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1880 Census Records Online

Censuses offer a window into the pasts of your ancestors. The practice of taking a census on a nationwide basis dates back to 1790. With some exceptions, this information has been well-preserved.

GenealogyBank provides 1880 census records online in digital form, enabling you to unveil your family’s history.

Jump into your family history and search the 1880 census with just a few clicks. If you’re ready to construct your family tree, the 1880 census database has the information you need.

 

1880 Census Records Online

Federal censuses have been taken since 1790. The most recent publicly available census is 1880. A long history of census records means that the family researcher has a wealth of information to work from.

For acquiring basic information about your family and where they lived, the 1880 Federal census is an excellent place to start.

So, what can you find from a census?

  • Names – Look up the names of your ancestors and who they were married to. This can help to trace your ancestors as they move across the country, as well as uncovering ancestors you never knew about.
  • Birthplaces – Is your family on the move? United States census records 1880 provide information on birthplaces and may even offer insights into where a person’s parents were born.
  • Relatives – The 1880 US census includes information on everyone who resided within a household. Relatives like grandparents, cousins, and even adopted children may appear on a census.
  • Immigration – Find out more about your heritage with the1880 census searchable database. These documents shed light on your ancestors’ immigration and naturalization history.
  • Neighborhood Makeup – The United States census 1880 can help to build up a picture of where your ancestors lived and the type of neighborhood it was.

To create a picture of your family tree and uncover a launchpad for further research, perform a GenealogyBank 1880 census search now.

How to Search the United States Census 1880

Begin your search for an ancestor within the annals of the 1880 US census. With the help of GenealogyBank, you can traverse centuries of US history within a matter of seconds. The first step is to choose an ancestor to search for. With GenealogyBank, all you need to do is enter your ancestor’s first and last names. You’ll instantly see census results for your specific census.

However, for a successful 1880 census search you need to narrow down your results. Follow these steps to get more accurate results.

Step One – Enter the full name of your ancestor, including any middle names or initials they might have.

Step Two – Include some keywords, such as the location your ancestor lived in. For earlier censuses, you can add the state in which they lived, but the more information you have, the better.

Step Three – Exclude certain keywords if you know specific pieces of information don’t apply to your ancestor.

Step Four – Change the search order of your census results. GenealogyBank allows you to filter your results. This is especially important if you have less information on your ancestor, or they had a common last name.

 

Tips for a Successful 1880 Census Search

There is an art to extracting the most information from 1880 census records online. Census records vary in their accuracy. As a result, when you search the 1880 Federal census, implement these tips for a successful search.

Here are some advanced tips for a 1880 census search by name:

  • Search individually for each ancestor. Census records may differ between people even in the same household. This could yield additional important information.
  • Search for common misspellings or even common nicknames. Old censuses often lacked accuracy, particularly if your ancestors were illiterate.
  • Look up entries for the neighbors of your ancestors. It can shed light on the migratory heritage of your family.

Finally, make sure you use any census records you find as a platform for further research.

The Value of Our 1880 Census Database

Our census database has been fully digitized with the original records direct from the United States Census Bureau.

You have access to millions of census records at your fingertips. There’s no easier way to build your family tree and construct the history of this great nation and the role your ancestors played in it.

GenealogyBank records cover more than 330 years of US history. In a world where official records were few and people slipped into the mists of time, censuses are the one constant. Since 1790, a census has been taken every ten years. With some notable exceptions, the vast majority of records have survived up until the present day. Go back to the beginning of the American Experiment. Using the US census records should be your initial starting point for family research. They contain valuable information that can help you complete your genealogy project.

Explore 1880 Census Records

1880 Census Facts

  • Population: 50,189,209 — a 30.2% increase from the 1870 Census
  • Census Date: June 1880
  • Census Date Released: 1962
  • Number of States Participating: 38
  • US Territories Participating: US Territories Participating: Arizona, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Utah
  • Data Lost: (some data from localities may be missing or part of the larger county).

1880 Census Questions Asked

  • Name
  • Number of family members & number of dwellers in home
  • Color
  • Age & Sex
  • Relation to the head of the family
  • Marital status including if widowed or divorced - If married within the census year
  • Occupation & number of months employed within the census year
  • Place of birth
  • Parents’ (both mother & father) place of birth
Explore 1880 Census Records

Notable Events Between 1870-1880:

Political Events
  • African Americans won the right to vote in 1870
  • In 1872, Susan B. Anthony casts an illegal ballet a sparking the women’s right to vote debate
  • The Civil Rights Act was passed in 1875 but was later overturned in 1883.
  • Colorado became the 38th state in 1876
National Catastrophes
  • On October 8, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire swept through the city, killing 250 people and leaving 90,000 homeless.
  • Another fire in Wisconsin in 1871 killed between 1,200 to 2,500 individuals, making it the most devastating fire in American history.
Sports & Pop Culture
  • Construction on the Brooklyn Bridge began in January 1870
  • Yellowstone became America’s first National Park in 1872
  • In 1876, the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition, a World’s Fair, opened, hosting 34 nations and 20 colonies.
  • The Yale News became the first daily college newspaper in the U.S.

Find your ancestors in the 1880 U.S. Federal Census - where they lived, worked, and their relatives. Then use our collection of newspaper archives to uncover the stories behind the names. Combined these valuable genealogy records can give you a greater understanding of your ancestors, the lives they lived, and how they shaped your family history throughout the years.