Federal census records are among the most useful sources for genealogical research. Taken every ten years beginning in 1790, they provide snapshots of families and communities, showing where people lived, the size and composition of their households, and, in later years, such details as occupations, birthplaces, property ownership, and family relationships.
The earliest censuses recorded only the names of household heads, with other household members counted by age and sex. Beginning in 1850, census records identified individual household members by name, making it much easier to follow families from one generation to the next.
Census records are not always accurate. Ages and names may vary from one enumeration to another, individuals may be missing or recorded in unexpected households, and township and county boundaries changed over time. Even so, comparing successive censuses can reveal births, deaths, marriages, migrations, and changes in family circumstances.
This section brings together census records I’ve collected and transcribed in the course of researching my ancestors and the communities where they lived. I’ve included original records and household information where available, along with notes and observations that may be helpful to other researchers. It isn’t intended to be a comprehensive collection, but rather a place to share the records I’ve worked with.