how to check census and what is a census also?

Question

I've heard and read that alot of people check census records for family history and genealogy help, but what is a census, and how do I search it (where do I begin), because I don't even know if I know what a census is, what it shows on one, and what information it would have on it.

ALSO.... how do you check census records? do you check these online, or at a library?

Answer 1

A census is an official counting of a state or country's citizens, used to gather demographic information about the population. The United States has been taking a census every 10 years since 1790. You probably filled out a census form that came in the mail last spring for the 2010 census, which asked you to provide certain information about the people in your household. Your ancestors did the same thing, every 10 years... and looking at their census records can give you a lot of information about them!



Each census asked different questions, depending on what type of demographic information the government was interested in at the time. The first census, in 1790, came shortly after the Revolutionary War, when the big concern was, "If we have to raise an army again, how many men of fighting age can we count on?" So this first census was very basic: it recorded the name of the head of household, and then tallied the number of males over 16, number of males under 16, total number of females, and number of slaves, if any. The 1800-1840 censuses were similar: only the head of household was recorded by name, and the other household members were recorded as tally marks under age and gender.



In 1850 and onwards, they did away with the tally marks and recorded the name of every household member, along with their age, gender, birthplace, occupation, and other info. In 1880 onwards, they asked not only for each person's birthplace, but also for the birthplace of each person's father and mother. In 1900, they asked even more genealogically-helpful questions: year of immigration and naturalization status; how many children each woman had given birth to, and how many were currently living. In 1930, they asked if the family owned a radio!



Here's a sample of the 1850 census:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3DAJUNADSXE/SmwPfz77n0I/AAAAAAAA4co/gUDOWfmmgHs/1850+census+isaac+and+elizabeth+taylor+and+kids+part+2.jpg



And here's a sample of the 1900:

http://www.recordranch.com/genealogy/Images/LammersJohn1900Census.jpg



You can see all the questions for each census right here:

http://www.ancestry.com/charts/census.aspx



To protect the privacy of living people, census information is kept private for 72 years. We currently have access to the 1790-1930 census; next spring, we'll get to see the 1940 census for the first time.



Where to view the census online:



Ancestry.com

(has the complete set of 1790-1930 census images online)



Familysearch.org

(has images for 1850-1900... 1910-1930 will be available soon)



HeritageQuest, available through libraries, also has census records.



Cyndi's List has an extensive listing of other websites with census records:

http://www.cyndislist.com/census.htm

Answer 2

Heidi, it’s a population count and in the US it is done every ten years…the last one was done on 2010 and the last one available to view is 1930 because the US Census has to hold any data that would reveal information about living individual for 72 years so the 1940 US Census will be available sometime next year.



I wanted to give you a site where you could see some right away so go to the website that will follow and type in your last name after clicking on advanced search then click the search button. I did this and the 1850, 1870 and 1900 are available and have the images so you can look at the actual records, not just the transcribed ones. There are others available but I didn’t see any other US Censuses that had the actual records, however, some of the State Censuses may have them. https://www.familysearch.org/#form=advanced-records [I went ahead and gave you the link for the advanced link.]



You will be able to see how they asked different questions on different census years.



You can also go to your public library and access the census through Ancestry.com or with a valid library card you can access the census from home with Heritage Quest. You could also go to a Family History Center and view them for free, look on the main page of the LDS website and check for a location near you and then call for hours of operation: http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Home/Welcome/home.asp



Incidentally, the census was never meant to be used as a genealogist tool!



EDIT****

Actually, the 1790-1840 Census years are not available on this website at this time. The 1850, 1870 and 1900 Census years have free images but the 1860 Census images are only available on Footnote.com which is pay for view service. The 1910-1930 Census years transcriptions are on the website now, however, there are no images available at this time.

Answer 3

library. records. it's like "roll call" except it's every 10 years,( if that is of help to you). your state sends a form to each residence for you to fill. it asks who you are, how you got here, and is any one Else living with you, etc. things like that, for records