How to search U.S. Census records?

Question

What is easiest way to search U.S. Census records?

Michelle Detwiler · Answer

You can research census records online through familysearch.com website for free.&#160; Find "catalog" in the menu. Put the state in the search box. Afterwards look at the menu on the right, look for census records in the menu and select the year you want. Once selected you will select the county your ancestors lived in. There is often a little magnifying glass on the right, select that and type in your ancestors name. It will show you all the people in that county with that name. When you find the correct person select him and the document should be there.&#160;

Jan Murphy · Answer

You can access the FamilySearch Help Center without being logged in (I just logged out of my own account to test this).

See https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/how-do-i-create-a-free-familysearch-account for instructions on how to make an account. If you are having difficulties, try chatting with a volunteer using the link in the support article: https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/contact-familysearch-support

The only restrictions I know of are the age limits. The article says: "You must be at least 13 years old to create an account. Children ages 8 to 12 can create an account with parental permission."

If you can't use FamilySearch, another free option is to browse (not search) the microfilm rolls at the Internet Archive (archive.org). This is far from "the easiest way to search" as the original questioner asked, but if the computer index is defective, browsing can be the only way to find someone, so it is a useful skill to learn.

The tools at Stephen P. Morse's One-Step Web Pages can be a great help for searching and browsing. https://stevemorse.org/#us

Robert Crumley · Answer

Dear Ms. Pruitt, &#160; Thank you for posting your request on History Hub! &#160; We suggest that you review the National Archives Census Records web page that provides an overview on information contained within census records; links to resources for researching a specific federal census; and census-focused research tips found in Clues in Census Records, 1790-1840 and Clues in Census Records, 1850-1940 . Also, please review the History Hub blog titled 20 Tips for Census Research Success that features helpful hints for conducting census research. &#160; To make it easier for you, we searched the National Archives Catalog and located the Population Schedules for the 1790 Census , the Population Schedules for the 1800 Census , the Population Schedules for the 1810 Census , the Population Schedules for the 1820 Census , the Population Schedules for the 1830 Census , the Population Schedules for the 1840 Census &#160; the Population Schedules for the 1850 Census ,&#160; the Population Schedules for the 1860 Census , the Population Schedules for the 1870 Census , the Population Schedules for the 1880 Census , the Population Schedules for the 1890 Census ; the Population Schedules for the 1900 Census , and the Population Schedules for the 1910 Census , the Population Schedules for the 1920 Census , the Population Schedules for the 1930 Census , and&#160; the Population Schedules for the 1940 Census in the Records of the Bureau of the Census (Record Group 29) that may contain information about particular family members in the state(s) they lived.&#160; The 1940 Census schedules are digitized and available using the Catalog. For more information about the non-digitized schedules, please contact the National Archives at Washington, DC - Textual Reference (RDT1) via email at archives1reference@nara.gov .&#160; &#160; Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of NARA staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgement as well as a substantive response to your reference request from RDT1. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience. &#160; For information about the U.S. Census, see the Census Bureau technical documentation and questionnaires as well as NARA&#8217;s page on Census Records . &#160; You may wish to search Ancestry or FamilySearch for the U.S. Census. There may be a fee for using Ancestry. Instead, please check for access at your local library as many library systems subscribe to these sites, making them free for their patrons. &#160; We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your census research! &#160;

Bruce Altobelli · Answer

Also check&#160; your local library to see if they subscribe to Ancestry.com Library Edition.&#160; You can go to the library to do a search.&#160; Ancestry has also made the library edition available to registered library patrons using their home computer during the pandemic.&#160; I believe this is still available.&#160; You will need a library card and to be registered with the library for online access.&#160; See the library's website or call them to get more info. While I use FamilySearch first, Ancestry is my go to second source.&#160; They have a different search engine than FamilySearch and I like their US Census images better because they highlight the name you searched on within the document so it is easier to find.&#160; As other users have said, both have good alternate name search engines and Ancestry can be somewhat customized.&#160; Even then you may not find your ancestor on first try as many non-English names were butchered in spelling by the census takers and even a good search engine will fail.&#160; Perseverance will be very helpful to you.

Justhighstone · Answer

The easiest way to search U.S. Census records is to utilize the official website of the United States Census Bureau or other online resources. Here are steps to search for U.S. Census records: 
 Visit the Official Census Bureau Website: You can find the official website of the United States Census Bureau at https://www.census.gov/ . This website provides a wealth of demographic information and tools to help you search for census records. 
 Use the "Census Search Tool": The Census Bureau's website typically offers a search tool that allows you to search census records by year, region, and other key information. By entering the information you're interested in, you can locate relevant records. 
 Utilize Online Genealogy Research Websites: In addition to the official website, many online genealogy research websites, such as Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, and MyHeritage.com, provide access to U.S. Census records. These websites often offer more extensive search options, including indexes, scanned images, and other genealogy research tools. 
 Visit Local Libraries or Genealogy Research Centers: If you prefer to search for census records in physical archives, you can visit local libraries or genealogy research centers. These places typically provide public access computers for searching census records. 
 Look for Online Databases and Digitized Archives: Many state and local agencies digitize census records and place them in online databases. You can find these records by searching specific state or regional archives. 
 Additionally, keep in mind that census records from different years may provide different information, so make sure to use the correct year for your search.

How to search U.S. Census records?

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