Genealogy: Making Sense of Census

First US Census - 1790

Taken decennially, starting June 1 of the census year

Some states first Census burned so what is "called" the first Census is actually a recreation from earlier State and County individual Census. ex. Virginia

Before 1850, not that helpful

1850 and beyond, better information collected

1860: Names of entire household included, not just numbers

1880: Relationship of members of household to head of house.

    (Good to figure out in-laws or others living in the house who aren't spouse and children.)

1890 - most data has been lost in a 1921 fire

Penmanship and spelling were NOT requirements

I can't find my relatives!

1. Think about possible spelling/transcription errors
2. Check preceding and following pages in case there are more family living close by
3. Double check the township/county... did the boundaries shift? Maybe they were actually in a neighboring county if lines were different.
4. Google and Wikipedia are great for county history to check for boundary movement.