Approximately 337,000 heads of household were listed in the 1850 federal census from four southern states, including 123,322 individuals from Alabama, 40,238 from Arkansas, 96,813 from Louisiana, and 76,709 from Mississippi.
The 1850 census is often considered the first modern census due to its improved techniques for collecting information. Enumerators were given printed instructions for the first time, detailing their responsibilities, census procedures, and the purpose of census questions. These instructions led to greater accuracy in the census record. If you find evidence of your ancestors in this database, you may be able to discover their property value, marital status, education, location of residence, occupation, and the names of other household residents.