U.S. federal censuses prior to 1850 only name the head of household, making these records particularly challenging to work with. Only the head of household is identified by name. Other free and enslaved household members are referenced by tick marks, in gender and age groupings. These 1790 - 1840 censuses are listed in reverse chronological order.
This was the last federal census to only record the name of each head of household, which could be a free white person or a free person of color. It counted but did not name: all other free white people in a household (by gender and age range), all other free persons of color in a household (by gender and age range), and all enslaved people in a household (by gender and age range). Census Day was June 1, 1840.
The 1830 census only recorded the name of each head of household, which could be a free white person or a free person of color. It counted but did not name: all other whites in a household (by gender and age range), all other free persons of color in a household (by gender and age range), and all enslaved individuals in a household (by gender and age range). Census Day was June 1, 1830.
The 1820 census only recorded the name of each head of household, which could be a free white person or a free person of color. It counted but did not name: all other free white people in a household (by gender and age range), all other free persons of color in a household (by gender and age range), and all enslaved people in a household (by gender and age range). Census Day was August 7, 1820.
The 1810 U.S. census only recorded the name of each head of household, which could be free white person or a free person of color. It counted but did not name: all other free white people in a household (by gender and age range), all other free persons of color in a household, and all enslaved people in a household. Census Day was August 6, 1810.
The 1800 census only recorded the name of each head of household, which could be a free white person or a free person of color. It counted but did not name: all other free white people in a household (by gender and age range), all other free persons of color in a household, and all enslaved people in a household. Census Day was August 4, 1800.
The 1790 census was the first U.S. federal decennial census. It only recorded the name of each head of household, which could be a free white person or a free person of color. It counted but did not name: all other free white males in a household (by gender and age range), all free white females in a household, all other free persons of color in a household, and all enslaved people in a household. Census Day was August 2, 1790.
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To find and analyze the historical censuses.