St. Charles City-County Library District

PAGE LAST UPDATED:... 01/16/2007 - MPFsR

CENSUS RECORDS
WELCOME to the HOMEPAGE of the BIZELLI-FLEMING LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION
About Census Records
Federal Census Records
Interlibrary Loan
Resources SCCCLD GENEALOGY PAGE


About Census Records

The census materials available in the Bizelli-Fleming Local History Collection are a valuable tool for historical and genealogical researchers. Census searching can yield some of the most detailed and accessible information available about persons and families living in the United States during the 1800's and early 1900's.

The first federal population census was taken in 1790. It was mandated by the Constitution for the purpose of apportionment in the House of Representatives. Since 1790 Federal censuses have been taken every ten years and, with the exception of 1890 which was destroyed, these records are available for public use up through 1930. Census records are considered confidential information and are not opened to the public for 73 years after they are taken. The original census schedules were hand written and have been microfilmed by the National Archives.

Censuses prior to 1850 list heads of household by name and identify other family members only by sex and age group. During times when many Americans moved westward and local records were scarce early census records can verify names of heads of families and locations of families each decade.

Beginning in 1850 each member of the household is listed by name. Also recorded are: age, occupation, value of real estate, birth place, whether married or attended school within the year, and if over 21 whether able to read or write. With each succeeding year additional information was recorded on the census and by 1930 researchers can discover the birthplace of not only the individual listed but also the mother and father. Other information listed includes the year a person immigrated, whether naturalized, and if the home is owned or rented.

Population censuses are arranged by state and within each state by county; within each county by township or enumeration district; and within each district households are listed as they were taken by the enumerator as he went door to door. Microfilmed federal census records for Missouri can be found in the library's collection for the years 1830-1930.

Census indexes are important because census records are not arranged alphabetically within townships and enumeration districts. More than 100 printed census indexes are located in the Local History Collection at the Kathryn Linnemann Branch. Not all years are available for all states. Also available for Missouri is a microfilmed index called a Soundex for the years 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1930.

There are other kinds of federal census records which can also be of use to researchers. These include Agricultural, Industrial, and Mortality Schedules and the 1890-1906 Indian Census Cards Index.

Federal Census Records Available

1000 plus rolls of microfilmed census records are in the collection. Microfilmed materials are considered to be reference materials and are not available for Interlibrary Loan.

Missouri
1830-1880 Census-All counties
1890 Special Schedule-Union Veterans and widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War
1900-1930 Census-Missouri all counties
1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 Soundex-Missouri

Other States
1790 Census All states
1810 Census Louisiana
1820 Census Louisiana, Roll #30
1850 Census Illinois, Roll #115 New York, Roll #'s 519, 520
1860 Census New York, Roll #'s 812-814
1870 Census Arkansas, Roll #'s 56, 57, 63
1880 Census Illinois, Roll #254 New York Roll #'s 945-947
1880 Soundex Illinois
1880 Soundex New York, Roll #'s 1, 91, 92
1900 Census Arkansas, Roll #'s 59, 71 Illinois, Roll #'s 345, 346, 356

Interlibrary Loan

For residents of St. Charles county, additional Microfilm is available through interlibrary loan from Mid-Continent Public Library. Order by checking census books for year and roll number, fill out a Census Microfilm Order Form and turn in completed orders to the Reference Librarian. Film is loaned to the library for one week, with no charge to the user.


Microfilm Available through Interlibrary Loan
1790-1880 Census film for all states
1890 Special schedules available states
1900-1920 Census film for all states
1880, 1900, & 1920 Soundex film for all states
1910 Soundex film for available states.

Census Indexes
More than 50 printed census indexes are located in the Bizelli-Fleming Local History Collection. Indexes are available for many states for the years 1790-1880. All years are not available for all states.


Problem Report
E-Mail: mroper@stchlibrary.org

ST. CHARLES
GENEALOGY
HOME PAGE
Back
Resources
This Page and ALL Pages Associated With It: Copyright © 2008 SCCCLD.

Home -  Electronic Resources -  Catalog -  About -  Programs -  Reading - 
Library Talk -  Picks -  Internet Business -  Government -  History Genealogy - 
Kids Genealogy -  Nonprofit -  YA -  Kids -  Friends -  Foundation