Census Records
Census records can provide the building blocks of your research. The first Federal Population Census was taken in 1790, and has been taken every ten years since. Because of a 72-year restriction on access to the Census, the most recent year available is 1950. The 1950 Census was released on April 1, 2022.
The National Archives has the census schedules available from 1790 to 1950, and most have now been digitized by our digitization partners. Family researchers generally find it most helpful to begin with the most current census and work backwards as a strategy for locating people in earlier generations.
What do you want to do today?
What are people asking on History Hub about Census Records?
- Help me find the 1950 census record for Stanley Frederick Kass and Sylvia Bressler Kass who were married and are my grandparents.
- Were prisoners (specifically in Concord NH) enumerated in the US Federal Population Census of 1830? The Marshal's instructions are vague.
- 1890 Queen Anne's County Maryland census
- 1910 Census for John C. O'Brien Chicago Illinois
- Coosa county slaves around coosa county Alabama,last name Leonard,whetstone,Hoyett.. Ephraim Leonard, Essie Hoyett,Lonnie whetstone... between 1850 -1900