1860
They asked for property value. Who knows how accurate that is! They probably didn’t like the tax man then either.
1870
They asked if parents were of foreign birth. If a person was born or married within the year, the month was given.
1880
First census to ask each person where their parents were born. First census to give each person’s relationship to the head of household. Prior to this you may have assumed the female listed after the male head of household was the wife. Not always.
*** When the female is listed as the wife in any census make sure it makes sense with the ages of the children. She could be a step-mom to some of them.
1890
Most of the census was lost in a warehouse fire. Only fragments exist. The census schedule done for Union Veterans and widows exists.
1900
This census had columns for month and year of birth for all. It also asked the number of years married the number of children born to the mother and number still living. This will help figuring out previous marriages etc.
*** I found a relative who only listed the number of years of present marriage and number of children of such marriage, while a child from a previous marriage was listed with her parents as a boarder.
1910
This census asked even more detailed questions.
1920
Native Americans were now enumerated in the regular schedule. If microfilm copies are hard to read, too bad; the government in their infinite wisdom had them destroyed. Even more women are now the heads of households.
1930
Guess what! The originals were also destroyed. The actual enumeration date is shown on the page so we may be able to figure out ages better.
1940
Lists the names of persons usually in the household but are absent. Men could be away on business or in the military. Unanswered
1860
They asked for property value. Who knows how accurate that is! They probably didn’t like the tax man then either.
1870
They asked if parents were of foreign birth. If a person was born or married within the year, the month was given.
1880
First census to ask each person where their parents were born. First census to give each person’s relationship to the head of household. Prior to this you may have assumed the female listed after the male head of household was the wife. Not always.
*** When the female is listed as the wife in any census make sure it makes sense with the ages of the children. She could be a step-mom to some of them.
1890
Most of the census was lost in a warehouse fire. Only fragments exist. The census schedule done for Union Veterans and widows exists.
1900
This census had columns for month and year of birth for all. It also asked the number of years married the number of children born to the mother and number still living. This will help figuring out previous marriages etc.
*** I found a relative who only listed the number of years of present marriage and number of children of such marriage, while a child from a previous marriage was listed with her parents as a boarder.
1910
This census asked even more detailed questions.
1920
Native Americans were now enumerated in the regular schedule. If microfilm copies are hard to read, too bad; the government in their infinite wisdom had them destroyed. Even more women are now the heads of households.
1930
Guess what! The originals were also destroyed. The actual enumeration date is shown on the page so we may be able to figure out ages better.
1940
Lists the names of persons usually in the household but are absent. Men could be away on business or in the military. Unanswered questions! Birthplace of mother and father, columns 36, 37 and veteran’s questions columns 39, 40. This info only asked of people on lines 14 and 29 of the census. Originals also destroyed.