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California Census Records

See Also Researching in Census Records

Statewide Records that exist for California 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1910, 1920 and 1940. Missing from the 1850 federal census are the population schedules for Contra Costa, San Francisco, and Santa Clara counties, making the 1852 state census (see below) even more useful.

  There are Industry and Agriculture Schedules (lists do not exist for all counties for each year) available for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Union Veterans Schedules were conducted in 1890. Census of surviving Union veterans of the Civil War or their widows, listing service information, any service-connected disability, and current address.

  Mission and State Schedules: There were censuses taken for the following missions: San Carlos (1796), San Luis Obispo (1797, 1798), San Antonio (1798), and Soledad (1798). They are all in original form at the California State Archives. They have been reprinted in Historical Society of Southern California Quarterly, volumes 41–43.

The California Constitution of 1849 provided for a census of the state population in the years 1852 and 1855 and each succeeding ten years thereafter. The census of 1852, similar to the 1850 federal census, but using an additional column showing the prior residence of each person, was the only one actually taken. The original returns for 1852 are in the California State Archives. The California State Library, which will answer requests by mail, has a typed copy that is available for public use. There is an index available. Microfilms of the DAR transcriptions of the 1852 census are available in many libraries, including the FHL. The constitution was altered in 1879 to provide for the use of the federal census in the matter of apportioning the state for legislative representation.

A few cities and towns have special censuses for California through the twentieth century. The California State Archives has a listing of its holdings in this category.

  • California Census Records 1790-1930- Archives *
  • California Census Books - Amazon
  • California Historical Records - Databases include California Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; California Birth, Marriage & Death Records; California Voter Lists & Census Records; California Immigration & Emigration Records; California Obituary Records; California Military Records; California Family Tree Records; California Pictures; California Stories, Memories & Histories; California Directories & Member Lists and much more....
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