Search Free Census Records Online

Find your ancestors with free census records, census indexes, historical enumerations, and census transcriptions. My Free Census helps family historians locate free census information and records from the United States and countries around the world.

Browse our geographically organized census directory to discover federal census records, state census records, colonial enumerations, and other historical resources that can help you trace your family history.

U.S. Census Records

Explore free United States census records organized by state. Find information about federal, state, territorial, and colonial censuses, surviving records, available indexes, and links to original transcriptions.

International Census Records

Discover free census records and historical population enumerations from countries and regions around the world. Census availability and the information collected vary by location.

What Are Census Records?

Census records are historical documents created to count and describe the population of a particular geographic area. Depending on the location and year, they may identify individuals, families, households, occupations, and other details about the people living in a community.

For genealogists, census records are useful for identifying family relationships, following ancestors as they moved between locations, and finding clues that lead to other historical records. Early censuses sometimes named only the head of a household, while later enumerations often identified individual household members.

Why are census records important for family history?

  • Identifying relatives and reconstructing family groups: Census records list household members, their names, ages, relationships to the head of household, and other vital information, helping genealogists piece together family structures.
  • Tracing ancestors' geographic movements: By comparing census entries across different decades, researchers can track their ancestors' migration patterns and understand where they lived at specific points in time.
  • Discovering details about ancestors' lives: Census records can reveal information about occupations, literacy, homeownership, immigration status, and other aspects of ancestors' daily lives. Exploring broader historical and social contexts: Census data provides insights into the demographic, economic, and social characteristics of communities and the nation as a whole, helping to understand the historical context in which ancestors lived.

Information found in census records

  • Names of household members
  • Relationships to the head of household
  • Birthplaces of individuals and their parents
  • Marital status
  • Age
  • Sex
  • Occupation
  • Military service information
  • Immigration date and citizenship information
  • Names of family members
  • Property ownership and agricultural information
  • Military service and veteran status
  • Education, literacy, and school attendance

Types of United States Census Records

  • Federal Census Records: The United States has conducted a federal population census every ten years since 1790. Publicly available federal population schedules currently extend through 1950, although surviving records and the information collected vary by year.
  • State Census: Many states conducted their own enumerations between federal census years, helping researchers locate families during otherwise undocumented periods.
  • Colonial and Territorial Census Records: Early population enumerations may provide information about settlers and households before statehood or American independence.
  • Territorial Census: Territorial census records are population and statistical counts taken in U.S. territories before they achieved official statehood.
  • Indian Census Rolls: were usually submitted each year by agents or superintendents in charge of Indian reservations, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The data on the rolls vary, but usually include the English and/or Indian name of the person, roll number, age or date of birth, sex, and relationship to head of family.
  • Church Census: is a data-collection effort run either by an individual congregation, a religious denomination, or a regional body to count members and analyze the Church community demographics.
  • School Census: is an official count and collection of data about students, staff, and facilities within an educational system.

Census Substitutes for Genealogy Research

When census records are missing, incomplete, or unavailable, other historical documents may help establish where an ancestor lived. Useful census substitutes include tax lists, voter registrations, city directories, militia rolls, school enumerations, Church membership records, and some historical maps.

These resources can be especially helpful when researching periods with missing census records, including the largely destroyed 1890 United States federal population census.

My Free Census also provides selected links to original census transcriptions and census substitutes maintained by New Horizons Genealogy and other historical record collections.