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U. S. CENSUS

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Someone once stated that
'statistics are like a bikini:
what they reveal is suggestive,
but what they conceal is vital.'

At the time of the Revolutionary War, there were approximately 1,500 to 2,500 Jews living in the United States. Today, there are over 5,600,000 in a general population of over 270,000,000. The 1890 Census was almost completely wiped out in a fire and Southern City courthouses were burned in the Civil war.

The U.S. Constitution requires the government to take a census of the population of the U.S. every 10 years. Since this law was established in 1790, every census is/was taken in a year ending in "0". And by law, all information relating to specific individuals is held in confidence for 72 years from the date of the census.

"The census is only as accurate as the information given. Many people lied about their birth dates, places of birth, whether they were single, widowed or divorced and so forth. Some folks made genuine errors, but some made deliberate ones, for whatever psychological needs they may have had at the time. Just like the absence of a record is information, so is a fudged one!"

"And there are the errors of the census taker who often could not understand accents, made mistakes in gender - for instance, for male German names like Sally or Hebrew names. And sometimes, they forgot to ask someone a question and rather than go back and 'go through That again," they would fake the answer. All of it adds a little bit of 'pilpel' to our task!" From a posting by Martha Lev-Zion martha@bgumail.bgu.ac.il on JewishGen 11/21/02. Martha also stated "take all "facts" on the various censuses with a large portion of salt!"

Census Records Online From 1790 to 1930 and more
http://www.censusfinder.com/

"State Census Records" - authored by Ann S. Lainhart in 1992
ISBN 0-8063-1362-5

Dinna Hill posted this message about disappointment with the US Census on JewishGen

"The main reliability of the US Census has to be the probability that the enumerated people were living (at least temporarily) at the location when the census taker visited."

"Spellings of first names, last names, middle initials may be correct or incorrect. We probably can assume that in most areas, the census takers were "Anglos", meaning people of English heritage. Therefore, when enumerating families with various other ancestries, last names were often spelled as the census taker assumed, and perhaps not as the family might have spelled their name. Some census takers may have asked for the spelling, but then the response may have been in the letters of the family's native tongue, which didn't do the "Anglo" census taker any good."

"People would give the nicknames of children, rather than their Baptized, Christened, or whatever might be the equivalent for Jewish persons. The census taker was not a mystic to know the "real" name."

"The next issue is age and place of birth. The census taker might visit the household during the day, while the man of the household was away in the fields or in the factory, or wherever. The wife might not know
while interrupted from washing, cooking, cleaning, child caring, offhand where her mother-in-law was born. Ages were often provided, but there might be issues of whether someone was going to be 46 or was 46 in reference to the official census date, versus the date the enumeration occurred."

"Finally, there are the allegations that many census takers were inebriated. Perhaps, but that was the least of it."

All censuses (before 1920) are public records and are available from a number of sources, both inside and outside the U.S., but are not available to date, in an easily useable form from the Internet. The United States Census Bureau has developed a web site to help access information it has compiled on population trends. There is plenty of information that you can glean from this site which is rich in content if this kind of information is of value to your research
http://www.nara.gov/

The Community Profiles section provides a great way to find information about your city or town or any other U.S. city or country.
http://www.census.gov

To find a profile:

1. Select the type of region you want (for example, Metropolitan Statistical Area -- the Census bureau term for what most just call 'cities')

2. Click the radio button beside the specific area and click 'Select Profile'.

3. Select the particular report you would like and click 'View Profile'.

Other information available through the site includes business and economic data and special thematic maps that graphically display population trends. The site also has a basic search engine that allow you to search by keyword.
http://factfinder.census.gov

Another link that may prove to be valuable in your search is the JewishGen FAQ on the JewishGen website at
http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/faq.html

Census Lookups - A series of mailing lists for census lookups. The theory of these lists is that everyone helps each other with lookups depending on the census records they have available to them.
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~censlook/

Census Microfilm Rental Program
PO Box 30
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701
Phone: 301 604 3699

Form to use:

Dear Sir or Madam:

Enclosed is a check for $7.50 ($3.50 for rental fee and $4.00 for shipping) for the 30-day rental of the following microfilms.
State/Territory: <your state>
Microfilm Publication: < your #>
Microfilm Roll Number: < your #>

Please send the microfilm to the following address:

< your address>
Thank You,

NARA Guides and Information
http://www.archives.gov/publications/finding-aids/guides.html

Visiting NARA - "The entrance to the research area is on the Pennsylvania Avenue side of the building, directly across the street from the Archives/Navy Memorial entrance to the Metrorail (the entrance to the exhibits is on the other side of the building on Constitution Ave.

When you enter, bags and cases are inspected, but you are allowed to bring them with you if you care to. There are also facilities for checking bags or clothing that you don't want to schlep around."

When I got to the 4th floor research area, the first thing I saw was a desk manned by two volunteers who helped people identify the file numbers of the records they were seeking and who instructed them on the cabinet numbers and drawer numbers in which they could find the films. I had prepared for the visit by checking the catalog on the NARA website, so I knew what materials were available and the file numbers, but the website did not tell me the cabinet and drawer numbers.

At the entrance to the file room, everyone must sign in and that's where you are assigned to a film reader. I was given a sheet of paper with a reader number and information on the use of the facility. The instructions said that if people were waiting for readers, others might be asked to relinquish their readers after 3 hours.

I thought the greatest thing about the Archives was that all the films were immediately available. They ask that you only take one film at a time from the files for viewing, but I went through about a half a dozen films and never had to wait for someone to return one that I was interest in. From a posting (partial) by Arnold Davidson.

See NARA's 1930 Census Microfilm Locator (1930 CML)
http://1930census.archives.gov/

http://1930census.archives.gov/stateSearch.asp

How to Research the 1930 Census Microfilm
http://1930census.archives.gov/beginSearch.asp

Enumeration
Districts

To find the Enumeration District numbers for the 1910 Census for most major U.S. cities, consult the National Archives microfiche publication Cross Index to Selected City Streets and Enumeration Districts, 1910 Census, National Archives Micro Publication No. M1283, on 50 microfiche cards.

This guide is available at all 13 of the National Archives regional branches and through all LDS Family History Centers. For ordering number at a Family History Center, see the FHLC Locality Catalog under the heading "United States - Census - 1910 - Indexes".

Akron, Ohio; Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Canton, OH; Charlotte, NC; Chicago, IL; Cleveland, OH; Dayton, OH; Denver, CO: Detroit, MI; District of Columbia; Elizabeth, NJ; Erie, PA; Ft. Wayne, IN; Gary, IN; Grand Rapids, MI; Indianapolis, IN; Kansas City, KS; Long Beach, CA; Los Angeles (and county) A; Newark, NJ; New York, City (Brooklyn, Manhattan & Bronx, Richmond) Oklahoma City, OK; Omaha, NE; Paterson, NJ; Peoria, IL; Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ; Reading, PA; Richmond, VA; San Antonio, TX; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; South Bend, IN; Tampa, FL; Tulsa, OK; Wichita, KS; Youngstown, OH

Enumeration District

Census geography maps, available on film, will locate the Enumeration Districts of various cities. Once you have found the proper ED, you can then search for street and addresses.

"Re the 1920 US Census Enumeration District numbers knowing an address. Specifically Brooklyn. There is a backdoor way of finding that number for practically any address on the 1920 census made possible by the new 1930 Census. The 1930 census enumeration district definitions (EDs), on the National Archives film series T1224, not only show the 1930 ED # (obviously), but for the first time also the 1920 ED #s they covered. Although the numbers are not the same, and several 1920 ED #s may be partially covered by a single 1930 ED, it can narrow your research choices for 1920 EDs. For example, if you were to look for a particular street address for Brooklyn in 1930 (assuming it wasn't renumbered since 1920), you should first use the new NARA website, NARA film series M1931, or for Brooklyn, the One Step Website, and when you find the ED# record it. Then go to the appropriate state/city/place roll in series T1224 for 1930 and locate that 1930 ED # description page, and then look on the left side of that page, where you should see the 1920 ED #s that your 1930 ED # covered. Next you would go to the roll that describes that state/city's/place's 1920 census description on the same series (T1224) and look up those ED #s you just got (rarely up to a maximum of 7 or 8). By drawing on a map the boundaries of those 1920 EDs, you should find the ED number you are searching for." From a posting by Joel Weintraub

Enumeration District Descriptions and Maps - researchers who cannot find a name in Soundex or in a commercial index may want to consult enumeration district (ED) descriptions and maps before undertaking the time-consuming task of examining all the schedules for a county or locality.
http://www.genealogy.org/census/intro-7.html

Enumeration District Descriptions and Maps -
http://www.us-census.org/research/ed-maps.htm

Enumeration District - census geography maps, available on film, will locate the Enumeration Districts of various cities. Once you have found the proper ED, you can then search for street and addresses.

For Boston, use the book "A Research Aid for the Massachusetts 1910 Federal Census" - authored by Mary Lou Craver Mariner and Patricia Roughan Bellows (Sudbury, MA., 1988

Cross Index to Selected City Streets and Enumeration Districts, 1930 Census, NARA M1931 microfilm series includes both New York city and Bronx and the other boroughs. If you have a census subscription at Ancestry.com you can use a program that will get you within a few pages at the site when you input the information from the index CD
http://erosenbaum.netfirms.com/

Tip: "write down the ED and page number. On the home page of Ancestry.com go to the link that says 1930 (or whatever) Census images. Then click on "Please choose a state" and click on the state. That link should bring you to "Choose a county" do that. Click on that. Enter the ED and click. ON the next page click on the same number for the district as you did for the ED. This should bring you to page 1. In the case of my missing link, and I'm assuming yours, the page number on Ancestry was the actual page number on the census page and not the page number of the image. That's why there was no link or the link didn't work. The census listed pages as 1A, 1B, etc. The pages are listed on the census form on the extreme right hand side. Put in double the page number you have (i.e. if your page number is 2 put in 4). Check the actual census page and see what page number is listed. Once you see what page number that is look for the page number you got as a result of your search. From a posting by Carol Blumenthal-Cohen.

Also on M1931 are 'most populated places in North Carolina.

	Census Descriptions of Geographic Subdivisions and Enumerations Districts
1880	Missing Pennsylvania descriptions. Online at www.familysearch.org and at the LDS Center
1900	FHL film 1303026; computer number 117685
1910	FHL film 1374010; computer number 176643
1920	FHL film 1842717; computer number

New York 1910 Census Microfilm Rolls http://www.avotaynu.com/1910censusny.htm

United States. Bureau of the Census. Cross Index to Selected City Streets and Enumeration Districts, 1910 Census. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, [1984]. (51 FHL fiche 6331481; computer number 258163.) Lists street addresses of Erie (after Elizabeth, New Jersey) on fiche 19, Philadelphia on fiche 38-42, and Reading on fiche 43 (after Phoenix, Arizona) with corresponding census enumeration districts.

Discover the U.S. Federal Census - an outstanding tutorial and follow the link
http://www.amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/

County-wide indexes to federal censuses sometimes help locate names overlooked in statewide indexes. A few county-wide indexes are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under PENNSYLVANIA, [COUNTY] - CENSUS.

When indexes are not available or omit a name, you can still look for the
name in the census. In large cities it helps to first learn the person's
address by searching the city directory for the same year (or the year before and after) as the census (see the “Directories” section of this outline). Then look for that address on the original census schedules. If the address is not on the census, as is the case in the earlier censuses, look for the address on a ward map to identify the ward and search every name on the census for that ward.

Most census records are indexed or Soundexed and those indices are available either on microfilm or in book form. An alternative would be to research city directories which list, among other information, the head of household's occupations. See Police Census information below on this page for further information.

There are two commercial companies that are offering (or will be shortly offering) the entire 1900 census and/or the 1910 census on-line: Genealogy.com at http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/1900census.html?
Welcome-984927794

(Cost is $79.95 a year (limited time offer) for the census database of over 31 million names covering nearly 600 counties in 10 states* only). There are now 43 states and nearly 73 million people on their site.

Census4all at
http://www.census4all.com
has free on-line indexes to the 1910 Census for selected states (RI, VT, NH). Other 1910 census indexes available on-line for those states not indexed by the U.S. government. The 1910 census is not indexed for 29 states which include Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey. Census pages can be purchased for a nominal fee.

*Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont

Another possibility is Ancestry.com which offers the 1900 and 1920 census
http://www.ancestry.com/search/io/main.htm

U S Census Bureau Maps and Cartographic Resources
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/maps/

Prior to
1880 Census

Statewide indexes are available for the 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, and 1850 censuses in book and microfiche format. The 1860 and 1870 indexes are available in book and compact disc formats. The 1860 book indexes are divided into five sets: East, Central, West, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh (Butler and Allegheny counties).

The 1870 indexes are divided into Pennsylvania East, Central, West, and Philadelphia. Soundex (phonetic) indexes are available for part of the 1880 census and all of the 1900, 1910, and 1920 censuses. Philadelphia County is indexed separately in 1910. An alphabetical transcript of Pittsburgh and Allegheny City is on microfilm for the 1850, 1860, and 1870 censuses (listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under PENNSYLVANIA, ALLEGHENY, PITTSBURGH - CENSUS).

"A Handy Guide to Record- Searching in the Larger Cities of the United States".- authored by Kirkham, E. Kay. Logan, Utah: Everton, 1974. (FHL book 973 D27kc; fiche 6010059-60; computer number 55656.) Includes ward maps and street indexes for: Harrisburg 1878; Philadelphia 1850-1855, 1860, and 1878; Scranton 1878; and Williamsport 1878.

Shortcut to the Ancestry.com United States federal Census images, available as census plug-ins for Connecticut, Indiana, New Jersey, New York (City and State), Pennsylvania are available for a nominal cost at
http://erosenbaum.netfirms.com/census_plugin.php

Pennsylvania Census Index, 1790 to 1930
http://www.genealogy.org/

1880 Census

The complete transcription of the 1880 US Census can now be ordered on CDs from the LDS website for $49.00 From the home page, just click on "Order/Download products"; on the next screen click on "Software products" Of the options that appear on the next page, click on "Census and Vital records." On the second page of the resulting list, the last item is #50168000, the 1880 US Census, complete record. Click on it for information. The set of CD's contains approximately 50 million names divided into seven regions and accompanied with a National Index. Written by Rose Ingram rosedon@sageserve.com Previously published by GEN DOBRY!, Vol. 2, No. 5, 31 May 2001. PolishRoots™:
http://PolishRoots.org/

The 1880 is the first ever U.S. Census published in its complete format, including information on 50,476,366 individuals. These census records include the population of the United States as it existed in 1880, including 38 states, nine territories, and the Indian territory of present-day Oklahoma.

The database contains the individual's full name, relationship to the heard of the house, age, gender, race, marital status, occupation, birthplace, and the birthplace of the individual's parents. The 1880 U.S. Census allows individuals to view the names of neighboring families.

The entire database of more than 50 million people will be available through the Family Search Internet Genealogy Service at
http://www.familysearch.org

The 1880 Federal Census for the Ladies Deborah Nursery - located at 95 East Broadway, New York City, consists of 73 names; 58 orphan children and 16 names of the caretaker family and staff at
http://www.scruz.net/~elias/hnoh

Shortcut to the Ancestry.com United States Federal Census images, available as census plug-ins for Connecticut, New Jersey, New York (City and State) Pennsylvania are available for a nominal cost at
http://erosenbaum.netfirms.com/census_plugin.php

In 1880, the cities of New York and Brooklyn were two completely separate
cities. The area that is now downtown Brooklyn became a city in 1838, but
annexed the surrounding towns in Kings County, such as Flatbush and
Gravesend, piecemeal over the next several decades, encompassing the
entire county only in 1894. Then, in 1898, the five boroughs of what is
now New York City joined to form the city of "greater New York".

1890 Census

My alma mater, the University of Minnesota, provides enumerator instructions for the Federal census on-line. This site will explain how the census was to be filled out. To use this site, just change the '1930' to the year for which you want instructions. http://www.ipums.umn.edu/usa/voliii/inst1930.html

The 1890 United States Census was mostly destroyed by a fire in 1921, before it could be preserved. Only fragments still exist. The Fate of the 1890 Census - http://www.nara.gov/publications/prologue/1890cen1.html

1900 Census

As a result of the loss of the 1890 Census, the 1900 U.S. Census is considered especially important as a 'bridging' resource; an essential collection for those seeking to locate their ancestors during the transition from the 19th to 20th centuries.

These actual images of the original 1900 census records offer hand-written documentation of an individual's age, citizenship, ethnic background, and more -- often revealing clues that help locate other records such as births, marriages and deaths.

Military Service Personnel - in the 1900 census, information may be found at the University of Minnesota's web site - a coherent national census database spanning 1850 to 1990. .
www.ipums.umn.edu

The 1900 through 1920 Censuses contains citizenship status for all foreign born residents

Na	Naturalized citizen
Pa	First papers filed
Al	Alien

The column is left blank for native-born, who are all automatically U.S. citizens.

1910 Census

For most of the States, 1910 is not indexed and you will have to know the person's address to find the census.

When Jews immigrated to the US during the 20th century, many settled in New York. This makes the 1910 census a valuable genealogical resource that includes information about age; relationship to head of household; number of years married; year of immigration; naturalization status; and for women, number of children born and number now living.

The 1910 census records for New York City, has recently been indexed. They are not on microfilm, but on a CD. The indices are not on index cards, but in digital form, which allows you to do sorts and print out lists of names, complete with the E.D.s and census page numbers you need to look up the record, in various forms. Of course, these records are only as good as the handwriting of the enumerator. Some names will be missing or wrong if the folks who did the indexing had trouble reading the original record. As a last resort, if you know the address you are looking for, you might want to hunt for the census page on microfilm with the address you are looking for. The folks at the regional archives office can certainly show you how to do this. From a posting by Robert Corwin rcorwin@ucwphilly.rr.com on 4/3/02

Heritage Quest offers an index to the 1910 New York City Census which includes 1.78 million entries that includes all heads of households and persons living in the household with a surname different from the head. Included in the index is the person's name, age, sex, race and birthplace.
www.HeritageQuest.com

Also see 'Nu What's New' - issue Volume 2, No. 23 of November 18, 2001 for additional search information http://www.avotaynu.com/1910censusNY.htm

Ancestry.com has a name index for the 1910 census. This lets you search the census by name. But when you find a person, there is no link to get to the census image for that person. Same problem exists if you search for a person using the Heritage Quest CDs for 1910.

Steve Morse, Joel Weintraub, and Dave Kehs offers a helpful webpage. It's a form on which you enter the information found from the Ancestry or Heritage name search, and the census image will be displayed. You can get to Steve's form by going to his homepage. Clicking on the link for "1910 Census Images" in the census section.
http://stevemorse.org

Brooklyn ED (Enumeration Wards*) - the following web site gives the boundaries for each Brooklyn 1910 ED (Enumeration Wards). http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~blkyn/Ward/ed.wd.html

Brooklyn was composed of wards. When it became a city in 1837, it was divided into nine wards, and by the time of consolidation with NYC in 1898 it had 32 wards.

CD of 1910 Census - this is only an index of 'head of household' and the only information for a given person is: surname, given name, ward #, City, Roll #, part #, page # and sub page #. No wives, no addresses, no birth information, etc.

Connecticut, Indiana and New York census information has been aided by Edward Rosenbaum who offers shareware to allow one to locate census images at the Ancestry.com site from indexes made available on CD-ROM by Heritage Quest
http://erosenbaum.netfirms.com/1910census.shtml

'With this index and Avotaynu's compilation of NARA reel numbers and their equivalent FHL film number, the Enumeration District is not needed. The page number is tamped near the middle of the heading for the page http://www.avotaynu.com/1910censusny.htm
Posted by Carol Skydell JewishGen Discussion Group 1/03/2002

For a listing of which census records are available in the NY State Library, These records do not circulate, but it will give you some idea whether
records for a specific county exist in the state library.
http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/genealogy/nyscens.htm

Pennsylvania 1910 Census - on the census index cards, in the upper right hand corner, there are numbers; the first is the volume number; the second is the enumeration district (ED); the third is the family enumeration number (aka 'visitation number'). These are known as Miracodes.

Pennsylvania Miracode Census Index - 1910 is now available for searching free from Ancestry.com.
http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/inddbs/5103.htm

To find the census record, go to the films that have the county's census records (or use the volume number). Next, find the ED (Enumeration District) in the county records, then look for the indexed 'head of household' by the family visitation number, which will be the number in the fourth column on the census sheet. An example is available at http://www.geocities.org/Broadway/1954/sdx.jpg

1920 Census

The 1920 census for Manhattan and Brooklyn (New York) is indexed and is available. Information available includes: name, country of birth and age.
http://www.ancestry.com/search/io/choosest.asp?lfl=bod&c=3

Census Index: Mid-Atlantic States (DC, DE, MD, OH, PA, VA, WV), 1900 - available on a CD from
www.UltimateFamilyTree.com/online

Column Headings in Ancestry's 1920 Census Image pages.

State
County
Town/Township/City and Ward

Microfilm roll number
Enumeration date
Supervisor's district number
Enumeration district number
Sheet number
Page number

Place of abode
Street
House number
Dwelling number
Family visit number

Name
Name of each person whose place of abode on January 1, 1920,
was in this family

Relation to head of family

Tenure
Home owned or rented
Owned free or mortgaged

Personal description
Sex
Color or race
Age
Marital status

Citizenship
Year of immigration to US
Naturalized or alien
Year of naturalization

Education
Attending school
Can read and write

Nativity and mother tongue
Person
Place of birth
Mother Tongue

Father
Place of birth
Mother tongue

Mother
Place of birth
Mother tongue

Can speak English

Occupation

Ancestry.com offers indexes for the States of New Hampshire, New Jersey and New Mexico in addition to indexes for Chicago, New York State, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont and Washington State.
http://www.ancestry.com/rd/census.htm

1930 Census

The 1930 Census was taken just months after the stock market crash in 1929, the dawn of the Great Depression. Herbert Hoover was president that census year when the immigrant population in the United States peaked, a record that stood until 1990. The 15th census was taken in April, not January as in previous years, an attempt to avoid weather-related difficulties. It was the last time every person was asked the same set of questions; the next survey introduced additional questions to a sampling of the population.

Government workers had finished indexing only some of the South when the Soundex program was canceled decades ago. That means most people seeking their ancestors must know specific street addresses. Those addresses help determine the enumeration district -- the physical area covered by an enumerator on census day. The 1930 Census is categorized by Enumeration Districts.

My alma mater, the University of Minnesota, provides enumerator instructions for the 1930 Federal census on-line. This site will explain how the census was to be filled out
http://www.ipums.umn.edu/usa/voliii/inst1930.html

The 1930 US Census, available since April 1, 2002, is mostly un-indexed as
to names. To find target people one must have a 1930 address. There are
two main websites that help determine, from an address, the correct census district to search. They are the National Archive Website and the One Step Website (Morse/Weintraub/Kehs sites.

The 1930 Census has been released to the public (72 years after the census date.) Some parts are available now, if you need specific information about an ancestor. See NARA's 1930 Census Microfilm Locator (1930 CML)
http://1930census.archives.gov/

In order to use the information for most states, you must know the Enumeration District in which the family resided. Various finding aids have been developed to assist in determining the ED. One of the best was developed by Stephen Morse and is located at
http://www.stevemorse.org/census/

Information about Enumeration Districts in Hennepin County, Minnesota, there are 14 rolls of Microfilm and 328 Enumeration Districts
http://1930census.archives.gov/default.asp

Ancestry.com has added New York (12,259,683 names) to its every-name index to the 1930 Federal Census. Also included are Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Utah. All members of each household are indexed so you can search for relatives whose husbands' or parents' names you don't know or to try alternative searches when the name you do know doesn't produce results. Take though, in consideration, that there were mistakes and misreporting at the time of the census and misinterpretation by indexers. Many libraries offer free access to Ancestry.com, newspaper indexes, biographical databases, and other sources of value.

Information on how to research the 1930 Census microfilm - found at http://1930census.archives.gov/

This web site will help you begin your family history research in the 1930 census. It will tell you what questions were asked by the census, which states had name indexes prepared, how to search those states and the ones without indexes, where to view, rent, or buy the microfilm containing the original records. Note that the locator is an on-line database listing every roll of microfilm in the 1930 census, searchable by over 120,000 plus geographic locations (census districts). It is NOT a family or individual name index or a digital version of the microfilm.

In the 1930s, the WPA (Works Progress Administration) prepared Soundex indexes of names for only 12 southern states. If you are looking for someone in those states, you can use this locator to find the roll of microfilm you need.

This locator also supports searching Enumeration District (ED) descriptions by state; county; city and place names to determine the ED and schedule microfilm roll number. Places include names of town, streets, post offices, rural townships, election precinct and ward numbers, and rivers and lakes. You can also search for institution names, such as prisons, sanitariums and schools.

Use the step-by-step instructions prepared by NARA census experts and the 1930 Census Microfilm Locator on this web site to begin your research. You also will find detailed search strategies as well as specific tips and hints throughout the site. You can search by either Soundex or geographic methods.

The information on the 1930 questionnaire is about the same as the 1920 census. There is no index for the 1930 census (limited index for some states) but some genealogy groups are working on trying to get the census indexed. A descriptive catalog will be made available that includes descriptions of each Enumeration District (E.D.). Microfilm will be made available that reproduces the Census Bureau's 1930 E.D. maps. Unless an index is produced (most of the Census is un-indexed), one would need to know the street address of the person being researched.
http://www.nara.gov/genealogy/1930cen.html

The 1930 census will be indexed (Soundexed) for 10 Southern states
(Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and
South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.) It is partially indexed for
Kentucky and West Virginia. Most of the states in the 1930 census will NOT be Soundexed, therefore, the use of finding aides will be essential.

The 1930 census microfilm original includes inherent defects that affect the legibility of some frames. The original paper schedules no longer exist.

Depending on what you are looking for, Genealogical researchers need to be aware that the 1930 census does not provide an accurate "snapshot" of the family structure at that time. The census attempted to count every person living in the nation on April 1, 1930. It lists such details as where they stayed and with whom, their age and place of birth.

Stephen Morse has developed a search engine to help you obtain the Enumeration District (E.D.) for large cities in one step at
www.stevemorse.org/census

Ancestry.Com has begun making images of this 1930 census available on-line. It is a slow process that will take time, but the first state to be completed is Delaware. There have been some problems surfing this site, but be patient.
http://ancestry.com/search/io/choosest.asp?c=16

The database at NARA does not contain census images or information about specific people. The limitation of the on-line database, however, is that for all 120,000 plus census districts that are on-line, only the boundary features/streets of each census district are in the database. If you look for an internal street that is not one of the streets that define the edge of the census district, you will not find it on the NARA website
http://1930census.archives.gov/

Images of the 1930 U.S. Federal Census online for California and Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Utah and Vermont.
http://www.ancestry.com

Although it is not yet listed on the National Archives web site, the 1930 Federal Population Census microfilm catalog is now available. Copies are $3.50 each plus shipping. For details on ordering by phone or mail, shipping charges, etc.,
www.nara.gov/publications/order.html

Books

Most books, CDs, etc. can be ordered through my link to Amazon.com by clicking here > Jewish Genealogy

General
Census Information

Ancestry.com offers all images of U.S. censuses from 1790-1930. The indexing of the 1790-1940 censuses with a link from the index to the proper census page is also available along with the 1850-1880 indexes. The 1900-1920 is to be added. All are available as a fee-based service by this site
http://www.ancestry.com

Not all states conducted military censuses around 1917. The Connecticut Military Census is helpful, for instances, like the New York State censuses of 1905, 1915 and 1925. They give data between the decennial U. S. Censuses. Connecticut data includes age, citizenship, occupation and some uncommonly found information i.e. whether the person can drive a car.

AIS Census Index Contents - by State
http://www.ancestry.com/census/censuslist.htm

Bronx

The Bronx stood alone as a borough beginning in 1898; but as a county, the Bronx had to wait some 16 years until 1914. From 1683 until 1873, the Bronx was part of Westchester County. In 1898, after the consolidation with the City of Brooklyn (Kings County), Richmond County and the western third of Queens County (Long Island City, the Towns of Newtown, Flushing and Jamaica, and the Rockaway peninsula of the Town of Hempstead), New York City was administratively divided into 5 boroughs (Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island) but consisted of only 4 counties (New York, Kings, Queens and Richmond). The Bronx, while a separate borough, remained part of New York County. In 1914, the Bronx County -- the 62nd and last county in New York State -- seceded from New York count. New York City then had 5 boroughs and 5 counties.

In 1899, the eastern two thirds of Queens County -- the portion not in New York City -- seceded and formed Nassau County http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~blkyn/Ward/ed.wd.html

Census Finder

A directory of links to free census records, census indexes, census transcriptions, tax lists, and city directories online, categorized by state and county. Included are county formation and vital statistic data for each state along with, census notes and genealogy resources. There is also a growing section devoted to free United Kingdom census records on-line.
http://www.censusfinder.com

Census Lookup Web Site -
http://www.rootsweb.com/~uslookup/

Note: Not everyone who has, or had, a Social Security card will appear. Many other enrolled individuals are not listed.

Census
Publications

"I have recently been in email correspondence with the Census Bureau finding out what the actual "Census Day" was for every census. The person who helped me told me that the information and much more is in
the new edition of "Measuring America - The Decennial Censuses from
1790 - 2000."

This is a glossy 150 page soft back publication, which goes into great detail about every census. There are also examples of every census form right up to and including 2000.

There is a chart which details all the censuses with their National Archive number, including the Soundex if there was one. The roll numbers are also given.

It is published by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration. This edition was published in September, 2002, and the publication number is POL/02-MA(RV). The ISBN is 0-16-051209-3. An earlier edition (April, 2002) is also available as a downloadable PDF document. Jeremy Frankel Oakland, CA, USA" This information was obtained from a posting by Jeremy Frankel jfrankel@lmi.net on Tue, 14 Jan 2003

Census Bureau -
http://www.refdesk.com

Dates of U.S. Census Taking

Census day for 1900 - June 1, 1900; time allowed; one month

Census day for 1910 - April 15, 1910; time allowed; one month

Census day for 1920 - January 1, 1920; time allowed; one month

Census Web Site

www.census.gov

It is necessary to 'drill down' to get information: i.e. Agriculture; Census-BBS; Construction; Economic; Geography; Governments; international; Population and more.
ftp://ftp.census.gov/

U.S. Census Records from 1790 to 1920 Fee Based (Heritage)
http://www.genealogydatabase.com

United States Census on-line research - a site where you can access all the available online United States census images directly from your computer
http://www.accessgenealogy.com/census/

Death Index -

Be aware that the on-line indices only contain names of those with Social Security numbers who died subsequent to 1962. The SS-5's for those who died earlier are available, but require more effort on the part of the researcher to identify the correct individual.
http://www.refdesk.com

Enumeration Districts*

New York City used to have political designations called wards, which were the smallest political units in New York City. Each ward elected an alderman and an assistant alderman to the City Council. According to The Encyclopedia of New York City published in 1995 by Yale University Press, the system goes all the way back to 1686, when Governor Thomas Dongan divided the city, then entirely in Manhattan, into six wards. In 1791, wards were given numerical designations. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~blkyn/Ward/ed.wd.html

The First Ward was the tip of Manhattan, and districts were given consecutive numbers the further north you went in Manhattan. New wards were added as the city expanded northward, and increasing population of the older wards required subdivisions. Wards were formally abolished in 1938.

Brooklyn was also composed of wards. When it became a city in 1837, it was divided into nine wards, and by the time of consolidation with NYC in 1898 it had 32 wards.

Bronx; Queens; Richmond (Staten Island) Enumeration Ward information can be found at
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~blkyn/Ward/ed.wd.html

Federal and State Census Information with Lists of Children residing in Jewish Orphanages
http://www.scruz.net/~elias/hnoh/CENSUSINFOMRATION6C.html

Jewish Orphanages in the US - On this web site below, you will find the following orphanages
http://shell4.bayarea.net/~elias/hnoh/

San Francisco, CA

Chicago Home for Jewish Children, Chicago, Il 1930

Hebrew Orphan's Home, Atlanta, GA 1920

Mark Nathan Home, Chicago, IL 1930

Chicago Home for Jewish Children, Chicago, Il 1920

Chicago Home for Jewish Children, Chicago, Il 1930

Jewish Widows and Orphans Home, New Orleans, LA 1900

Hebrew Home for Destitute Children, Boston, MA 1930

Brookline, MA

Hebrew Orphan Asylum, Baltimore, MD 1900

Census Enumeration Districts for Various Institutions, Bronx and Manhattan, New York 1930

Hebrew Sheltering Guardian Society, Mount Pleasant, NY 1920 Federal Census

Jewish Foster Home, Cincinnati, OH 1900

Jewish Infant Orphan Home, Cleveland, OH 1920

Jewish Orphan Asylum, Cleveland, OH 1920

Orthodox Jewish Orphan Home, Cleveland, OH 1930

Jewish Orphan Home, Bellefaire, University Heights, OH 1930

E-mail HNOHalumni@aol.com

Maps - Electronic Map Library site (California State University, Northridge) collection of digital atlases based on census data
http://130.166.124.2/library.html

National Archives

201 Varick Street,
12th Floor in New York
The #1 or #9 train takes you to Houston Street.

Pittsfield, MA branch - offers help from their volunteer genealogical staff
volunteers@pittsfield.nara.gov

New York State Census - available on film through the LDS. First determine what Enumeration District the address would have been in. The LDS has a film for this information. Once you know the ED, you can order the film through them
http://www.familysearch.org

1915 Census for Brooklyn, New York City, Kings County is available at numerous places in New York including the LDS.

New York Vital Statistic Records - at the Family History Center, you may be able to find birth records yourself. They have, on microfilm, NYC birth records and indexes prior to and including 1909 for all five boroughs. The indexes are organized by year and then by borough. If you find the name in the index, you can order the roll with that birth record you are looking for.

Passenger Lists, Census, etc.

http://www.nara.gov/publications/pubindex.html

http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/vital/ssdi/main.htm

http://www.ancestry.com/ssdi/advanced.htm
(If you use this site and click on the last column, it will automatically create a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) letter to Social Security) and http://emh.everton.com/ssmdi.html

http://www.familytreemaker.com/fto_ssdisearch.html

http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/vital/ssdi/main.htm

www.uftree.com

http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi

Under Freedom of Information Act (FOIA ), the INS will not release the information unless you can a) prove they are deceased, or b) have a notarized form from them, releasing the information to you.

The INS will accept a statement from you saying they are deceased if you can find their name in one of the Social Security Death Indexes (SSDI) found at Ancestry.Com RootsWeb.com or LDS.org, etc. and write that they are deceased as proved by being located in the appropriate SSDI.

From a posting by Edmond Frost frostedmond@hotmail.com on JewishGen of 3/25/2002

Police Census records of 1890, though not as thorough as the U.S. Census of that year, is accessible through the New York City Archives and the New York City Public Library.

US Census Map - SHG Resource Network - information available by State by clicking on the state of interest from the map
http://www.statehousegirls.net/

White Pages

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