By the time the 1850 U.S. Census was taken, the United States was no longer a slow-growing collection of coastal settlements. It was a booming, restless, coast-to-coast land of contradictions. The...
Category - Census Research
Inside the 1840 Census
The 1840 U.S. Census might be early American recordkeeping’s most overlooked turning point. It still looks like the older ones—just one name listed, a page full of tick marks, and plenty of...
Inside the 1830 Census
By 1830, the United States had reached a new kind of maturity. For some, the Revolution was no longer in living memory, though a surprising number of veterans were still alive and tucked into...
Inside the 1820 Census
The 1820 U.S. Census rolled out during what historians often call the “Era of Good Feelings”—a peaceful name for a time that was anything but simple. The War of 1812 had ended just a few...
Inside the 1810 Census
In 1810, the United States was only 34 years into its existence and was still figuring things out—including how to count its people. That year marked just the third official census, and while the...
Fire, Conspiracy, and the Lost 1890 Census: What Went Wrong?
If you’ve ever traced your family history, you’ve probably encountered a frustrating gap in the records: the missing 1890 Census. Unlike other census years, which provide a continuous timeline of...
Inside the 1800 U.S. Census
The year 1800 was an exciting time for the United States. The country was brand new, only seventeen years out from the conclusion of the American Revolution. Many other countries, and even...
Inside the 1790 U.S. Census
The 1790 US federal census was the first one taken by the United States. It was a brand new country at the time, and this census, though brief and simple, shows what the population of the nation...
Unlocking Census Records (1790–1950)
Today, let's discover the invaluable insights census records from 1790 to 1950 offer genealogists and learn how to navigate, interpret, and incorporate them into your family history research.
Tracing Your Ancestry Through Australia’s Census Records
Census records are among the most valuable resources for genealogists. They offer a snapshot of society at specific points in time, recording details that help us trace our ancestors’...
The 1900 US Federal Census: A Closer Look
The 1900 US federal census is one of the most beloved and richly detailed of any of the US census records. It provides a treasure trove of valuable information that you can use to fill in some...
The 1820 US Federal Census — A Closer Look
The 1820 US federal census is the last one to not use pre-printed forms. Because enumerators often drew their own columns, it can sometimes be challenging to interpret the results of this census...
A Look at the 1850 US Federal Census
The 1850 US federal census was a historic one in a few important ways. The most important and obvious is that it is the first one to record the names of everyone in a household, not just the head of...
Everything You Need to Know About the 1890 US Federal Census
The 1890 census is famous for not being here for genealogists to use. At least, most of it is not available. There are a few fragments that still exist. If you are lucky enough to have ancestors in...
Diving Deep into the 1920 Census
If you are a veteran of using the 1920 US federal census or are just using it for the first time, there is hidden information in there that may prove useful to you as a genealogist. Here are some of...