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Iowa Research Outline |
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Table of Contents
Helps For Using This Research Outline
References To The Family History Library Catalog
References To Other Family History Library Publications
Archives And Libraries
Computer Networks And Bulletin Boards
Familysearch™
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Federal Censuses
Mortality Schedules, 1850–1880
Territorial Censuses
State Censuses
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Divorce Records
Emigration And Immigration
Routes To Iowa
Gazetteers
Genealogy
Nationwide Indexes
Statewide Collections And Indexes
Historical Geography
History
Land And Property
Land Office Records
Homestead Grants
Other Iowa Land Records
County Records
Early Private Land Claims, 1700s–1837
Territorial Papers Of Iowa, 1838–1852
Maps
Land Ownership And Plat Maps
County Atlases
Military Records
Revolutionary War, 1775–1783
Early Records Beginning With 1837
Mexican War, 1846–1848
Civil War, 1861–65
Spanish-american War, 1898, And Philippine Insurrection, 1898–1902
World War I, 1917–1918
Military Discharge Records, 1860s–1950s
Militia Records, 1860s–1900s
National Guard Application Forms, 1870–1920
Location Of Original Records
Minorities
Native Races
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Obituaries
Periodicals
Probate Records
Public Records
Schools
Societies
Taxation
Vital Records
County Records Of Births And Deaths
State Records Of Births And Deaths
Other Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions
CENSUS Census records from 1850 on can show names of each member of the household, his or her age, state or country of birth, occupation and race. Censuses can also give clues about marital status, marriage dates, death dates, immigration and naturalization information, migration patterns, previous residence, adoptions, and divorces. (See the United States Research Outline for more details.) Censuses for 1840 and earlier list only heads of families.
Most families were listed when a census taker made his visits, making these records rich in clues. Other persons in the county with the same surname may be related to each other. Statewide indexes can also help to locate families when only the state where they lived is known.
Federal censuses for the state of Iowa begin with 1850 and were taken every ten years through 1990. See the United States Research Outline for more information about nationwide census records and indexes.
Many federal census records are at the following archives:
The 1890 census schedules for Iowa and most other states were destroyed in a fire on 21 January 1921 at the Commerce Department in Washington, D.C.
The 1850, 1860, and 1870 federal censuses have statewide, head-of-household indexes (in books). These were compiled by various organizations. If an ancestor does not appear in one index, check another for the same year as the handwriting may not have been deciphered correctly.
The 1880 (partial), 1900, and 1920 censuses have Soundex (phonetic) indexes on microfilm.
The 1910 census does not have a Soundex index for Iowa; however, if you know the town or city where your ancestor lived, you can find the appropriate county, enumeration district number, and Family History Library film number by looking in the following source:
Buckway, Eileen G., comp. U. S. 1910 Federal Census: Unindexed States: A Guide to Finding Census Enumeration Districts for Unindexed Cities, Towns, and Villages. Salt Lake City: Family History Library, 1992. (FHL book 973 X2bu 1910; fiche 6101340; computer number 678265.)
The 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 censuses have mortality schedules. These schedules list the names of persons who died during the year preceding the census. Mortality schedules contain information on a person’s age, state or country of birth, month of death, cause of death, number of days ill, race, occupation, and for 1880, parents’ birthplaces.
The State Historical Society in Des Moines and Iowa City and the Family History Library have copies of the mortality schedules.
Like the census, these records are arranged by county and then by town.
The 1850 census mortality schedule has been indexed in:
Jackson, Ronald Vern. Iowa 1850 Mortality. North Salt Lake, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1987. (FHL book 977.7 X2j 1850; computer number 450369.)
Territorial census enumerations were taken for the following years (although in most cases only records of a few counties have survived):
The above censuses give the name of the head of household and the county of residence.
The 1840 territorial census also provides the name of the head of household and the number of males and females with age indications: under 5, 5–10, 10–15, 15–20, 20–30, and ten-year increments to 100 plus.
Indexes to the territorial censuses for 1836, 1838, 1840, and 1841–1846 are available in book form at the Family History Library.
State censuses were taken from 1846 to 1925 and give the following information:
State censuses were taken in the following years:
The following indexes are available for 1841 to 1859:
Jackson, Ronald Vern, ed. Iowa Census Records, 1841–1849. 2 vols. Salt Lake City: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1979, 1981. (FHL book 977.7 X22i 1841–1849; fiche 6019963 [vol. 1]; computer number 2818.)
Jackson, Ronald Vern, ed. Iowa Census Records, 1851 to 1859. North Salt Lake, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1981. (FHL book 977.7 X2i 1851–1859; computer number 453831.)
Jackson, Ronald Vern, ed. Iowa 1852. North Salt Lake, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1988. (FHL book 977.7 X22io 1852; computer number 482768.)
For 1856 a census substitute for many cities in Iowa is:
Sopp, Elsie L. Personal Name Index to the 1856 City Directories of Iowa. Detroit, Mich.: Gale Research Co., 1980. (FHL book 977.7 D42s; computer number 57070.)
The 1856, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, and 1925 Iowa census records list each person in the household and give the following information:
1856 - Name, sex, age, birthplace, marital status, length of residence, race, citizenship, native or naturalized voter, occupation, militia status, years of residence in Iowa, land ownership, disability, economic status, and agriculture or manufacturing information.
1885 - Name, address, age, race, marital status, occupation, state or country of birth, county of birth (if born in Iowa), native or foreign parentage, military service eligibility and whether they are registered to vote. If the person is an alien, it also lists whether he or she has applied for citizenship.
1895 - Name, age, race, marital status, state or country of birth, occupation, religious affiliation, military service eligibility, whether they are registered to vote, citizenship status, births and deaths in 1894, and Civil War service (and unit).
1905 - There is a card for each person, and the cards are arranged by county. They contain: name, city, ward, post office address, sex, race, age, state or country of birth, parents’ state or country of birth, home or farm ownership, estimated property value, mortgage debt, citizenship status, years of residence in the United States and in Iowa, marital status, occupation, and military service (war and unit, with dates of enlistment and discharge). Note: some of the cards are difficult to read.
1915 - Name, age, race, marital status, citizenship status, years in the United States and in Iowa, occupation, education, state or country of birth, home or farm ownership, military service (war and unit), religious affiliation, and parents’ state or country of birth.
1925 - Name, relationship to head of family, race, age, marital status, home ownership or rental information, citizenship status, years in the United States and in Iowa, education, state or country of birth, father’s name, state or country of birth and age, mother’s full maiden name, state or country of birth and age, and parents’ place of marriage.
For the 1925 census, there is an index for the following cities: Boone, Cedar Falls, Centerville, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Council Bluffs, Dubuque, Ottumwa, Sioux City, Waterloo, Davenport, and Des Moines. Under each city, residents are listed alphabetically. You can find this information in:
1925 Iowa State Census Index. [Des Moines]: State of Iowa, Department of General Services, Records Management Division, Micrographics Section, 1980. (On 29 FHL films beginning with 1430705; computer number 436267.)
Iowa state censuses are available at:
For further information about state censuses of Iowa, see:
Lainhart, Ann S. State Census Records. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1992. (FHL book 973 X2Lai; computer number 669024.)
Census schedules and their indexes are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:
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Federal Censuses
Mortality Schedules, 1850–1880
1850
(FHL film 1421006; computer number 451131)
1860
(FHL film 1421007; computer number 288910)
1870
(FHL films 1421008-10; computer number 451141)
1880
(FHL films 1421011-14; computer number 451143)
Territorial Censuses
State Censuses
IOWA - CENSUSIOWA - CENSUS - [YEAR]IOWA - CENSUS - [YEAR] - INDEXESIOWA, [COUNTY] - CENSUS - [YEAR]IOWA, [COUNTY], [TOWN]- CENSUS- [YEAR]
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Version of Data: 6/8/2001]