Census reports can fill-out what you know and don’t know about your ancestry. You can find previously unknown relatives. You can learn the occupation of family members, location where they were born and where they lived.
The first U. S. federal census was taken in 1790. Federal censuses are taken every 10 years.
The 1850 federal census is the first census to include the name of every person in the household except the names of slaves.
Family Search has a list of U.S. census headings for 1790-1930.
US Census Headings 1790-1860 | US Census Headings 1870-1930
1790 |
Headings: |
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Head of Family |
Free white males |
Free white females |
All other persons |
Slaves |
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16 and up including head |
Under 16 |
Including head |
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Note: The head of household came to the census taker; the census taker did not visit the residence. Adjacent names on the report were not necessarily neighbors. Per Ancestry: No schedules are known to exist for Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Virginia; apparently they were destroyed during the British attack on Washington during the War of 1812. |
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1800 |
Headings: |
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Head of Family |
Free white males |
Free white females |
All others |
Slaves |
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Under 10 |
10-16 |
16-26 |
26-45 |
45 & over |
Under 10 |
10-16 |
16-26 |
26-45 |
45 & over |
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Note: Per Family Search, missing records: CensusRecords.com identifies: Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, New Jersey, Virginia, Indiana Territory, Mississippi Territory and Northwest Territory (Only Washington County records from the Northwest territory survive) |
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1810 |
Headings: same as 1800 |
Note: Some Ohio records were probably lost due to a fire during the War of 1812. |
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1820 |
Headings: |
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Head of Family |
Free white males |
Free white females |
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Under 10 |
10-16 |
16-18 |
18-25 |
26-45 |
45 & over |
Under 10 |
10-16 |
16-26 |
26-45 |
45 & over |
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Head of Family |
Foreigners not naturalized |
Agriculture |
Commerce |
Manufacturers |
Free colored |
Slaves |
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Note: District wide loss of records for Arkansas Territory, Missouri Territory, New Jersey. Per Family Search, six counties in North Carolina are missing |
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1830 |
Headings: printed on form |
Note: There are some losses in Massachusetts, Maryland and Mississippi of census records. |
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1840 |
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1841 |
Veterans Pensioners |
Note: This is a census for Pensioners of the Revolutionary War or other military service. |
1850 |
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Note: This is the first census to include the names of other-than head of households on the population schedule. Names were not included for slaves. Slave Schedule: The collection consists of an index and images of slave schedules listing slave owners and only age and gender of the slaves. This was the first time that slave information was captured as a separate schedule. 1850-1860 Federal Slave Schedule and Family Search Wiki have additional information regarding slave schedules. |
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1860 |
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Note: Names were not included for slaves. Slave Schedule: The collection consists of an index and images of slave schedules listing slave owners and only age and gender of the slaves. 1850-1860 Federal Slave Schedule and Family Search Wiki have additional information regarding slave schedules. |
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1870 |
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1880 |
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1890 |
Note: The 1890 census was destroyed/damaged by fire, at the Commerce Dept. in 1921. Less than 1% survived, covering 6,160 individuals. These remaining population schedules have been microfilmed. Civil War Veterans Schedule: Schedule of Civil War veterans or their widows. The majority of the 1890 Civil War Veterans Schedule was also destroyed/damaged by fire in 1921 |
1900 |
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Note: Oklahoma census schedules are split between Oklahoma Territory to the northwest, and Indian Territory to the southeast. Indian Population Schedule: Oklahoma census schedules are split between Oklahoma Territory to the northwest, and Indian Territory to the southeast. |
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1910 |
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Note: Institutions (jails, hospitals, poor houses, poor farms, insane asylums) are located on the end of the regular population schedule by county or sometimes on a separate roll. |
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1920 |
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1930 |
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Note: The census includes Military / Naval Forces (military forts, bases, navy ships) records |
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1940 |
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1950 |
To be released April 2022. |
There are also census forms available for other countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada. Canadian forms are available in both English and French.
Several states conducted State Census. FamilySearch.org, Wiki, shows state census information. Also, the following list of state and territorial censuses was compiled by Ann S. Lainhart's State Census Records, Davenport Public Library call no. SC 929.3973 Lai. This reference shows the availability of records for each state census.
Iowa conducted several state censuses, some localized and some statewide.
Census available at the Iowa State Historical Society are available at both the Des Moines and Iowa City locations.
Microfilm is also available at RSSC Center in DPL.
1856 Iowa State Census, Population Schedule taken March 2 – July 7, 1856 |
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Note: Statewide (80 counties) census except Warren Co. Information on census: |
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Census DateCommunityEnumeratorCountySupervisor District #Line #Written Page #Printed Page #Dwelling #Family #NameAgeSexColor |
MarriedWidowedYrs. in stateIn what State or Foreign Country bornProfession, trade or occupationNative VotersNaturalized VotersAliensMilitiaDeaf & dumbBlindInsaneIdioticOwners of land |
1885 Iowa State Census, Population Schedule taken January 1 – June 1, 1885 |
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Information on census: |
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Local Community (city or township)CountyStateWardDate Census TakenPage No.A. Dwelling numbered in order of visitationB. Families numbered in order of visitationC. Name of each person (write full first name)Residence: TownshipResidence: RangeResidence: SectionD. Residence: Street and number, or otheraccurate designation, if the town plat.Smallest legal subdivision, if in country.E. Age at birthday in 1884F. SexG. Color |
H. Married [M] Single [S], Widowed [W], Divorced [D]I. Profession, Employment, or OccupationJ. Place of Birth: If in United States, name ofstate or territoryK. Place of Birth: If in Iowa, what countyL. Place of Birth: If abroad, what countryM. Parentage (N Native; F Foreign): FatherN. Parentage (N Native; F Foreign): MotherO. Subject to military dutyP. Entitled to voteQ. Alien who has taken out first papersR. Alien who has not taken out first papersS. Cannot read or write, over 10 years oldT. Can read but not write, over 10 years oldU. Deaf and dumb, blind, insane, or idioticV. Remarks |
1895 Iowa State Census, Population Schedule taken January 14 – June 1, 1895 |
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Information on census: |
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Local Community (city or township)CountyStateWardDate Census TakenPage No.1. Dwelling numbered in order of visitation2. Families numbered in order of visitation3. Name of each person (write full first name)4. Age: 18 years or over5. Age: 5 to 18 years6. Age: under 5 years7. White: Male8. White: Female9. Colored: Male10. Colored: Female11. Married12. Single (if widowed mark W, divorced D, allother S13. Place of birth (If in United States, give State;if in Iowa give County and State: if not in U.S.give name of country)14. Parents place of birth: Father15. Parents place of birth: Mother |
16. Profession, occupation, or employment17. Religious belief18. Subject to military service19. Entitled to vote at general election20. Can read but not write, over 10 years old21. Cannot read or write, over 10 years old22. Children over 6 and under 17 years old, notattending any school in 189423. Foreigners not naturalized24. Births in 189425. Deaths in 189426. Deaf and dumb not in state school for Deaf27. Blind not in state college for blind28. Insane not in State Hospital for Insane29. Soldiers, Sailors, and Mariners in War of theRebellion: Company30. Soldiers, Sailors, and Mariners in War of theRebellion: Regiment31. Soldiers, Sailors, and Mariners in War of theRebellion: State32. Soldiers, Sailors, and Mariners in War of theRebellion: Arm of Service and Rank33. Soldiers in Mexican War: Regiment34. Soldiers in Mexican War: State |
1905 Iowa State Census, Population Schedule taken January 3 – July 1, 1905 |
Information on census: Card No.CountyTownshipCityNameP. O. AddressSex: Male–FemaleCan you read? Yes. No.Can you write? Yes. No.Color, White – Black – Yellow – RedAgePlace of birth, SelfPlace of birth, MotherPlace of birth: FatherDo you own your home or farm: Yes. No.Entire value of home or farm? $How much incumbrance on your home or farm? $If you are foreign-born, are you naturalized? Yes. No.Years in U.S.Years in IowaConjugal condition: Single – Married – Widowed – Divorced – SeparatedMonths in school in 1904. Public ____ High ____ Private ____ College ____OccupationMonths unemployed in 1904Military Service: Service in Civil War – Mexican War – Spanish WarCompany ____ Regiment ____ State ____Class of service: Cavalry – Infantry – Artillery – NavyDate of enlistmentDate of dischargeRemarksSigned |
1915 Iowa State Census, Population Schedule taken January 1 – May 31, 1915 |
Information on census: Card No.Sex: Male – FemaleColorMarried ____ Widowed ____ Single ____ Divorced ____Months in School in 1914: Public ____ High ____ Private ____ College ____ReadWriteBlindDeafInsaneIdiotIf Foreign Born are you NaturalizedYears in U.S.Years in IowaNameAgeCountyP.O.Town or TownshipWardOccupationMonths in 1914 UnemployedTotal earnings for 1914 from occupation $Extent of Education: Common ____ Grammar ____ High School ____ College ____Birth PlaceDo you own your home or farm? Yes – NoEncumbrance on farm or home $Value of farm or home $Military Service: Civil War ____ Mexican ____ Spanish ____ Infantry ____ Calvary ____ Artillery ____ Navy ____ State ____ Regiment ____ Company ____Church AffiliationFather’s BirthplaceMother’s BirthplaceRemarksSigned |
1925 Iowa State Census, Population Schedule Information gathered based on who resided where on January 1, but census may have been taken later in March or April. |
Note: Statewide census. Not all names/households indexed. Information included on census: CountyCityCall NumberPage 1 of 2Abode: Street, Avenue, Boulevard or RoadAbode: Number DwellingName: Name of Each Person residing in the family on Jan 1, 1925. Surname first, then given name and middle initial.Relation: Relationship of this person to the Head of the familyPersonal Descrip: SexPersonal Descrip: Color or RacePersonal Descrip: Age at Last BirthdayPersonal Descrip: Sing, Mar, Wid, or DivPersonal Descrip: House Owned or RentedTenure: Value of this HomeTenure: Amt of Mort Debt against this Home on Jan 1, 1925Tenure: If Rented, Amount of Rent Paid MonthlyTenure: If Owned, Amt of All Insurance on this HomeCitizenship: If Foreign-Born – Naturalized?Citizenship: Number of years in U.S.Number of years in IowaEducation & Literacy: High Sch Att: RuralEducation & Literacy: High Sch Att: GradeEducation & Literacy: High Sch Att: High SchoolEducation & Literacy: High Sch Att: College or UniversityEducation & Literacy: Highest Grade Reached: Rural – Reader ComplEducation & Literacy: Highest Grade Reached: Grade in /Gram Grade ComplEducation & Literacy: Highest Grade Reached: High School – Grade ComplEducation & Literacy: Highest Grade Reached: Coll or Univ – No Years AttEducation & Literacy: Highest Grade Reached: Mo of School Att in 1924Education & Literacy: Highest Grade Reached: Whether Able to RadEducation & Literacy: Highest Grade Reached: Whether Ale to WritePlace of Birth of Person EnumeratedFather’s NameFather’s Place of BirthFather’s Age – last BirthdayMother’s NameMother’s Place of BirthMother’s Age – last BirthdayPlace of Marriage of Parents of Enumerated PersonCountyCityCall NumberPage 2 of 2Military Service: Civil War: Are you a VeteranMilitary Service: Civil War: Branch of ServiceMilitary Service: Civil War: What State Enlisted or Drafted FromMilitary Service: Span-Amer War: Are you a VeteranMilitary Service: Span-Amer War: Branch of ServiceMilitary Service: Span-Amer War: What State Enlisted or Drafted FromMilitary Service: World War: Are you a VeteranMilitary Service: World War: Branch of ServiceMilitary Service: World War: What State Enlisted or Drafted FromOccupation: Are you engaged in Agricultural PursuitsOccupation: Are you engaged in Professional ServicesOccupation: Are you Engaged in Domestic and Personal ServicedOccupation: Are you engaged in Trade and TransportationOccupation: Are you engaged in Manuf and Mech workOccupation: Are you a Laborer unclassifiedOccupation: No months in 1924 unemp due to illness from communic diseases onlyOccupation: Amt of salary or income loss because of illness from communicable diseasesOccupation: No months in 1924 unemp due to labor conditions or other causesChurch Affil’n: What Church are You Affiliated With |
Timelines can help you see the big picture as well as find gaps in your research. Timelines can show you where and when your family lived, making future searches easier.
Timelines can be any format. Below is one format. Various templates are available online.
You can also add local, state, national, or world events that may have influenced your family, such as the Civil War, Spanish flu, the Great Depression, etc. You can do a timeline one person at a time (the recommended format) or one family at a time.
One example of a timeline for Theodore “Jenks” Austin Moore:
Additional Timeline info excerpted from: https://familyhistorydaily.com/genealogy-help-and-how-to-/ancestor-timeline/ by Amanda Sullivan; accessed July 12, 2021
Timelines are a uniquely important research tool. When done correctly, they can aid us in sorting out the “where,” “when,” and “why,” of our ancestor’s lives – shedding new light on the important events of those who came before us. They can help us identify holes and inconsistencies, making new possibilities for research visible for the first time.
Often, when we research, we stumble around adding new facts and records as we find them. We get so caught up in the details that we often forget to look at the big picture. But a timeline allows us to step back and see our work with new eyes.
If you’ve been struggling to piece together an ancestor’s life, or are facing a mystery in your tree, creating a timeline should be next on your list of things to do. Even if you’re not, timelines will almost always help you build a deeper understanding of any person or branch in your research.
What’s the best kind of timeline to make for your ancestor? It’s up to you, let’s look at some options.
There are two types of handwritten timelines – the first is a list of events from beginning to end and the second is literally a line with the years evenly spaced across it. For the second variety, each event is then placed on the line when it happened. You can find templates for each kind on the internet or you can do it by hand.
You could also consider using a spreadsheet for creating your timeline, which can be very helpful with its many rows and columns. I suggest starting your spreadsheet with three columns, one for each of the dates, what happened, the source of information.
Once your timeline(s) is in place ask yourself these 10 questions:
For even more help with timelines for genealogy take the online Genealogy Research Course from Family History Daily. It includes in-depth help for using timelines to solve family mysteries
Check for census for family members.
Start with the most recent members and work backwards.
Create a timeline.
Use the information from Class 1.
Add the information you find via census reports.