Missouri Census

Online Resources

 * United States Online Census, 1790-1940
 * Missouri, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1830-1870, ($), index
 * Missouri, State Census Collection, 1844-1881 ($)
 * Missouri, State and Territorial Census Records, 1732-1933, index.
 * — index and images

Tips
 * If at first you don't find a name, try again under another spelling.
 * Photocopy each ancestor's census. Identify where you found it.
 * Look for an ancestor in every census during her or his lifetime.
 * On the family group record show each person's census listings.
 * Study others in the same household, neighbors, and anyone with the similar names nearby on the census in community context.


 * For a list of the exact date of each federal census, click here.


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Missouri State Censuses Online

 * 1732-1933 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1830-1870 - Missouri, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1830-1870 at Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1844-1881 - Missouri, State Census Collection, 1844-1881 ($)

Microfilm images
Many federal census records (1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930) are at the following archives:


 * State Historical Society of Missouri (University of Missouri–Columbia Campus)
 * Missouri State Archives (Jefferson City)
 * The Family History Library
 * The National Archives

Residents of Missouri may borrow microfilm of federal census records through 1880 from the Missouri State Historical Society on interlibrary loan through public or college libraries. State census microfilm. Soundexes, and other indexes may not be borrowed.

Indexes: fiche, film, or book
For a list of microform and book indexes for the population schedules of Missouri, click here

Indexes: fiche, film, or book
For a list of microform and book indexes for the non-population schedules of Missouri, click here.

State, territorial, and colonial censuses
The Territory of Missouri took censuses in 1814, 1817, and 1819. The State of Missouri took censuses in 1821, then every four years beginning in 1824 through 1868, and in 1876. Most of these Territorial and State Censuses no longer exist. Listed below are copies currently available. Some censuses only gave head of household and others listed all household members.

At Ancestry.com


 * 1887-Phelps
 * 1881-Reynolds
 * 1880-Cass
 * 1876- Atchison, Benton, Butler, Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Carroll, Cass, Christian, Daviess, St. Francois, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Holt, Howard, Madison, McDonald, Moniteau, Montgomery, Osage, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, Stone, Texas, Worth and Webster Counties.
 * 1873-Cole County
 * 1869-Franklin County
 * 1868-Cape Girardeau and Franklin Counties
 * 1867- Cape Girardeau, Franklin, and Greene Counties.
 * 1858- St. Louis County
 * 1857- St. Louis County
 * 1856- Audrain County
 * 1844- Callaway County

At the State Historical Society of Missouri (University of Missouri–Columbia Campus):


 * 1876 - Benton, Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Christian, Greene, Holt, Howard, McDonald, Montgomery, Osage, Phelps, Reynolds, St. Francois counties (all microfilm) Butler, Iron and Texas counties (transcriptions).
 * 1868 - Cape Girardeau, Ste. Genevieve, and Webster counties (all microfilm)
 * 1864 - Gasconade County (transcription)
 * 1844 - Callaway County (microfilm), Marion County (transcription) *1852 - St. Charles County (transcription)
 * 1840 - Rives County [now Henry County] (transcription)
 * 1819 - St. Charles Territorial Censuses (transcription)
 * 1817 - St. Charles Territorial Censuses (transcription)

At the Missouri State Archives (Jefferson City):


 * 1868 - Cape Girardeau County (microfilm)
 * 1844 - Callaway County (microfilm); Greene County (transcription)
 * 1840 - New Madrid, Newton, Pike, Randolph, Ray, Rives (later Henry), Shelby, Stoddard and Warren counties (all transcriptions)

Existing and lost censuses
For a list of available and missing Missouri censuses, click here.

Why use a census?
A well-indexed census is one of the easiest ways to locate where an ancestor's family lived and when they lived there. You can also use censuses to follow the changes in a family over time, and identify neighbors. These and other clues provided by censuses are important because they help find additional kinds of records about the family.

More about censuses
Click here for additional details about how to use censuses, such as:


 * index searching tips
 * analyzing and using what you find
 * census accuracy
 * historical background
 * contents of various census years and types