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Alabama Census Records

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Alabama was first included in the Mississippi Territory census of 1798, Territory of Alabama 1817 and achieved statehood in 1819. Alabama Territorial and State census records are scant when likened to other states of the same age. There are 12 categories of census or census substitute materials for 1706 through 1816-19.

Federal Population Schedules that are available for Alabama are 1820 (Partial, see below), 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. The first federal census was recorded in 1820. Records exist for only eight of the thirty enumerated counties. These counties include Baldwin, Conecuh, Dallas, Franklin, Limestone, St. Clair, Shelby, and Wilcox. An area of the 1820 state census , Lawrence County, still exist and is in addition housed at the state archives. It has been published as 1820.

The only extant records for Alabama of the nearly destroyed 1890 census are portions of Perryville (Beat No. 11) and Severe (Beat No. 8) of Perry County. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to assist with your research. These comprise of U.S. Census Extraction Forms & U.K. Census Extraction Forms.

State censuses were taken infrequently, and sizable but not complete collections are available for 1855 and 1866. The originals are located in the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

In 1907 a census was taken of Alabama's Confederate veterans. Another census was accepted at 1921 of Confederate pensioners in Alabama. In 1840 an enumeration of living Revolutionary War veterans was not left out of the census. This was a list of names recorded on the back of the original printed census forms. Beginning in 1870, the enumerators asked questions in regard to Civil War veterans and lists were collected from these records. In both cases, only the name of the veteran is compiled.

There are many other Federal Schedules to watch when researching your family tree in the state of Alabama. Industry and Agriculture Schedules are available for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.

Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. At the 1850 and 1860 censuses, an enumeration of slaves was performed. Full names were rarely recorded, yet each slave was numbered. Organized by owner, each person was cataloged with maturity, sex and color. With these particulars, together with other facts gathered outside the schedule, it is feasible to locate a certain person without actually finding their name.

The Mortality Schedules for Alabama are available the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.

Despite the wealth of information obtainable in Alabama census indexes, there are limitations. These comprise of incomplete facts, mis-transcribed details, mis-recorded info, and incorrect info. Reasons for these issues include persons who refused to resolve the enumerators questions, persons who lied in response to the enumerators questions, persons missed by the enumerators, and human error in writing down the info originally or transmitted incorrectly.

  • Alabama Census Records 1790-1930- Archives *
  • AL-CENSUS. A mailing list for the volunteers who are engaged in transcribing Alabama census records in support of the USGenWeb Census Project to discuss the status of the project. Information on available records and volunteers can be found on the Census Project's Alabama web site.
  • AL-CENSUS-LOOKUP. A mailing list for anyone desiring a check of Alabama census records for their ancestors. Requests should be as specific as possible and include county name, specific family of interest, and year whenever possible. In addition, those who own or have access to census records and are willing to do lookups are asked to subscribe and assist in responding to queries. To subscribe send "subscribe" to al-census-lookup-l-request@rootsweb.com (mail mode) or al-census-lookup-d-request@rootsweb.com (digest mode).
  • Alabama Census Books - Amazon
  • Alabama Census QuickFacts - US Census Bureau (Free Site)
  • Alabama Census Records - Census Online (Free Genealogy Site)
  • Research In Census Records
  • Native American Census Links
  • Overview of the U.S. Census - from The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy.
  • Canadian Censuses
  • U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules Index for Alabama - Ancestry *
  • 1790 United States Federal Census for Alabamaancestry - This database details those persons enumerated in the 1790 United States Federal Census, the First Census of the United States. In addition, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to the actual images of the 1790 Federal Census. Enumerators of the 1790 census were asked to include the following categories in the census: name of head of household, number of free white males and females, number of other free persons, number of slaves, town or district and sometimes town or district of residence. - Ancestry
  • 1790 United States Federal Census for Alabama- Ancestry *
  • 1790 U.S. Census Guide - Family History 101
  • Download Free US 1790 Census Extract FormAncestry
  • 1800 United States Federal Census for Alabamaancestry - This database details those persons enumerated in the 1800 United States Federal Census, the Third Census of the United States. In addition, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to the actual images of the 1800 Federal Census. Enumerators of the 1800 census were asked to include the following categories in the census: name of head of household, number of free white males and females, number of other free persons except Indians, number of slaves, town or district and county of residence.
  • 1800 U.S. Census Guide - Family History 101
  • Download Free US 1800 Census Extract FormAncestry
  • 1810 United States Federal Census for Alabama - This database details those persons enumerated in the 1800 United States Federal Census, the Third Census of the United States. In addition, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to the actual images of the 1800 Federal Census. Enumerators of the 1800 census were asked to include the following categories in the census: name of head of household, number of free white males and females, number of other free persons except Indians, number of slaves, town or district and county of residence. - Ancestry
  • 1810 U.S. Census Guide - Family History 101
  • Alabama Census, 1810-90 Ancestry- Ancestry *
    This collection contains the following indexes: 1810 Census Index; 1810-1819 Tax Lists Index; 1820 Federal Census Index; 1830 Federal Census Index; 1830-1839 Early Records; 1840 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners Index; 1850 Federal Census Index; 1855 State Census Index; 1860 Federal Census Index; 1860 Mortality Schedules; 1860 Slave Schedules; 1870 Federal Census Index; 1890 Pensioners Index; Alabama Early Census, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. - Ancestry *
  • Download Free US 1810 Census Extract FormAncestry
  • 1820 United States Federal Census for Alabamaancestry - This database details those persons enumerated in the 1820 United States Federal Census, the Fourth Census of the United States. In addition, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to the actual images of the 1820 Federal Census. Enumerators of the 1820 census were asked to include the following categories in the census: name of head of household, number of free white males and females, number of other free persons except Indians, number of slaves, town or district and county of residence. - Ancestry *
  • Alabama Census Returns, 1820 Ancestry- Ancestry *
  • 1820 U.S. Census Guide - Family History 101
  • Alabama State Census, 1820-1866Ancestry- Ancestry *
    This database contains state censuses from Alabama for the years 1820, 1850, 1855, and 1866. Each of these censuses recorded the names of the head of households and the number of other household inhabitants according to gender and age categories. Some years also included race categories and distinguished between individuals who were free and slave. Unfortunately, records do not exist for every county that existed at the time. Below is a list showing what counties are available for each year.
  • Download Free US 1820 Census Extract FormAncestry
  • 1830 United States Federal Census for Alabamaancestry - This database details those persons enumerated in the 1830 United States Federal Census, the Fifth Census of the United States. In addition, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to the actual images of the 1830 Federal Census. Enumerators of the 1830 census were asked to include the following categories in the census: name of head of household, number of free white males and females, number of other free persons, names of slave owners and number of slaves, number of foreigners, and town or district and county of residence. - Ancestry
  • 1830 U.S. Census Guide- Family History 101 (Free Site)
  • Download Free US 1830 Census Extract FormAncestry
  • 1840-1890 Federal Veterans Schedules Guide - Family History 101
  • 1840 United States Federal Census (Alabama)ancestry - This database details those persons enumerated in the 1840 United States Federal Census, the Sixth Census of the United States. In addition, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to the actual images of the 1840 Federal Census. Enumerators of the 1840 census were asked to include the following categories in the census: name of head of household, number of free white males and females, number of other free persons, names of slave owners and number of slaves, number of foreigners, and town or district and county of residence. - Ancestry
  • 1840 U.S. Census Guide - Family History 101 (Free Site)
  • Download Free US 1840 Census Extract FormAncestry
  • 1850 United States Federal Census for Alabamaancestry - This database is an index to individuals enumerated in the 1850 United States Federal Census, the Seventh Census of the United States. Census takers recorded many details including each person's name, age as of the census day, sex, color; birthplace, occupation of males over age fifteen, and more. No relationships were shown between members of a household. Additionally, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1850 Federal Census. - Ancestry
  • 1850 U.S. Census Guide - Family History 101 (Free Site)
  • 1850 U.S. Federal Slave Schedules for Alabama -Ancestry *
  • 1850-1885 Federal Mortality Schedule Guide - Family History 101 (Free Site)
  • 1850 Federal Slave Schedule Guide- Family History 101 (Free Site)
  • Download Free US 1850 Census Extract FormAncestry
  • 1860 United States Federal Census for Alabamaancestry - This database is an index to individuals enumerated in the 1860 United States Federal Census, the Eighth Census of the United States. Census takers recorded many details including each person's name, age as of the census day, sex, color; birthplace, occupation of males over age fifteen, and more. No relationships were shown between members of a household. Additionally, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1860 Federal Census.- Ancestry
  • 1860 Alabama Federal Census - Footnote *
  • 1860 U.S. Census Guide - Family History 101 (Free Site)
  • 1860 U.S. Federal Slave Schedules for Alabama -Ancestry *
  • 1860 Federal Slave Schedule Guide - Family History 101 (Free Site)
  • Download Free US 1860 Census Extract FormAncestry
  • 1870 United States Federal Census for Alabama.ancestry This database is an index to individuals enumerated in the 1870 United States Federal Census, the Ninth Census of the United States. Census takers recorded many details including each person's name, age at last birthday, sex, color; birthplace, occupation, and more. No relationships were shown between members of a household. Additionally, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1870 Federal Census. - Ancestry
  • 1870 U.S. Census Guide - Family History 101 (Free Site)
  • Download Free US 1870 Census Extract FormAncestry
  • 1880 United States Federal Census for Alabama.ancestry This database is an index to 50 million individuals enumerated in the 1880 United States Federal Census. Census takers recorded many details including each person's name, address, occupation, relationship to the head of household, race, sex, age at last birthday, marital status, place of birth, parents' place of birth. Additionally, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1880 Federal Census. - Free Database at Ancestry
  • 1880 U.S. Census Guide - Family History 101 (Free Site)
  • Download Free US 1880 Census Extract FormAncestry
  • 1890 United States Federal Census Fragment for Alabama. ancestry These records have been extracted from the remaining population schedules for the 1890 Federal Census, which was destroyed by a fire at the Commerce Department in Washington, DC on 10 January 1921. The surviving fragments consists of 1,233 pages or pieces, including enumerations for Alabama, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas. The records of only 6,160 of the 62,979,766 people enumerated survived the fire. . - Ancestry
  • 1890 U.S. Census Guide- Family History 101 (Free Site)
  • Download Free US 1890 Census Extract FormAncestry
  • 1900 United States Federal Census for Alabamaancestry This database is an index to individuals enumerated in the 1900 United States Federal Census, the Twelfth Census of the United States. Census takers recorded many details including each person's name, address, relationship to the head of household, color or race, sex, month and year of birth, age at last birthday, marital status, number of years married, the total number of children born of the mother, the number of those children living, birthplace, birthplace of father and mother, if the individual was foreign born, the year of immigration and the number of years in the United States, the citizenship status of foreign-born individuals over age twenty-one, occupation, and more. Additionally, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1900 Federal Census. - Ancestry
  • 1900 U.S. Census Guide- Family History 101 (Free Site)
  • Download Free US 1900 Census Extract FormAncestry
  • 1910 United States Federal Census for Alabamaancestry This database is an index to the head of households enumerated in the 1910 United States Federal Census, the Thirteenth Census of the United States. In addition, each indexed name is linked to actual images of the 1910 Federal Census. The information recorded in the census includes: name, relationship to head of family, age at last birthday, sex, color or race, whether single, married, widowed, or divorced, birthplace, birthplace of father and mother, and more. - Ancestry
  • 1910 Alabama Federal Census-Footnote*
  • 1910 U.S. Census Guide- Family History 101 (Free Site)
  • Download Free US 1910 Census Extract FormAncestry
  • 1920 United States Federal Census for Alabamaancestry. This database is an index to individuals enumerated in the 1920 United States Federal Census, the Fourteenth Census of the United States. It includes all states and territories, as well as Military and Naval Forces, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the Panama Canal Zone. The census provides many details about individuals and families including: name, gender, age, birthplace, year of immigration, mother tongue, and parents' birthplaces. In addition, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1920 Federal Census. - Ancestry
  • 1920 Alabama Federal Census-Footnote*
  • 1920 U.S. Census Guide - Family History 101 (Free Site)
  • Download Free US 1920 Census Extract FormAncestry
  • 1930 United States Federal Census for Alabamaancestry. This database is an index to individuals enumerated in the 1920 United States Federal Census, the Fourteenth Census of the United States. It includes all states and territories, as well as Military and Naval Forces, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the Panama Canal Zone. The census provides many details about individuals and families including: name, gender, age, birthplace, year of immigration, mother tongue, and parents' birthplaces. In addition, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1920 Federal Census.- Ancestry
  • 1930 Alabama Federal Census- Footnote *
  • 1930 U.S. Census Guide- Family History 101 (Free Site)
  • Download Free US 1930 Census Extract FormAncestry
  • Census 2000 Data for the State of Alabama - US Census Bureau (Free Site)
  • Census records and Cherokee muster rolls (Alabama 1835)Ancestry
  • United States Historical Census Data Browser
  • US Census Bureau--Alabama

*Some of the subscription databases can be accessed with a free trial membership

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