a census was done for Manhattan in 1890. Some of these non-federal censuses can be helpful as substitutes for the missing 1890 federal census. These kinds of censuses are not available for all states. For more information see... Information On Some State Census RecordsCensus Mortality SchedulesFor some states and some census years (1850-1880) the census enumerators recorded names and basic information of people who died in the year prior to the census being taken. For details see... US Census Records Mortality Schedules 1850-1880Blank Census FormsFree blank census forms can be downloaded from Ancestry here: Free Blank Census FormsThese are printable blank PDF forms for the 1790-1930 federal censuses plus the 1890 veterans census and 1850-1860 slave schedules |