I just want to look up some of my deceased relatives in the US Census. Isn't there an easy way to do this? I've been on the national archives site for an hour and can't find out how to do this simple thing!

Yes, you could register for Familysearch.org, enter in the search formthe names of your relatives, living or not, providing that they were alive on April 1, 1950 for the 1950 census, the last one made public.  You can narrow the hits on your family name by using the form and putting their residence and the year 1950, and you will get 1950 records.  The National Archives does have a 1950 census website that you could use as well.  If you are having trouble.... then tell us specifically one person who would be on the 1950 or earlier censuses (taken every ten years... 1940, 1930, 1920....).... name, age, birthplace, residence in that census year, other members of his or her family.... and we can help guide you with the process.

Yes, you could register for Familysearch.org, enter in the search formthe names of your relatives, living or not, providing that they were alive on April 1, 1950 for the 1950 census, the last one made public.  You can narrow the hits on your family name by using the form and putting their residence and the year 1950, and you will get 1950 records.  The National Archives does have a 1950 census website that you could use as well.  If you are having trouble.... then tell us specifically one person who would be on the 1950 or earlier censuses (taken every ten years... 1940, 1930, 1920....).... name, age, birthplace, residence in that census year, other members of his or her family.... and we can help guide you with the process.