United States Federal Census

 

In 1790 the United States Federal Census began for the purpose of counting the population in order to apportion the seats in the House of Representatives. Every ten years the United States Federal Census made records of households and their members. Because the goal of the United States Federal Census is to account for every individual residing in the United States, your chances of finding ancestors in the records are very good. Though the early United States Federal Census records only counted the individual population of “free persons” it did exclude Indians who lived on treaty land were they were not taxed or allowed to vote. The United States Federal Census will have such information as where families lived, who they lived with, what their occupations were right down to where they were born. It will even tell you were their parents were born, what the primary language is sometimes even what they paid for rent, or if they owned the residence. The information is a must have in your exciting journey as a genealogy researcher. But please be aware that like most records the United States Federal Census is not perfect. The United States Federal Census will have errors, such as missing people or even counting them twice. In a situation were a family was moving, it may have missed them or even counted them twice, in each location.  The information could have come from children in the household or even neighbors who may not have given accurate information. So be aware and be observant to such a situation. Another piece of information to keep in mind is that you probably won’t find the United States Federal Census for the year 1890. It did exist but unfortunately in 1921 a fire at the Commerce Building in Washington, DC. destroyed 99 percent of those records.
When you begin your search through the census records, you should start from the most recent and work your way back. You need to keep a log of all the information you find on the census records. You can download and print forms FREE from Ancestry.com . In addition to your records, make copies of what you find on the census records. Maybe even a copy of a page or two before and after your family. Sometimes other family members lived near by.
All right, enough said about the United States Federal Census. Get out there and start your search.

View Census Records Online at Ancestry.com!