Federal

Many federal census records are found at the Family History Library, State Historical Society of Missouri, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The United States Research Outline provides more detailed information about these records.

The Family History Library has the U.S. federal censuses of Missouri for 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920. The 1890 census was destroyed. The 1890 Union veterans schedule and published index are available at the Family History Library and at the National Archives. The 90,000 names in the index include some Confederate soldiers.

Statewide indexes are available for the 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, and 1870 censuses in book format. Separate published indexes for many counties are also available for 1860. Soundex (phonetic) indexes are available on microfilm for part of the 1880 census and all of the 1900, 1910, and 1920 censuses.

Mortality schedules (lists of deaths during the year preceding the census) exist for 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880. The State Historical Society of Missouri has these records. Copies of the schedules and indexes for 1850, 1860, and 1870 (counties A-L) are available at the Family History Library.

Territorial and State

A few Spanish censuses were taken as early as 1772. Portions of Missouri were included in the 1810 census of Louisiana Territory. Missouri Territory took censuses in 1814, 1817, 1819, and 1820. The 1820 census was destroyed, but tax and vital records have been published as a substitute.

The state of Missouri took censuses in 1821, at four-year intervals from 1824 to 1863, and in 1876. The 1876 census, available for 10 counties, is the most complete. It lists only the heads of households. Most of the other schedules have been destroyed. Copies of the portions that remain are available at the State Historical Society of Missouri, the Family History Library, and the Missouri State Archives, and in some local county offices.

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CHURCH RECORDS