Category Archives: Census Research

Federal Census Research: 1930

Until the release of the 1940 federal census this coming April, the 1930 schedule is the latest census available to researchers. Make the most of your research by understanding the questions and context of this population schedule. Click here to … Continue reading

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Federal Census Records: Understand the Details

To make the most of your census research, you’ll want to develop a strategy based on a solid understanding of each census year. Here are some details you may not have considered, but that can impact the effectiveness of your … Continue reading

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Federal Census Records: What Will You Find?

No single group of records in the United States provides more information about an individual or family in the 19th and early 20th centuries than the federal census. Although information varies from year to year, you can find a remarkable … Continue reading

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Federal Census Records: Nuts and Bolts

To understand what you find in the census, you need to understand some basic terminology.

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Federal Census Records: High Tech!

The easiest and most convenient way to access federal census records these days is online, and there are a variety of options available. Ancestry.com . This is probably the best-know family history website, with the most complete collection of census … Continue reading

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State Historical Society of Iowa Announces Census Program

Genealogists and historical researchers are eagerly anticipating the release of the 1940 U.S. Census on 2 April 2012. Statistics from a census can be invaluable for gaining a historical snapshot of life in the U.S. In addition to names, addresses … Continue reading

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Federal Census Records: 1940

We want to move backwards through time as we research our family, remember? The federal government does not release census information for seventy-two years. So until now, researchers could only access the census through 1930. But guess what? This year, … Continue reading

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Federal Census Records: Index Options

If you want to use microfilm copies of the federal census for your family history research, you will first need to narrow your search by consulting an index. There are a variety of options available. Keep in mind that most … Continue reading

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Federal Census Records: The Old-fashioned Way

These days, it’s pretty easy to access Federal census records. The original enumeration schedules and federal copies for 1790 to 1870, and the surviving fragments for 1890, are housed at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in Washington, D.C. … Continue reading

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Federal Census Records: History

The desire of a government to count its people is as old as civilization itself. The ancient Babylonians, Egyptians, Chinese and Greeks are all known to have counted their inhabitants on a regular basis. Perhaps the most famous example is … Continue reading

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