What Can I Learn from U.S. Census Records?

Question: What Can I Learn from U.S. Census Records?

Answer: Copies of decennial census forms from 1790 through 1930 (For archival purposes, information collected from individuals becomes available to the public after 72 years) are available, usually on microfilm, for research at the United States National Archives in Washington, DC, at Archives regional centers, and at many libraries throughout the United States, including the Library of Congress. Ask the reference librarian in your local library about its own holdings and about borrowing film through the National Archives' census microfilm rental program. Microfilmed census records can also be borrowed from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS - Mormon) Library in Salt Lake City through any LDS Family History Center around the world.

In addition to the U.S. federal census, many local and state governments have taken censuses at varying times. Not all have done so, however. Again, many of these census records are available on microfilm at LDS family history centers, or in the archives of the city/county/state that took the census.