The 1860 US federal census is the last one taken before the Civil War. It is slightly more descriptive than previous censuses, but not as descriptive as post-Civil War ones. Here are some of the...
Category - Census Research
An In-Depth Look at the 1870 US Federal Census
The 1870 US federal census is a valuable tool for genealogists looking for their families in America just after the Civil War. It is a census of a few important firsts, as well as one of a...
A Quick Guide to Using the US Census for Genealogy
Are you a genealogy beginner? If so, have you used the US census yet? Have you ever heard of the US census? This is a brief outline of what the census is and what it can do for you in your...
The 1880 US Federal Census: A Closer Look
The 1880 US census was the first of its kind in several ways. The most important is that it was the first to ask a number of highly detailed questions about each individual person who was enumerated...
Exploring the 1910 US Federal Census
The 1910 US Federal Census is an invaluable genealogical research tool. Whether you have used it before, or are just getting to it for the first time, it has some hidden gems in it that can add a lot...
Getting the Most Out of the 1930 US Census
The 1930 census has some hidden gems in it. If you have used it before, or if you are new to it, there is information there that you may miss if you don’t comb the census with a fine-toothed...
Tips for Getting the Most Out of the 1940 Census
Have you used the 1940 census in your family history research? If you have been doing genealogy for a while, you probably have used it many times. Whether you are experienced with it or are new...
Search Tricks for Locating Your Ancestors in an Online Census
If your ancestors are not easily found in the census, it doesn't mean they aren't there. The beauty of searchable online indexes is that you can search in a variety of ways to find your ancestors and...
The Secrets of the 1840 Census, Revealed
Have you explored the 1840 U.S. federal census in your genealogy research? If not, you should. Here is a list of amazing family history information it contains.
What Happened to the 1890 Census, and What You Can Use to Fill in Its Blanks
What happened to the 1890 census? It may be gone, but that doesn't mean you have to miss out on 20 years of your ancestors' lives. Use these records instead.
3 Ways to Make the Most Out of Your Census Research
Have you used the census in your genealogy? Even if you have, go back & look at it again. It has a lot to reveal. Here are 3 ways to get the most out of it.
European Censuses
Do you have ancestors who lived in Europe and you want to find out more about them? Consider researching European censuses. Here's what you need to know.
5 Substitutions for the 1890 Census
Most of the 1890 U.S. Federal Census was destroyed in a fire in the 1930's. This leaves a large, annoying 20-year gap in census records for genealogists.
Finding Unnamed Ancestors on the 1790-1840 Censuses
The 1790-1840 census records only listed heads of household by name. However, that does not mean you can't put together a list of who was in the household. You just look at other clues like these.
Genealogy Data: Frequently Occurring Surnames from Census 2000
The U.S. Census Bureau publishes a list of frequently occurring surnames from Census 2000. (Note: this data is from the 2000 census.) You can look through the list below of surnames that may show how...