US Census Tips & Tutorials

Census enumerators collected many details beyond just basic names, ages and relationships. Hidden among the census columns may be additional clues, from a street address to the age of a mother at the time of her first marriage, which could lead you to research in new records. This article points out some of the best of these census clues.

While the columns, tick marks and head counts of the pre-1850 U.S. census enumerations appear overwhelmingly unhelpful at first glance, when used together they can often provide important clues to early American families.

Learn how to use the Soundex coding system to find your ancestors in census records.

As is qualified on the page, the birth year will vary based on the enumeration date of the census.  This information on enumeration dates for each census is not included here.

Although the first six federal decennial censuses (1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830 and 1840) contain less data than those taken later, they still contain useful clues that should not be overlooked.

This NARA census guide describes some of the clues found in census records for the census years 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930, including using the census to find evidence of military service, immigration and naturalization.

This article by Donna Przecha from Family Tree Maker provides an in-depth look at what data is contained in the census and how to use it effectively.