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Arkansas Census Records

See Also Researching in Census Records

Statewide Recordsthat exist for Arkansas are 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. The Arkansas Genealogical Society is currently sponsoring a statewide program to reconstruct the missing 1890 federal census with compilations of tax and other local records for that period. Of the seventy-five counties in Arkansas, sixty-six have a completed replacement of the 1890 federal census. Only Grant, Chicot, Drew, Hot Spring, Franklin, Poinsett, Sharp, Woodruff, and a portion of Lee counties remain to be finished. The Arkansas Genealogical Society should be contacted for the current status of the project.

There are Industry and Agriculture Schedules 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.

Territorial Records: A collection of French and Spanish records that lists early Europeans in Arkansas between 1686–1804 is Morris S. Arnold and Dorothy Jones Core, comps. and eds., Arkansas Colonials.

Federal territorial census records for 1810 included those settlements in the Arkansas District of Hopefield (West Memphis), St. Francis, and settlements along the Arkansas River, but these enumerations were lost. The 1820 federal territorial census included Miller County, which was organized that year by the Arkansas territorial government but actually was partially in Texas under Spanish control. This census was also lost.

Arkansas Territory sheriffs were to enumerate the citizens biennially beginning in 1823. Although these censuses were recorded in 1823, 1825, and 1827, only the 1823 schedule for Arkansas County remains of the three early enumerations. The 1829 sheriff's census includes the name of the head of household, but only fragments remain. Those counties for which complete returns are available are Arkansas, Chicot, Clark, Conway, Crawford, Crittenden, Independence, Lawrence, Miller (old), St. Francis, and Washington. None are available for Pope or Sevier counties, and only the total number of inhabitants were submitted by the sheriffs of Hempstead, Izard, Lafayette, Phillips, and Pulaski counties.

Census Records at Archives.com
Arkansas Census Books at Amazon.com
Arkansas Historical Records - Databases include Arkansas Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Arkansas Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Arkansas Voter Lists & Census Records; Arkansas Immigration & Emigration Records; Arkansas Obituary Records; Arkansas Military Records; Arkansas Family Tree Records; Arkansas Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Arkansas Directories & Member Lists and much more....
Arkansas Census, 1819-70: This collection contains the following indexes: 1819-1829 Tax Lists Index; 1820 Federal Census Index; 1823 Sheriff's Census Index; 1829 Sheriff's Census Index; 1830 Federal Census Index; 1830-1839 Tax Lists Index; 1840 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners Index; 1850 Federal Census Index; 1850 Slave Schedule; 1860 Federal Census Index; 1870 Federal Census Index.
Arkansas Census, 1840: This is an index to the 1840 Census of Arkansas, the first Federal Census taken after Arkansas was admitted to the Union on June 15, 1836. Information in the Census includes, where available, the name of the head of the household, city or county of residence, number of free white males and females by age group, number of free colored males and females by age group, number of persons in each family employed in mining, commerce, manufacturing and trades, etc., pensioners for Revolutionary War or military services, schools, and the number of persons over 20 who can't read or write.
Research In Census Records
General Strengths and Limitations of Census Records
State & Local Censuses
Federal Schedule Descriptions Explained
Non-Population Schedules & Special Federal Censuses
Ethnic Censuses & Census Substitutes
Native American Censuses
Canadian Censuses