U.S. federal censuses beginning in 1850 recorded the name of every individual in a household. These 1850 - 1950 censuses are listed in reverse chronological order.
These manuscripts will not be released by the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) until April 1, 2032.
The 1950 federal census is the most recent census manuscript collection available to public researchers. The census included separate questionnaires for population and housing. It was the first federal census after World War II, the first to enumerate Americans living abroad, and the last to enumerate Native Americans in a separate schedule. Census Day was April 1, 1950.
The 1940 U.S. Decennial Census is the only one to identify which household member (the informant) spoke to the enumerator. The census included separate questionnaires for population and housing. It was the first census after the Great Depression and asked questions about Social Security. Census Day was April 1, 1940.
This census had significant changes in how people were racially classified. The term mulatto was no longer allowed, and this was the first and only census to specifically identify people born in Mexico or with parents born in Mexico. It was also the first census to identify people of Asian descent outside of just Chinese and Japanese. This census included a separate questionnaire about unemployment and separate Native American schedule. Census Day was April 1, 1930.
This was the first census after World War I, and it also included a separate schedule for Native Americans. Census Day was January 1, 1920.
This census included a separate schedule for Native Americans, and it was the last census to as about U.S. Civil War veteran status. Census Day was April 15, 1910.
This census included a separate schedule for Native Americans, and it was the first census to ask about tribal affiliations. It was also the first census to enumerate Native Americans living on reservations instead of just those living in the general population. The 1900 census was the first census to ask about year of immigration to the U.S. Census Day was June 1, 1900.
The majority of the 1890 federal census was destroyed in 1921 from a fire in the U.S. Commerce Department Building. Nothing remains for California. This was the first census to distinguish between East Asian races, now including a Japanese classification instead of just Chinese. It was also the first census to ask about naturalization status, how long each immigrant had been in the U.S., and if each person could speak English. Census Day was June 2, 1890.
The 1880 federal decennial census included five schedules: 1) population, 2) agriculture, 3) manufacturers (industry), 4, social statistics, and 5) mortality. It was the first census for which the Census Bureau hired and trained professional enumerators instead of having the census conducted by U.S. marshalls and their assistants. It was also the first census to identify how each member of a household is related to the head of household. Census Day was June 1, 1880.
The 1870 census was the first federal census after the Civil War and the 13th Amendment. Consequently it is the first census on which formerly enslaved individuals are identified by name and formerly enslaved families are enumerated together. This census was also the first to count people of East Asian descent, although they were all categorized as Chinese. It was also the first to ask if one's parents were foreign born. Census Day was June 1, 1870.
The 1860 U.S. census included a separate (and the last) slave schedule, which only counted unnamed enslaved people, grouping them by gender, age, and color. It was the first federal decennial census to count Native Americans, but only those who were taxed and lived in the general population instead of on reservations, and no Native American or Indian racial category existed. Census Day was June 1, 1860.
This was the first federal census to record the name of every member of a household, however, only for free white people and free people of color. It was also the first census to ask where each person was born. The 1850 U.S. census included the first separate slave schedule, which only counted unnamed enslaved people, grouping them by gender, age, and color. Census Day was June 1, 1850.
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