United States Census, 1890 - FamilySearch Historical Records

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United States Census, 1890  and United States Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War, 1890 CID1610551 CID1877095 {{{CID3}}} {{{CID4}}} {{{CID5}}} {{{CID6}}} {{{CID7}}} {{{CID8}}} {{{CID9}}}
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United States
Flag of the United States of America
US Flag 1877-1890 (38 stars)
National Archives and Records Administration Logo
Record Description
Record Type	Population Schedules and Special Schedules
Record Group	RG 29: Records of the Bureau of the Census
Collection years	1890
Microfilm Publication	M407. Eleventh Census of the United States, 1890. 3 rolls.
	M123. Special Schedules of the Eleventh Census Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War Eleventh Census of the United States,1890. 118 rolls.
Arrangement	Arranged by state, by county, then by enumeration district
National Archives Identifier	23535802602585
FamilySearch Resources
United States Guided Research
United States Record Finder
Research Tips and Strategies
Beginning Research in United States Census Records
United States Census Searching
United States Census 1890
United States Census Veterans Schedules
Beginning Research in United States Military Records
Steps for research in United States Military Records
Union Veterans' and Lineage Society Records
Related Websites
NARA The 1890 Census
NARA The Fate of the 1890 Population Census, Part 1 Article
NARA The Fate of the 1890 Population Census, Part 2 Article
NARA Population Schedules for the 1890 Census Collection Description
A Fire ]Destroyed the 1890 Census]
Census Research for Genealogists
1890 Census Questions
Idaho Historical Society Reconstructed 1890 Census Veteran Schedules
NARA Special Census Schedules of Surviving Union Civil War Veterans or Their Widows Collection Description
NARA 1890 Special Schedule. Surviving Soldiers, Sailors and Marines and Widows,etc Form
Idaho Historical Society Civil War Veterans Index
Abstract of the Eleventh Census, 1890
Archive
National Archives and Records Administration

What is in This Collection?

This article describes the surviving population and veteran (Union Army and Navy and widows) schedules. Index and images of the surviving population schedules for 6,160 names exist only for the states of Alabama, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas. The schedules are from Record Group 29, Records of the Bureau of the Census and is NARA microfilm publication M407.

The U.S. federal census was conducted each decade from 1790-present. This information pertains to censuses conducted in 1850, 1860, and 1870.

Federal census takers were asked to record information about all those who were in each household on the census day, which was 1 June. A census taker might have visited a house on a later date, but the information he collected was supposed to be about the people who were in the house on the census day. The basic census enumeration unit was the county. Each county was divided into enumeration districts, one for each enumerator. The completed forms were sent to the Census Office in the Commerce Department in Washington D.C.

The U.S. federal census was taken at the beginning of every decade to apportion the number of representatives that a state could send to the House of Representatives in Congress. In the absence of a national system of vital registration, many vital statistics and personal questions were asked to provide a statistical profile of the nation and its states.

Population schedules consisted of large sheets with rows and columns. The schedules were arranged by place, such as township or post office. The places were not filed in any particular order. The arrangement of families on a schedule is normally in the order in which the enumerator visited the households.

Federal censuses are usually reliable, depending on the knowledge of the informant and the care of the census enumerator. Information may have been given to a census taker by any member of the family or by a neighbor. Some information may have been incorrect or deliberately falsified.

Related State Census Collections

• Iowa, 1895
• Kansas, 1895
• Michigan, 1894
• Minnesota, 1895
• New Jersey, 1895
• New York, 1892
• New York City, Police Census 1890
• Wisconsin, 1895

Related Articles

• Kelle Blake. "First in the Path of the Firemen. The Fate of the 1890 Population Census, Part 1" Prologue 28 (Spring, 1996)
• Christopher A. Nordmann. "Substitutes for the 1890 Census." NGS Magazine 33 #4 (October-December 2007): 23-26.
• Evangeline Thurber. "The 1890 Census Records of the Veterans of the Union Army." National Genealogical Society Quarterly pp. 7-9

Image Visibility

Whenever possible FamilySearch makes images and indexes available for all users. However, rights to view these data are limited by contract and subject to change. Because of this there may be limitations on where and how images and indexes are available or who can see them. Please be aware some collections consist only of partial information indexed from the records and do not contain any images.

For additional information about image restrictions see Restrictions for Viewing Images in FamilySearch Historical Record Collections.

To Browse the Population Schedules

You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for United States Census, 1890.

To Browse the Veteran Schedules

You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for United States Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War, 1890.

Index and images of surviving veteran schedules enumerating Union veterans and widows of veterans of the Civil War for the states of Kentucky through Wyoming. Some returns include U.S. Naval Vessels and Navy Yards. The schedules are from Record Group 15, Records of the Veterans Administration and is NARA microfilm publication M123. See also Evangeline Thurber. "The 1890 Census Records of the Veterans of the Union Army" published in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

• State, county and enumeration district where census was taken
• Date census was taken
• Full name of head of household
• Names of all persons living in household
• Was head of household a participant in the Civil War
• Relationship of person to head of household
• Race
• Gender
• Age at nearest birthday, if under 1 year, it is given in months
• Marital status (single, married, widowed or divorced)
• Married during the census year?
• Mother of how many children
• How many are still living
• Place of birth given for each member of household
• Birthplace of father of each person
• Birthplace of mother of each person
• Number of years having lived in the United States
• Naturalized citizen?
• Profession/occupation
• Able to read, write and speak English
• Ever been a prisoner, convict, homeless or a pauper

Veterans and widows schedule

• State, county and district where census was taken
• Date census was taken
• Full name of surviving soldier, sailor, marine, or widow
• Rank, company, regiment or vessel
• Date of enlistment
• Date of discharge
• Length of service in years, months, and days

Collection Content

Sample Images

• 1890 United States Census Examples
• 

  1890 Family Schedule page 1

• 

  1890 Family Schedule page 2

• 

  1890 Census of Union Veterans and Widows

• 1890 Sample Form Veteran Schedule

How Do I Search This Collection?

To begin your search you will need to know:

• The name of your ancestor
• The residence of your ancestor
• The age of your ancestor

United States Census, 1890

Search the Index

Search by name on the Collection Details Page.

1. Fill in the search boxes in the Search Collection section with the information you know
2. Click Search to show possible matches

View the Images

United States Census, 1890 View images in this collection by visiting the Browse Page

1. Select State
2. Select County
3. Select Township of other division of county
4. Select Enumeration District to view the images

United States Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War, 1890

Search the Index

Search by name on the Collection Details Page.

1. Fill in the search boxes in the Search Collection section with the information you know
2. Click Search to show possible matches

View the Images

View images in this collection by visiting the Browse Page

1. Select State
2. Select County
3. Select City or Town to view the images

How Do I Analyze the Results?

Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

• Add any new information to your records
• Use the estimated birth year to determine an approximate birth date. This date along with the place of birth can help you find a birth record. Birth records often list biographical and marital details about the parents and close relatives other than the immediate family
• Use the race information to find records related to that ethnicity such as records of the Freedman’s Bureau or Indian censuses
• Use the military service information to locate their military files in the State or National Archives

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

• Look for variant spellings of the surnames
• Look for another index. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records
• Search the indexes and records of nearby localities
• Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals that may be your ancestor
• There is also the possibility that a family was missed in the census
• There may be more than one person in the records with the same name
• Your ancestor may have used different names, or variations of their name, throughout their life
• If your ancestor used an alias or a nickname, be sure to check for those alternate names

Research Helps

The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the United States.

• United States Guided Research
• United States Record Finder
• Research Tips and Strategies
• Beginning Research in United States Census Records
• Beginning Research in United States Military Records

Related Family History Library Holdings

• Schedules enumerating Union veterans and widows of Union veterans of the Civil War
• Population schedules of the eleventh census of the United States, 1890
• Plans of division into enumeration districts, eleventh census, 1890 : NA T1224

Related FamilySearch Historical Record Collections

• United States General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934
• United States Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917
• United States Civil War Widows and Other Dependents Pension Files, 1861-1934
• United States National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938
• Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865

Related Digital Books

• The history and growth of the United States census : prepared for the Senate Committee on the Census

Known Issues

Click here for a list of known issues with this collection.

Citing This Collection

Collection Citation: The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Citing this Collection.

Record Citation: When looking at a record, the citation can be viewed by clicking the drop-down arrow next to Document Information.

Image Citation: When looking at an image, the citation is found on the Information tab at the bottom left of the screen.

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