{"id":86759,"date":"2022-09-19T11:39:41","date_gmt":"2022-09-19T15:39:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=86759"},"modified":"2023-01-23T11:25:55","modified_gmt":"2023-01-23T16:25:55","slug":"genealogy-tip-4-places-to-learn-more-about-the-u-s-census","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/genealogy-tip-4-places-to-learn-more-about-the-u-s-census.html","title":{"rendered":"Genealogy Tip: 4 Places to Learn More about the U.S. Census"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction:<\/em><\/strong> In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega gives tips to learn more about what the census is, and how to use it better to find your ancestors. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book \u201cFrom the Family Kitchen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Most likely you\u2019ve researched the census countless times as you work to learn more about your ancestors. But what do you really know about the census? What questions do you have? Who has the answers?<\/p>\n

\"Illustration:<\/a>
Illustration: \u201cTaking the Census\u201d by Thomas Worth, 1870. Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The following four sources should be consulted to learn more about the census, how to use the census in your research, and how to use the census to understand your ancestors\u2019 lives.<\/p>\n

1) FamilySearch Research Wiki<\/strong><\/p>\n

FamilySearch should be one of your first go-to sources for genealogical records and education. There\u2019s so much to explore on the FamilySearch website, but for the purposes of this article we will explore the FamilySearch Research Wiki<\/a>.<\/p>\n

First, do a search for the United States Genealogy<\/a> page. From this page, click on \u201cCensus\u201d in the \u201cRecord Types\u201d box found on the right-hand side.<\/p>\n

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This Census page<\/a> provides links to the census on FamilySearch, wiki pages for various census types, and blank census forms. You can also click on a specific census year and view a page about that census that includes what information was collected in that year\u2019s enumeration.<\/p>\n

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2) U.S. Census Bureau<\/strong><\/p>\n

The U.S. Census Bureau is the government agency responsible for the census enumeration. Their website has some information that can be useful to your research. Remember, they do not maintain the census microfilms and records; that is the job of the National Archives.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Census Bureau\u2019s website<\/a> has information about the history of the census including enumerator instructions, census questions, histories of each census year, agency history, and more.<\/p>\n

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3) National Archives<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are several types of help you can get from the National Archives website<\/a> in regards to census records. As the agency that is the holder of federal records, including the census, they have various materials in addition to records. Let\u2019s explore two that you\u2019ll want to become familiar with.<\/p>\n

Research our Records<\/a><\/p>\n

Research our Records is a section of the National Archives website that includes links and helpful information for the various records genealogists use. Specific pages within this section are for record sets like the census. On the Research our Records Census page<\/a> you will find links to help you with any census record you want to learn more about.<\/p>\n

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On the left-side of the page you will find links for general information about various censuses. Look in the \u201cResources\u201d section for links to blank forms of not only the census enumeration sheets but also general genealogy forms, as well as forms for immigration and military.<\/p>\n

In the center of the Research Our Records Census page is a button labeled \u201cSearch Censuses by Year and Ancestor\u2019s Name.\u201d Click on that button and then choose a census year. You\u2019ll find links to where the census is found online, and enumeration maps. In addition, there are resources useful when researching the census such as enumeration definitions. On the right side you\u2019ll find a list of the information found on the census. It\u2019s like having a quick guide for each census year.<\/p>\n

History Hub<\/a><\/p>\n

Another way to learn more about the census is to use the National Archives History Hub website. History Hub is a free crowdsourcing platform that is utilized by archivists, researchers, and family historians.<\/p>\n

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Before you ask or answer a question on History Hub, you must create a free account. See the History Hub website for details.<\/p>\n

4) Historical Newspapers<\/strong><\/p>\n

What can you learn about the census from a collection of historical newspapers, such as GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a>? It turns out, quite a bit. Reading newspaper articles from a specific census enumeration year, you can learn what your ancestors knew about the census that they were counted in. This can include Q & A articles explaining to the public what to expect, facsimiles of the enumeration forms, and statistics after the census was taken. These can be useful in better understanding your ancestor\u2019s time and place.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, California), 2 April 1940, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ready for the Census?<\/strong><\/p>\n

You can learn so much about your ancestors by searching the census \u2013 but don\u2019t forget to take the time to learn more about the particular year\u2019s enumeration that you are interested in. Educating yourself about the census can help you find your ancestors and analyze your results better than just blindly searching.<\/p>\n

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