Census Records

Scope

The library has Missouri census records, often referred to as population schedules, on microfilm for the years 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890*, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930. 

* Most of the 1890 Census records, including Schedule 11 for Missouri, were destroyed by fire around the turn of the century.  There was a Special Schedule that year that was not destroyed and this is used as a substitute for Schedule 11 (Special Schedule Enumerating the Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War).  The Library has the Enumerator’s Schedule 11 for all other years.

Records from 1940 through 2000 have not been released for public use.  Persons meeting certain criteria may apply for a search of these census records using Form BC-600 “Application for Search of Census Records.”  There is a fee for the search and for a complete schedule. See the Census Bureau age search Web site for a form and more information. 1940 population schedules are due to be released in 2010.

Missouri state censuses were taken 1814, 1817, 1819, 1821, 1824 and each four years through 1868, and also in 1876.  State Historical Society – Missouri and Records Management and Archives Service, 600 W. Main, Jefferson City, MO 65101, have film of the few records extant.

The library also has census records of the first census of the United States taken in the year 1790 for Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia. These records are available in print in the General Collection.