Census records can be invaluable tools in genealogical research. In addition to basic facts for each person counted in the census, census records include detailed information that can help make connections across generations.
These questions are a few of those frequently asked about using census records to research family history.
You can view census records for people through the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), which makes records publicly available after 72 years have passed. In accordance with the 72-year rule, records from the 1790 to 1950 censuses are available for genealogical research. Records from the 1950 Census were released by NARA on April 1, 2022. The 1960 Census records will become available in April 2032.
Visit NARA’s Census Records website to learn more about the availability of microfilmed and digital census records for genealogical research.
Several online subscription services provide access to digital copies of these publicly available records. In addition to offering individual subscriptions, many libraries purchase institutional subscriptions to one or more of these services which allows their patrons to access digitized census records at libraries and—in some instances—at their own homes using their library card and home computer. Contact your local library to learn if it offers this service.
Individuals may request their own records (before they are publicly available) via the U.S. Census Bureau's Age Search service. This service provides individual information from censuses that are still protected by the 72-year rule, but only to the named person, his or her heirs, or legal representatives.
There is a Congressionally-mandated fee for this service. Individuals interested in requesting a search of their personal census records must complete form BC-600, “Application for Search of Census Records.” This form is also available in Spanish (form BC-600SP, “Solicitud Para Busqueda De Registros Censales).
Instructions for completing the census have evolved since the late 18th century. Detailed instructions were provided to enumerators to guide their work through the 1960 Census in filling out population schedules (also known as questionnaires of forms). These instructions can be found in the Decennial Census Questionnaires & Instructions webpage and in Measuring America: The Decennial Census From 1790 to 2000.
Beginning in 1970, the census began mailing questionnaires to households. People were expected to complete and return them by mail and enumerators followed up with those who didn’t respond. The 2020 Census marked the next major shift by offering a widespread online response option.
Questionnaire
Decennial Census Questionnaires & Instructions
Learn how the census questionnaires have changed through the decades and download questionnaires from each census decade.
Completing the 2020 Census Online (Instructional Video)
Publication
Measuring America: The Decennial Censuses From 1790 to 2000
September 01, 2002
Contains questionnaires and instructions, plus individual histories of each census.
Questions asked during each census are available for review in the Decennial Census Questionnaires and Instructions webpage.
Additionally, Measuring America: The Decennial Census From 1790 to 2000 also contains questionnaire images, instructions to enumerators, and a brief history of each of the censuses.
Questionnaire
Decennial Census Questionnaires & Instructions
Learn how the census questionnaires have changed through the decades and download questionnaires from each census.
Publication
Measuring America: The Decennial Censuses From 1790 to 2000
September 01, 2002
Contains questionnaires and instructions, plus individual histories of each census.
According to the "72-Year Rule," the National Archives and Records Administration releases census records to the general public 72 years have passed. As a result, the 1940 Census records were released April 2, 2012. The 1950 Census records were released in April 2022. The 1960 Census records will be released in April 2032.
Census records are classified as historic documents and cannot be corrected. If you find inaccuracies, we recommend noting them in your family history. This will help future generations understand the potential for errors and guide their own research.
Most of the 1890 Census' population schedules (also known as questionnaires or forms) were badly damaged by a fire in the Commerce Department Building in January 1921.
In 1942 the National Archives recorded a damaged bundle of surviving Illinois schedules as part of a shipment of records found during a Census Bureau move. At the time, they were believed to be the only surviving fragments. In 1953, however, the National Archives recorded an additional set of fragments. These sets of fragments are from Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, and the District of Columbia and have been microfilmed as National Archives Microfilm Publication M407 (3 rolls). A corresponding index is available as National Archives Microfilm Publication M496 (2 rolls). Both microfilm series can be viewed at the National Archives, the regional archives, and several other repositories. Before disregarding this census, researchers should always verify that the schedules they seek did not survive. There are no fewer than 6,160 names indexed on the surviving 1890 population schedules.
1890 Decennial Census Availability
Most of the census' population schedules were badly damaged by a fire in the Commerce Department Building in January 1921.
First in the Path of the Firemen: The Fate of the 1890 Population Census
The Census Bureau has several publications that may be of interest to genealogists. Many can be downloaded from the publications webpage.
There are many U.S. Census Bureau publications that provide information about the history of the Census Bureau and its programs.
Are sample copies of census questionnaires available?
Yes. Sample copies of the questionnaires used for each census from 1790 to 2020 are available on the Decennial Census Questionnaires & Instructions webpage.
Questionnaire
Decennial Census Questionnaires & Instructions
Learn how the census questionnaires have changed through the decades and download questionnaires from each census.
No. The National Archives and Records Administration is responsible for making individual census records publicly available. Visit the National Archives website to access census records.
Many public libraries also allow their patrons free access to genealogy websites that have databases of the digitized 1790 to 1950 censuses records. Ask your library if it subscribes to one of these services and how you can access it.
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