Census Records Counted More than People

Census Records Counted More than People
By Donna Murray

The federal population census, conducted each decade since 1790 primarily to apportion representation in Congress, is an important genealogical resource. But it's not the only census records that may be of value.

In addition to the population census, the federal government also counted more than people in some years. These records - called non-population schedules – are often underused.

Mortality schedules, for example, list the name of every person who died during the 12 months prior to the official population census for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. The population census generally commenced on June 1 st. The decedent's name, age, gender, race, marital status, birthplace, occupation, month of death and cause of death were noted on the mortality counts. The 1880 schedule includes the birth place of the decedent's parents.

Federal agricultural censuses were taken each decade from 1850-1880. These included such information as how much acreage a farmer owned or leased, quantity and type of livestock and wages paid to hired help as well as other data.

Not every farm was included. In 1850, for example, farms producing less than $100 of revenue were not counted. In 1870, only farms of three acres or more that produced at least $500 in revenue were excluded. The people appearing on these schedules were not necessarily residents. A man could be included on the agricultural census in Crawford County because he was the proprietor of a farm located there. He may have lived elsewhere. (Some states took agricultural censuses. These records are kept at the specific state's archives).

A manufacturing and industrial census schedule was initiated in 1820. That year is indexed. Enumerators also collected information about manufacturing, mining and fisheries from 1850-1880 when the annual gross product was $500 or more. These schedules are not indexed.

A supplemental schedule for slaves was taken with the 1850 and 1860 population census.

Although most of the 1890 population census was destroyed, a supplemental schedule for Union veterans of the Civil War and their widows was compiled and still exists.

Latching on to mortality, agriculture and manufacturing schedules is a tad more difficult than accessing the population records.

If your public library doesn't have copies – and many don't – you can borrow the microfilm from a Mormon Family History Center or the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) inter-library loan program.

You can learn more about the specifics of what each population census contains and the special supplemental schedules available by logging on to NARA 's web site at www.archives.gov/research_room/genealogy .

You'll find that anyone receiving a Revolutionary war pension (veteran or widow) was noted on the 1840 census, for example. Survivors of the Civil War are indicated on the 1910 census. On censuses taken from 1900-1930, each person was asked what year they immigrated to the United States .