Genealogical Research Series Pamphlet No. 4

Federal Census Records

This pamphlet is one in a series designed to assist the genealogical researcher in using the most pertinent of related federal, state, and local governmental records in the possession of the Illinois State Archives and its Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) system. This pamphlet concerns federal censuses.

Population Schedules 1807–1930

Historical Background
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787, enacted under the Articles of Confederation, first provided for census taking when it stipulated population requirements for territories to be admitted as states. The U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1789, authorized a decennial enumeration to determine apportionment of representation and taxation among the states.

As part of the Indiana Territory, the first U.S. census of what now is Illinois occurred in 1800. The General Assembly of the Indiana Territory further authorized an 1807 census to better enable the Governor to apportion representation. The Illinois Territory was established in 1809 and in the following year district marshals conducted a census. Census commissioners appointed by the territorial Governor conducted the 1818 census in anticipation of establishing the minimum population required for achieving statehood. Thereafter the federal government conducted a population census at the end of each decade. The first major change in census taking resulted from the Census Act of 1850. It mandated the collection of statistics under six separate schedules: free inhabitants, slave inhabitants, products of industry, products of agriculture, mortality, and social statistics. And unlike previous censuses this legislation required that all family members’ names were to be entered on the general population schedules rather than only the heads of households. Beginning with the 1850 census the newly created Department of the Interior assumed responsibility for census taking from the U.S. Secretary of State. The Department of Labor and Commerce was assigned census duties in 1903. Since 1913 the Department of Commerce has conducted the decennial census. This agency restricts access to censuses for 72 years after their completion in order to protect the privacy of those citizens appearing on the census rolls.

Record Contents

1807    The 1807 census of the Indiana Territory provides the first extant U.S. census of the Illinois country. The surviving portion of this census for Illinois is for Randolph County alone. Randolph County in 1807 composed the southern quarter of what is now the State of Illinois. Entries are available at the Archives in the form of a facsimile publication, Census of Indiana Territory for 1807. Listed are the names of free male heads of households aged 21 years and above and the number of free male inhabitants aged 21 and above residing in those households. This volume is indexed.
 
1810    Record Series 100.008. TERRITORIAL CENSUS. 1810. 1 microfilm roll. Index.
Again only the Randolph County portion now is in existence. Entries include name of town, village, or other geographical subdivision; name of head of household; numbers of free white males aged 0–9, 10–15,16–25, 26–44, and 45 and upwards; numbers of free white females by the same age divisions; number of other free persons, except Indians, not taxed; and the number of slaves. A published version of this census is available in Margaret Cross Norton’s Illinois Census Returns: 1810, 1818 (Baltimore, 1969).
 
1818    Record Series 100.008. TERRITORIAL CENSUS. 1818. 1 microfilm roll. Index.
Arranged by county, entries for each household include name of the head of household and numbers of free white males aged 21 years or older, other white inhabitants, free Negroes and mulattoes, and servants and slaves. Records on 14 of the 15 counties in existence at the time of the census have been preserved. Edwards County is missing. Additionally, most of the supplementary census, listing all new persons settling in Illinois between June 1 and Dec. 1, 1818, is missing. A published version of this census is available in Margaret Cross Norton’s Illinois Census Returns: 1810, 1818 (Baltimore, 1969).
 
1820    Record Series 951.001. POPULATION SCHEDULES (4TH FEDERAL CENSUS). 1820. 3 volumes. Index. 
Arranged by county, entries occasionally include legal subdivision (e.g., town, township, village) and entry date. Entries for each household variously include name of head of household; numbers of free white males and females by age group (i.e., 0–9, 10–15, 16–18, 19–25, 26–44, 45 and upwards); numbers of persons engaged in agriculture, commerce, and manufacturing; number of aliens; numbers of male and female slaves and free Negroes by age group (i.e., under 14, 14–25, 26–44, 45 and upwards); and number of all other non-taxable persons, excluding Indians. Schedules include all 19 counties in existence at the time of the census.
 
1830    Record Series 951.002. POPULATION SCHEDULES (5TH FEDERAL CENSUS). 1830. 4 microfilm rolls. Index.
Arranged by county, entries occasionally include legal subdivision (e.g., city, ward, township) and entry date. Entries for each household variously include name of head of household, numbers of free white males and females by age group (i.e., under 5, 5–9, 10–14, 15–19, 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, 70–79, 80–89, 90–99, 100 and upwards), numbers of male and female slaves and free colored persons by age group (i.e., under 10, 10–23, 24–35, 36–54, 55–100), total number of inhabitants in household, numbers of deaf and dumb white persons and slaves and colored persons by age group (i.e., under 14, 14–24, 25 and over), and number of blind white aliens. Schedules include all 51 counties in existence at the time of the census.
 
1840    Record Series 951.003. POPULATION SCHEDULES (6TH FEDERAL CENSUS). 1840. 20 microfilm rolls. Index. 
Arranged by county, entries occasionally include legal subdivision (e.g., city, ward, township) and entry date. Entries for each household variously include name of head of household; numbers of free white males and females by age group (i.e., under 5, 5–9, 10–14, 15–19, 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, 70–79, 80–89, 90–99, 100 and upwards); numbers of male and female free Negroes and slaves by age group (i.e., under 10, 10–23, 24–35, 36–54, 55–99, 100 and upwards); total number of inhabitants of household; number of persons in household employed by type of business (i.e., mining; agriculture; commerce; manufactures and trades; navigation of the ocean; navigation of canals, lakes, and rivers; learned professions and engineers); names and ages of military pensioners; number of deaf and dumb white persons by age group (i.e., under 14, 14–24, 25 and upwards); number of blind white persons; numbers of insane or idiotic white persons maintained at public and at private expense; numbers of deaf and dumb and blind colored persons; numbers of insane or idiotic colored persons maintained at public and at private expense; numbers of universities or colleges, academies or grammar schools, primary or common schools, and students enrolled in each; number of students enrolled in primary or common schools at public expense; and number of white persons over age 20 unable to read and write. Schedules include all 88 counties in existence at the time of the census.
 
1850    Record Series 951.004. POPULATION SCHEDULES (7TH FEDERAL CENSUS). 1850. 38 microfilm rolls. Index. 
Arranged by county, entries frequently include legal subdivision (i.e., city, ward, township) and entry date. Entries for each household variously include numbers assigned to dwelling house and family in order of visitation and the names of each individual residing in the household. Entries for each individual variously include age; sex; color (i.e., white, black, mulatto); occupation of each male over age 15; value of real estate owned; birthplace (i.e., state, territory, foreign country); whether married or attended school within the year; whether individual over age 20 can or cannot read and write; and whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, pauper, or convict. Schedules include all 99 counties in existence at the time of the census.
 
1860    Record Series 951.005. POPULATION SCHEDULES (8TH FEDERAL CENSUS). 1860. 88 microfilm rolls. Index.
Arranged by county, entries frequently include legal subdivision (e.g., city, ward, township) and entry date. Entries for each household include numbers assigned to dwelling house and family in order of visitation and the names of each individual residing in the household. Entries for each individual variously include age; sex; color (i.e., white, black, mulatto); occupation of each male over age 15; values of real estate and personal property owned; birthplace (i.e., state, territory, foreign country); whether married or attended school within the year; whether individual over age 20 can or cannot read and write; and whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, pauper, or convict. Schedules include all 102 present-day Illinois counties.
 
1870    Record Series 951.006. POPULATION SCHEDULES (9TH FEDERAL CENSUS). 1870. 109 microfilm rolls. Partial index.
Arranged by county, entries include legal subdivision (e.g., city, ward, township) and entry date. Entries for each household include numbers assigned to dwelling house and family in the order of visitation and the names of each individual residing in the household. Entries for each individual variously include age; sex; color (i.e., white, black, mulatto); occupation of each male over age 15; values of real estate and personal property owned; birthplace (i.e., state, territory, foreign country); whether married or attended school within the year; whether individual over age 20 can or cannot read and write; and whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, pauper, or convict. Schedules include all 102 present-day Illinois counties.
 
1880    Record Series 951.007. POPULATION SCHEDULES (10TH FEDERAL CENSUS). 1880. 89 microfilm rolls. Index.
Arranged by county, entries include legal subdivision (e.g., city, township, precinct), census supervisor’s district and enumeration district numbers, and entry date. Entries for each household include numbers assigned to dwelling house and family in the order of visitation, name of street and house number of families residing in cities, and the name of each individual residing in the household. Entries for each individual variously include occupation, age, sex, color (i.e., white, black, mulatto, Chinese, Indian), number of months individual was employed during the year, nature of any permanent illness or disability (i.e., blind, deaf and dumb, idiotic, insane, maimed, crippled, bedridden), nature of temporary disability (e.g., childbirth, rheumatism, fever), whether attended school within the year, whether lacking reading and writing skills, and birthplaces of the individual and his or her parents (i.e., state, territory, foreign country). Schedules include all 102 present-day Illinois counties.
 
1890    The 1890 census was destroyed in a 1921 fire at the Smithsonian Institution.
 
1900    Record Series 951.027. POPULATION SCHEDULES (12TH FEDERAL CENSUS). 1900. 122 microfilm rolls. Index.
Arranged by county, entries include legal subdivision (e.g., city, ward, township), census supervisor’s district and enumeration district numbers, and entry date. Entries for each household include numbers assigned to dwelling house and family in the order of visitation, name of street and house number of families residing in cities, and the name of each individual residing in the household. Entries for each individual variously include occupation; age; sex; color (e.g., white, black, mulatto, Chinese, Indian); relationship of each person to the head of the family; birth date; age at last birthday; marital status; if married, how many years; if mother, of how many children; number of children living; number of months the individual was employed during the year; whether the individual can read, write, or speak English; birthplaces of the individual and his or her parents (i.e., state, territory, foreign country); and home ownership (i.e., owned or rented, owned free or mortgaged, farm or house, farm schedule number). Schedules include all 102 present-day Illinois counties.
 
1910    Record Series 951.028. POPULATION SCHEDULES (13TH FEDERAL CENSUS). 1910. 109 microfilm rolls. Index.
Arranged by county, entries include legal subdivision (e.g., city, township, district), census supervisor’s district and enumeration district number, and entry date. Entries for each household include numbers assigned to dwelling house and family in order of visitation, name of street and house number of families residing in cities, and the name of each individual in the household. Entries for each individual variously include occupation; sex; color or race (e.g., white, black, mulatto, Chinese); relation to head of household; age at last birthday; marital status; number of years of present marriage; if mother, number of children and number of children living; birthplaces of the individual and his or her parents (i.e., state, territory, foreign country); year of immigration and citizenship status; whether able to speak English and if not, language spoken; kind of industry or business employed in; whether employer, employee, or self-employed; if unemployed on April 15, 1910; number of weeks unemployed in 1909; home ownership (i.e., owned or rented, owned free or mortgaged, farm or house, farm schedule number); whether survivor of the Union or Confederate Army or Navy; whether blind in both eyes; and whether deaf and dumb. Schedules include all 102 present-day Illinois counties.
 
1920    Record Series 951.029. POPULATION SCHEDULES (14TH FEDERAL CENSUS). 1920. 124 microfilm rolls. Index.
Arranged by county, entries include legal subdivision (e.g., city, township, district), census supervisor’s district and enumeration district numbers, and entry date. Entries for each household include numbers assigned to dwelling house and family in order of visitation, name of street and house number of families residing in cities, and the name of each individual in the household. Entries for each individual variously include occupation; sex; color or race (e.g., white, black, mulatto, Chinese); relationship to head of household; age at last birthday; marital status; year of immigration and citizenship status; year of naturalization; whether attended school since Sept. 1, 1919; whether able to read and write; birthplaces of the individual and his or her parents; mother tongues of the individual and his or her parents; whether able to speak English; kind of industry or business employed in; whether employer, employee, or self-employed; and home ownership (i.e., owned or rented, owned free or mortgaged, farm schedule number). Schedules include all 102 present-day Illinois counties.
 
1930 Record Series 951.030. POPULATION SCHEDULES (15TH FEDERAL CENSUS).
1930. 168 microfilm rolls. No index.
Arranged by county, entries include legal subdivision (e.g., city, township, district), census supervisor’s district and enumeration district numbers, and entry date. Entries for each household include numbers assigned to dwelling house and family in order of visitation; name of street and house number of families residing in cities; whether home owned or rented; value of home, if owned, or monthly rental, if rented; whether has radio set; and the name of each individual in household. Entries for each individual variously include occupation; sex; color or race (e.g., white, black, mulatto, Chinese); relationship to head of household; age at last birthday; marital status; age at first marriage; year of immigration to the U.S. and whether naturalized; whether attended school since Sept. 1, 1929; whether able to read and write; birthplaces of individual and his or her parents; mother tongue of individual and his or her parents; whether able to speak English; kind of industry or business employed in; class of worker; whether at work on last regular working day and, if not, number on Unemployment Schedule; whether a veteran of U. S. military or naval forces and what war or expedition; and whether resident of a farm and, if so, farm schedule number. Schedules include all 102 present-day Illinois counties.
 

Special Schedules, 1850–1880

Record Contents
The Archives houses Illinois agricultural, industrial, and mortality schedules for the censuses of 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 as well as an 1880 schedule of handicapped, dependent, and delinquent inhabitants. These schedules include information on individual livelihoods and living conditions not found in the general population schedules. All of these censuses are available on microfilm at the Norton Building.

Agricultural Record Series 951.008 – 951.011. AGRICULTURAL SCHEDULES. 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880. No index.
Entries include the names of owners, agents, or tenants of farms annually raising products worth more than $100 in 1850 and 1860 and more than $500 in 1870 and 1880. Information recorded includes kinds and values of acreage, machinery, livestock, and produce.
 
Industrial Record Series 951.012 – 951.015. INDUSTRIAL SCHEDULES. 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880. No index.
Entries include mining, manufacturing, fishery, and all kinds of commercial businesses with gross annual products worth more than $500. The schedules detail the name of the company or owner; the kind of business; the amount of capital invested; and information on quantities and values of materials, labor, machinery, and products. For 1870 the Archives has only the schedules for the counties of Adams through Lee.
 
Mortality Record Series 951.019 – 951.022. MORTALITY SCHEDULES. 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880. Partial index.
Entries include the following information for those who died in the decennial census year ending June 1: name, age, sex, color or race, whether married or widowed, place of birth, occupation, and month and cause of death. The 1850 and 1860 schedules include the additional entry of the number of days ill. The 1860 census also indicates whether African–Americans were free or slave. The 1870 and 1880 schedules also show if the father and the mother were foreign born. And the1880 census includes the length of U.S. residence, place where the cause of disease was contracted, and the name of the attending physician. For the 1870 schedule the Archives only has schedules for the counties of Kendall through Woodford. Only the 1860 schedule is indexed.
 
Handicapped    Record Series 951.023. SCHEDULE OF HANDICAPPED, DEPENDENT, AND DELINQUENT INHABITANTS. 1880. No index.
Schedule provides information on each insane, idiotic, deaf mute, and blind person as well as every homeless child, prison inmate, pauper, and indigent person. In addition to giving name and residence, the schedule outlines the history of the individual’s condition, care, or incarceration.

Finding Your Ancestors
Researching On Your Own
The Name Index For Early Illinois Records, located in the Archives card catalog aisle, contains index cards arranged alphabetically by head of household’s name for the 1810–1850 federal population schedules. Each index card provides the householder’s name, county and township of residence, census year, and page and line numbers of the appropriate county return. For the 1850 census the names of all family members are indexed separately. The 1860 index is contained in a separate card index which lists all family members under the head of the household. This 1860 index also includes the 1860 mortality schedule. The Archives has an index to the 1870 census available as a publication and on its computers. The index can be searched by head of household.

For the 1880 census, the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) has created a database to replace the original soundex system. The Archives possess the complete 5 CD set, covering the entire nation. The database includes every name entry in the census, providing age; sex; race; marital status; occupation; relationship to head of household; state or country of birth of individual and his or her parents; and microfilm numbers and pages of National Archives’ and LDS Family History Library’s reels. In addition to basic name searches, genealogists can conduct advanced searches for individuals by using combinations of database entries.

The 1900, 1910, and 1920 censuses are indexed by the soundex or miracode system which allows the genealogist to consult microfilm indexes for the head of the household through an alpha-numeric coding of surnames. An explanation of this system and a key to coding names can be found in the Archives microfilm reading room. These indexes show the name, age, and birthplace of each household member. These indexing systems utilize cross references for persons in the household whose surnames are different from that of the head of the household. With these citations the researcher can consult the appropriate population schedule referring to the ancestor in question by way of the county name, enumeration district number, and usually, page and line numbers.

Currently no personal name index for Illinois exists for the 1930 census. The researcher will need to review the population schedules for a specific county, municipality, or township to locate an ancestor. The National Archives has an on-line locator for 1930 census microfilm, which allows searches for counties, cities, and particular geographic places or institutions if recorded in the enumeration district descriptions. Places include names of towns, streets, post offices, rural townships, election precinct and ward numbers, and rivers and lakes. Institutions include schools, prisons and sanitariums. The appropriate reel of microfilm to consult will be indicated in a successful search. For Illinois, the Web site address is http://1930census.archives.gov/beginSearch.asp.

The Archives also has a collection of privately published indexes to the federal censuses. These indexes include local genealogical society publications as well as the products of larger commercial publishers. The local genealogical society publications provide indexes to the residents of particular counties for particular census years. The commercial publications often cover the entire state for an entire census year. Please consult the Archives staff to obtain a listing of these publications.

The special schedules are not indexed except for the aforementioned 1850–1870 mortality schedules. The researcher must search these censuses by county in order to locate ancestors.

Mail, Telephone and Internet Requests
In searching a specified population census, whether it is indexed or not, the Archives requires the subject’s full name as well as the county and township of residence. As a result of limitations on research time, staff cannot search the unindexed 1930 census and the special census schedules for individual names. The Archives will provide, if located, an uncertified and unofficial photocopy of the census schedule. As a result of limitations on staff research time, the Archives can research no more than two searches per inquiry. Send inquiries to: Illinois State Archives, Reference Unit, Norton Building, Springfield, Illinois 62756. Telephone: (217) 782-3553. Fax: (217) 524-3930. Submit a Request Via the Internet.


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