Grandpa, Where Are You? - Census Records
by Betty R. Darnell

This is one in a series of researching tips taken from presentations by Betty R. Darnell, a noted local historian and genealogist. These notes are copyrighted by her.

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What’s available?

Population census schedule

1790 – first census of the U.S. Records were destroyed by fire during War of 1812. First Census of KY, 1790, C. B. Heineman (Baltimore: Southern Book Co., 1956) – index of 1790s tax lists.

1800 – second census. Records destroyed during War of 1812. Second Census of KY, 1800, G. G. Clift (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1966) - index of 1800 KY tax lists.

1810-1840 – heads of household only, with household members groups by sex and age.

1850-1880 – census names every member of household.

1890 – census destroyed by fire in 1921.

1900-1930 – census names every member of household; census is released to public after 72 years.

Special census schedules

Slave Schedule (1850, 1860)

Mortality Schedule (1850-1880, for 12 months prior to census; e.g., 1 June 1849 through 31 May 1850)

Agriculture Schedule (1840-1910; 1900 and 1910 destroyed)

Manufacturing Schedule (1820, 1880)

Industry Schedule (1850, 1860, 1870; replaced Manufacturing Schedule)

Pensioners (on 1840 Population Schedule)

1880 DDD Schedule (Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent; 7 sections: Insane, Idiots, Deaf-mutes, Blind, Homeless children, Inhabitants in prison, Paupers and indigent persons in institutions)

1890 Veterans Schedule

State Census (none for KY; listed in The Source, 1984 edition, pp. 113-118)

Indian Census, 1840-1942 (listed in The Source, 1984 edition, pp. 110-112)

Where are the records?

• Population and special census schedules for KY are on microfilm at the Archives room, Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives and at the KY History Center, both at Frankfort.

• Population schedules for all states are on microfilm at many large libraries, such as Sons of the American Revolution Library, Louisville, and New Albany-Floyd County Public Library.

• There are printed indexes for many of the population schedules. 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 censuses have been indexed by a soundex code. The indexes are available on microfilm at large libraries.

• Many of the population schedules have been published by societies or individuals

• Images of the Population schedules for the U.S. can be accessed on the Internet, at Ancestry.com (fee-based service, or free at some libraries), or at HeritageQuestOnline (free access at many libraries, or free remote access with a library card)

• Copy all information; may give you a clue later. Forms for copying census information are available at many libraries, as well as on the Internet.

Citations

An example:

1870 U. S. Census, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, Randol Township, page 23, Augustus Thompson household; image, HeritageQuestOnline, from National Archives microfilm M593, roll 765, page 178.

References

1. Map Guide to the Federal Censuses, 1790-1920, William Thorndale and William Dollarhide (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1992)
2. The Handybook for Genealogists (Logan UT: Everton, various editions). Gives dates of establishment of all U.S. counties, parent counties, county seats, availability and location of records.
3. The Census Book, William Dollarhide (Bountiful UT: Heritage Quest, 2000. Detailed information about each census, and forms to be used for copying census information.