Use the 1880 U.S. Census Research Guide for detailed ancestry research.
This is an essential guide for researching the 1880 U.S. Census. The 1880 U.S. Census is a list of questions asked to the U.S. Federal Population in 1880. The census captures the moment in time for each person recorded in the 1880 U.S. Census.
Use this guide to learn about and discover the stories of the people who lived during and before the 1880s. With the 1880 U.S. census information, you can, for starters, build individual and family profiles, write narratives, build family trees and find related records to research.
Table of Contents for 1880Census Guide
The Essential 1880 U.S. Census Research Guide contains the following sections:
- Additional 1790-1950 U.S. Federal Census Resources
- Details about the 1880 U.S. Census
- How to Search and Use the 1880 U.S. Census Data
- Search the 1880 U.S. Census Schedules
- How 1880 U.S. Census Can Lead to Military Records
- Use the 1880 U.S. Census to Calculate the Birth Year
- What is the 1880 U.S. Federal Census?
- What Can You Find in U.S. Census
- Questions Asked in the 1880 U.S. Census
- Author B. Schreiber’s Introduction to the U.S. Census
Note: All images in this guide reflect life from the880s.
Why use the Essential 1880 U.S. Census Research Guide for Beginners
This guide is based on 1,000s of hours of my first-hand experience in researching the U.S. Censuses for purposes related to writing individuals and family narratives, family history, and genealogy. Writers, family historians, and genealogists can, for example, use this comprehensive research guide to:
- Learn 100’s of census research tips and tricks
- Correctly connect related individuals and family
- Complete and extend ancestral family trees
- Recognize, decipher and use clues from census data
- Build and expand individual family profiles
- Learn about and find other historical records
- Conduct exhaustive background research for writing narratives
- Write compelling individual and family narratives
- Find local, regional, state and national record repositories
Why the Essential 1880 U.S. Census Research Guide for Beginners was written
I’m Author B. Schreiber, a professional writer and blogger. I first started researching the U.S. Censuses to gain background information for stories and narratives I was writing about individuals and families I was related to.
Researching the U.S. Censuses can be complex and overwhelming. I spend hundreds of hours learning about each census and how to solve my research problems. This 1880 U.S. Census Research Guide is a compilation of what I learned and continue to apply. I am sharing this information because I understand how frustrating U.S. Census research can be. Perhaps this knowledge can help you. See the section: Author B. Schreiber’s Introduction to the U.S. Census.
Additional 1790-1950 U.S. Federal Census Resources
Essential censuses research guides
Click on any of the following years, and you will be taken to that years’ essential census research guide:
Census and historical record research articles
Throughout this U.S. federal census guide, please find links to resources that I have specifically prepared to help you. In addition, I have written and assembled other resources to provide you with a more in-depth understanding of the census research process. I have tried to cover every possible question and angle you are likely to face in your U.S. census research. I would encourage you to use the resources often. The resources include:
- 35 Important U.S. Census Research Tips and Tricks
- Pre-1850 U.S. Census Research Tips for Historians
- Where to find 1850-1940 Censuses Research Clues
- Introduction to 1790-1940 U.S. Censuses Ancestry Research
- How to Use Naming Patterns in Ancestry Research
- 5 Step Ancestry Research Process for Historians
- How to Cite and Verify Ancestry Research
- How to Conduct Detailed Exhaustive Historical Research
- Introduction to Ancestry Research and Historical Records
- 15 Strategies to Find Ancestor Names in Historical Records
- Keep Ancestry Research Focused with These 28 Simple Tips
(Video) Introduction to 1880 U.S. Census Historical Research. The “Introduction to 1880 U.S. Census Historical Research” provides a quick overview of the 1880 U.S. Census and how you can make the most from the 1880 U.S. Census for individual and family historical and narrative research.
For additional videos, see the BeginMyStory YouTube Channel.
Where to find the 1880 U.S. Census online
The following are some standard resources I have consulted:
Details about the 1880 U.S. Census
The following are a few of the details that are important to understand about the 1880 U.S. Federal census:
Number of persons included in the 1880 U.S. Census: 50,189, 208 people were enumerated in the United States.
1880 U.S. Census day: June 1, 1880
1880 U.S. Census duration: 1 month
1880 U.S. Census geography:
- States and territories enumerated: 38 states and twelve territories were included in the census.
- New states: The newest state included the in 1880 U.S. Census was Colorado
- Territories included: Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Idaho, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Washington, Alaska, Dakota and Indian
- The available states include: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
- The available states include: There are no missing states.
- Missing localities. The following localities are known to be missing data
o Kentucky. Crittenden County
o Michigan. Oscoda and Sanilac Counties
o Missouri. St. Louis
o New York. Bronx and Madison and Tioga Counties, New York City (i.e., Five boroughs: Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Kings)
o North Carolina. Guilford County
o Ohio. Allen County
o Oklahoma
o Utah. Rich County
o Virginia. Henrico and York Counties
A few essential facts about the 1880 U.S. Census include:
Numeration date. The numeration date is June 1, 1880, with one month to complete the census, resulting in fewer people being missed than prior census periods.
President during the census. Rutherford B. Hayes
This is the first census to use Indian as a race
Indian families may appear in the general population census. Make sure you also check the special Indian schedules.
Five schedules
Five schedules were prepared for the 1880 U.S. Census. They included:
- Schedule 1: Population
- Schedule 2: Mortality
- Schedule 3: Agriculture
- Schedule 4: Social Statistics
- Schedule 5: Manufacturing
Privacy rule
The 1880 U.S. Census was ordered to keep the answers strictly private and could not share the information with anyone. This was the beginning of the 72-year privacy rule. The general public would not be allowed to view the content of the census for 72 years.
Enumeration Districts
The Census Bureau set up “Enumeration Districts,” which were charted out on maps. There was an Enumeration supervisor for each district and was responsible for counting every person within the district and making a copy of every schedule.
Two copies of schedules
There were two copies of every census schedule. The original copy was to be bound by county and located in the county courthouse. The copy was to be sent to the Bureau of Census in Washington D.C.
Five times more enumerators
There were five times more enumerators hired for the 1880 U.S. Census than in 1880.
Enumerators for supplemental schedules
There were special enumerators, subject matter experts that were hired to complete the supplemental schedules.
Soundex
This is the first census to be indexed under the Soundex, which only lists families with children under 10 years. The Soundex uses a numbering system for letters, which allows the name to be indexed by how it sounds and not how it is spelled. See the article: How to Use the Soundex Coding System
1 million
New York was the first city to surpass 1 million people with 1,205,299.
How to Search and Use the 1880 U.S. Census Data
Learn how to search and use the data found in the 1880 U.S. Census. In this section of the Essential 1880 U.S. Census Research Guide for Beginners, you are provided a review of each group of the 1880 U.S. Census questions, including research insights, tips and tricks, and must-know information to aid your research.
- Definition: Column equals the column of the census where the information is recorded for each person.
Table of Contents for Census Questions
The following is a list of the 1880 U.S. Census questions. Each category provides research insights.
- Location and Dwelling Questions (Col. 1-2)
- Family Number Question (Col. 3)
- Names Question (Col. 4)
- Personal Description Questions (Col. 5-8)
- Relationship Question (Col. 9)
- Additional Personal Description Questions (Col. 10-13)
- Occupation Questions (Col. 14-15)
- Health Question (Col. 16)
- Education Questions (Col. 17-18)
- Place of Birth Questions (Col. 19-21)
Each of the following categories will provide you what I consider to be some of the essential research insights, tips and tricks, and more for each of the questions.
Location and Dwelling Questions (Col. 1-2)
How can I use the 1880 U.S. Census (Col. 1-2) location and dwelling questions in my research?
The 1880 U.S. Census questions for columns 1-2
The questions are as follows:
Col. 1: Name of Street House Number
Col. 2: Dwelling Number
Research tips and insights include:
Location and Dwelling number (Col. 1 -2)
We are provided with the city/town/village/borough, county, and state where the family resides. This can help in defining geographic areas to search for family and records.
Counted in order
The dwelling was the number of houses that were counted.
Cities only
The census taker recorded the following for those living in the city: Name of street, house number, dwelling number in order of visitation, and family number in order of visitation.
Top of the form
At the top of every census form, we are provided with the following information: State, county, city, page, Enumeration District and Enumeration date.
Search for historical and genealogical societies
Search for a historical and genealogical society in the county to learn about the community; records developed when individuals lived in the area, connect with other genealogists researching the same surname, groups (i.e., church) to which your family belonged.
Use the location to find other resources
Use the location to look for resources such as churches, cemeteries, courthouses, schools, funeral homes, libraries and much more.
Use the location to find modern-day repositories
Use the location to identify modern-day record repositories that are near the place your family lived (e.g., historical societies, genealogical societies, libraries, archives, courthouses.)
How can I use the 1880 U.S. Census (Col. 3) family number question in my research?
The 1880 U.S. Census question for columns 3
The question is as follows:
Col. 3: Family Number
Research tips and insights include:
Family Number (Col. 3)
This was the actual number of families counted.
Order of household visited
The census is recorded in the order of households visited. Take special note of the dwelling location versus the family number. For example, you could have dwelling 1 and dwelling 2, but for dwelling two, you could have families 2, 3 and 4 living in dwelling 2. This could be an apartment building or several families living in the same home. If you have people living in the same building, we need to be asking how they are related?
Learn about the circle of influence
You can begin to build the circle of influence for an individual by seeing who the neighbors were.
Search the neighbors. Often neighbors move with neighbors
Are they the same family? Members of the same congregation? Friends? If you can’t follow family or find the family in the census, see if you can follow neighbors. Are the given names similar among the neighbors and your family? Similar names run in families. This might be a clue that they are more than just neighbors. It has been my experience that neighbors are related even when they don’t share the same name. Look for the neighbors being the wife’s parents, sister of the husband, siblings of the wife, aunts and uncles and so forth. When I couldn’t find an individual in location, I searched on know neighbors’ names to find my family. Make sure you include the names of neighbors in your family profile.
Names Question (Col. 4)
How can I use the 1880 U.S. Census (Col. 4) names question in my research?
The 1880 U.S. Census question for columns 4
The question is as follows:
Col. 4: Names
Research tips and insights include:
Composition of the family (Col. 4)
Provides members of the household by name.
- As of June 1880. List the persons who lived in the home as of June 1870.
- Individual names. Individual names for those in the household.
- List order. As a general format, family members are listed in the following order: husband, wife, children by age, parents, brothers, sisters, and so forth.
Death or birth after June 1, 1880
Individuals who died or children were omitted who were born after June 1, 1880.
Relationship to head of household
This is the first census that asked for the relationship to head of household. See the category below titled “Relationships (Col. 9.)
Migration, Civil War and finding records
The Civil War is still very fresh in the minds and lives of Americans during the 1880 U.S. Census. Families are on the move. Don’t be surprised if you find your family living in different locations with each census within the same county, state and region. Each place they lived will be cause to search for records. The following is the process I have used for using the family migration patterns between 1860-1900 to research and find records.
Military records
Make sure you search all the males in our family over the age of 30 for military records associated with possible service in the Civil War. By 1880, many war veterans and hires are starting to receive pensions. Search out the military records on not only your direct line but also male siblings, uncles, brothers-in-law, and cousins. I have found important information about my direct line when reviewing the pension files of extended family. See the category “Search military records” and click on the article, “Civil War 1861-1865,” to learn how to research and find records available for the war.
Follow family through the census
Make it a priority to follow your family through censuses during their lifetime (e.g., federal, state, territorial, and local censuses) as well as census schedules if they exist (e.g., population, agriculture, manufacturing, social statistics, crime, mortality, veterans, slave.)
Check original census
Always seek to see the images of the original census to compare against the transcription.
Search for the same surname
Look closely at persons with the same surname. Could they be a relative? Does the individual show up as a child in the earlier census? Search other records such as deeds, wills to see if the person shows up. Could individuals be in-laws? Check marriages of the county for husbands of sisters, aunts, and mothers.
Search pages before and after the listing of individuals
I have found it essential to search for the surname several pages before and after the page where you find your family. This can also help in suggesting relationships between neighbors. Look for added clues such as given first names, occupations, places of origin. When I contact genealogical/historical societies, I have often sought to find genealogists researching these surnames to compare research.
Extract all with the same surname
Make it a practice to extract all the persons with the same surname living in the same county. Are they family? They could be a family connection or related connection, such as where they came from. If your family lives near a state our county border, go ahead and extract the persons with the same surnames from neighboring counties. I have usually found important clues and connections among those with the same surname to enhance my research.
Personal Description Questions (Col. 5-8)
How can I use the 1880 U.S. Census(Col. 5-8) personal description questions in my research?
The 1880 U.S. Census question for columns 5-8
The questions are as follows:
Col. 5: Color
-
- White (W)
- Black (B)
- Mulatto (M)
- Chinese (C)
- Indian (I)
Col. 6: Sex
Col. 7: Age prior to June 1
Col. 8: Month of birth if born in census year
Research tips and insights include:
Color (Col. 5)
In this census, there are more indications of color with the White (W), Indian (I) American Indian, Black (B), Chinese (C) included all east Asians, Mulatto (M) mixed race. This information may help determine the person’s origins.
Age (Col. 6)
This is not the exact date of birth, but it will provide a “ballpark” number that you can use to help you track the person in the next census and search for birth event records of the period.
Under the age of 1
Children under the age of 1 were represented months as fractions, such as 1/12 meaning 1 month, 4/12 meaning for months.
Search other records
Few states during this period had vital records, but there are good chances that you may be able to look for church records. Start your search for these types of records at the genealogical/historical society.
Look closely at age gaps
Look at age gaps between children. Is the age gap average? For example, every two years. Are the age gaps more significant than expected? This could be a clue that there was another child or spouse that had passed away. Look at the age of husband and wife. Are they about the same age? Is one spouse much older than the other? If yes, this could be a clue that there is a second marriage. Look at the ages of children and the place of birth. This might provide clues of where the parents were married or from where the family migrated.
Relationship Question (Col. 9)
How can I use the 1880 U.S. Census (Col. 9) personal description question in my research?
The 1880 U.S. Census question for columns 9
The question is as follows:
Col. 9: Relationship to head of house
Research tips and insights include:
Relationship (Col. 9)
This is the first census that asked for the relationship to head of household.
Family relationship titles
In this census, you will be seeing titles such as husband, wife, son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, niece, nephew and so forth. When you see titles such as niece, nephew, uncle, and aunt, you will still need to investigate which side of the family they belong to. As you connect research from other census years, this will become clearer.
Nonfamily titles
If the family isn’t related to the family, you will see titles like none, hired, servant, and so forth.
Wife may not be the mother of children
Take particular note of the wife as to whether she is the mother of the children. Look at age gaps between children. Is the age cap typical? For example, every two years. Are the age gaps more significant than expected? This could be a clue that there was another child or spouse that had passed away. Look at the age of husband and wife. Are they about the same age? Is one spouse much older than the other? If yes, this could be a clue that there is a second marriage. Look at the ages of children and the place of birth. This might provide clues of where the parents were married or from where the family migrated.
Discovering unknown surnames
The relationships column has helped discover previously unknown surnames for married daughters, mother-in-law, cousins, and other relatives living with the family.
Research the relationships
Make sure that you research all the relationships of individuals, including siblings and their families (i.e., spouses, children), aunts and uncles, grandparents, and even cousins. As you build out the family tree, you will discover critical pieces of information about your direct line when searching extended family. For example, when I couldn’t find information about the parents of my direct line in the late 1800s, I was able to learn the information from research I did on siblings.
Additional Personal Description Questions (Col. 10-13)
How can I use the 1880 U.S. Census (Col. 10-13) additional personal description questions in my research?
The 1880 U.S. Census question for columns 10-13
The questions are as follows:
Col. 10: Single
Col. 11: Married
Col. 12: Widowed (W), Divorced (D)
Col. 13: Married in census year
Research tips and insights include:
Marital status (Col. 10-13)
In this series of columns, we are told whether the person is single, married within the year, widowed (W) or divorced (D).
- Married within a year. Suppose you find an individual who was married within the census year (i.e., June 2, 1879, to June 1, 1880), search for civic and church marriage records.
- Widowed. If the person is widowed since the 1870 census, consider looking for wills and probate records, military pensions, death event records of a spouse.
- Divorced. If the person is divorced, search court records for divorced proceedings.
Occupation Questions (Col. 14-15)
How can I use the 1880 U.S. Census (Col. 14-15) occupation description questions in my research?
The 1880 U.S. Census question for columns 14-15
The questions are as follows:
Col. 14: Profession, Occupation, or Trade
Col. 15: No of months unemployed
Research tips and insights include:
Occupation (Col. 14-15)
This indicates the person’s occupation and related information can help one search for employment records.
Search for other records
Look carefully at the person’s occupation/trade and define what types of records might exist. I had one individual who was a merchant, which led me to look for a business license, business/professional directory, ads for his business in the newspaper and related documents, all of which I found. Another genealogist had an ancestor who was a member of the clergy, leading them to search and find church records.
Occupation clues
Use the occupation to provide clues as to other information recorded in the supplemental schedules (i.e., Agriculture, Manufactures.) For example, if the person was a farmer, make sure you look at Schedule 3, “Agricultural Census,” for more information about the family. Or, If the person was a saw or grist miller, cheesemaker, or other “manufacturer,” check the manufacturing census schedules.</a
Health Question (Col. 16)
How can I use the 1880 U.S. Census (Col. 16) health question in my research?
The 1880 U.S. Census question for columns 16
The question is as follows:
Col. 16: Health Information Item No.
-
- 15-Sick or temporarily disabled
- 16-Blind
- 17-Deaf & dumb
- 18-Idiotic
- 19-Insane
- 20-Maimed or crippled
Research tips and insights include:
Health (Col. 16)
Number was used to denote the type of illness 15-Sick or temporarily disabled, 16-Blind, 17-Deaf & dumb, 18-Idiotic, 19-Insane, 20-Maimed or crippled.
Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent Classes Schedule
If you find an answer in this column, make sure you search the Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent Classes Schedule to see if you can find additional information about the individual and their family.
Education Questions (Col. 17-18)
How can I use the 1880 U.S. Census (Col. 17-18) education questions in my research?
The 1880 U.S. Census question for columns 17-18
The questions are as follows:
Col. 17: Attended School
Col. 18: Cannot read/Cannot write
Research tips and insights include:
Education (Col. 17-18)
This identifies if the person had gone to school within the year (i.e., June 2, 1879, to June 1, 1880.) This will provide clues to look for school records that can associate children with parents. Look for records such as school census.
Cannot read and write
Use this information to confirm that you have the right person when searching other records. For example, you are searching wills of individuals with the same name as the researching person. The census records said that an individual could read and write. You find the wills of two persons with the same name. One marked his will with an X. The other signed his name on the will. The person using the X most likely couldn’t read or write. Since you are looking for someone who could read and write, the X should raise caution flags that this person may not be the person you are looking for.
Place of Birth Questions (Col. 19-21)
How can I use the 1880 U.S. Census (Col. 19-21) place of birth questions in my research?
The 1880 U.S. Census question for columns 19-21
The questions are as follows:
Col. 19: Place of birth
Col. 20: Place of birth of father
Col. 21: Place of birth of mother
Research tips and insights include:
Place of birth (Col. 19-21)
If the person was born in the United States, the enumerator entered the state where they were born. If they were born outside the United States, the enumerator would enter the native country. If the person was born within the state, they were being enumerated, and the census taker might include the county or township.
Father and mother’s place of birth
This information is critical to helping you develop scenarios of where to search for family.
Narrow search
Use this information to narrow your search for records to the geographic area, even town. Also very helpful with clues to immigration and migration.
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[Return to Guide TOC]
Search the 1880 U.S. Census Schedules
The 1880 census included the population and several other schedules taken usually at the same time. There are online and in print resources that provide more detail on these schedules and how to use them in genealogy research. I always suggest that you check these schedules. They include:
(Video) Introduction to U.S. Census Special Enumeration Schedules. An overview of the special enumeration schedules that are found in the U.S. Censuses. Learn about the mortality, agricultural, veterans, slave, and Indian special enumerations.
Manufacture’s Schedule
Provides information on businesses and industries for the year (i.e., June 2, 1879, to June 1, 1880). Manufactures that were household-based were not included. The information collected focused on the industry’s products such as mining, fisheries, mercantile, commercial and trading businesses. The census taker included the name of the company/owner, kind of business, the amount invested, quantity and value of materials, labor, machinery and products. These schedules are valuable because many document businesses and merchants who do not appear in the land records.
Mortality Schedule
Provides information about persons who died during the twelve months before the census (i.e., June 2, 1879, to June 1, 1880). It collected the following information: name, age, sex, color, place of birth, marital status, profession, occupation/trade, the month of death, disease or cause of death, number of days ill and remarks. In 1870 a place for parents’ birthplaces was added. In 1880, the place where the disease was contracted, how long the deceased person was a citizen or resident and included fractions (e.g., 1/12) if less than a year. Use the information to research other obituaries, mortuary records, cemeteries, and probate records. 1880 is the last census to include the Mortality Schedule.
(Video) 1850-1860 U.S. Census Mortality Schedules Overview. An overview of what types of information you will find in the U.S. Census Mortality Schedules. Learn about the mortality schedules and view the 1850 to 1880 schedule questions.
Agricultural Schedule
Provides data on farms and the names of the farmers for the year (i.e., June 2, 1879, to June 1, 1880). Farm information focused on agricultural production. In 1870 and 1880, farms of less than three acres or which produced less than $500 worth of products were not included. Use the information to
- Fill in gaps with land and tax records are missing
- Distinguish between individuals with the same surnames
- Document land ownership and search-related records such as deeds, mortgages, tax rolls and probate inventories.
- Trace migration and economic growth.
(Vide0) 1850-1885 U.S. Census Agriculture Schedules Overview. An overview of what types of information you will find in the U.S. Census Agriculture Schedules. Learn about the agriculture schedules and view the 1850 to 1880 schedule questions.
Social Statistics Schedule
Includes information about the following topics: valuation of real estate; annual taxes; colleges, academies, and schools; seasons and crops; libraries; newspapers and periodicals; religion; pauperism; crime; and wages. These schedules are valuable because many document businesses and merchants who do not appear in the land records. For example,
- Cemeteries. You will have a listing of the cemeteries (i.e., names, addresses, descriptions, procedures for internment) with the city boundaries, along with maps pinpointing their locations. You will also find lists of cemeteries that are no longer open and why.
- Trade societies, lodges and clubs. You find their names, addresses, and officers.
- Churches. You will find a brief history, overview of doctrine and policies and statistical list of members.
Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent Classes Schedule
Includes different forms to enumerate the following classes of individuals: insane, idiots, deaf-mutes, blind, paupers and needy persons, homeless children, and prisoners. You will learn the individual’s name, race, gender, age, and residence. If the person had a mental or physical illness, questions related to the medical history were asked. Questions for homeless children focused on their parents. Questions about imprisonment were asked for prisoners.
Indian Population Schedule
This is not the American Indian Census rolls. For this schedule, the enumerators recorded the Indians living on the reservation and non-reservation on the Indian Population schedule. The census has two sections. The top half asks questions just like the standard population schedule. The bottom half is specific to the Indians, such as other names, tribe, father and mother, degree of white blood, whether living in polygamy, whether they are being taxed, and type of dwelling they live in.
(Video) 1885-1940 U.S. Indian Census Schedules Overview. An overview of what types of information you will find in the U.S. Census Indian Schedules.
1885 Special Census
In 1885 with partial assistance of the U.S. Federal government, Colorado, Florida, Nebraska and the territories of Dakota (i.e., North and South Dakota) and New Mexico chose to conduct a census with three schedules:
- Population. Includes several dwelling and families, name, color, sex, age, relationship to head of household, marital status, occupation, place of birth, parent’s birthplace, literacy, and sickness/disability.
- Agriculture. Includes owner name, tenure, acreage, farm value, the estimated value of farm products, number and kind of livestock, and amount and type of produce.
- Products of Industry. Provides information on businesses and industries. Includes name of business or products, capital invested, number of employees, wages and hours, number of months in operation, the value of materials used, value of products, and amount and type of power used.
- Mortality. Includes name, age, sex, color, material status, place of birth, parents’ place of birth, occupation, cause of death for every person who died between June 1, 1884, and May 31, 1885.
Veterans Schedule
In 1890 there was a special schedule created for Union Civil War veterans, which also includes many Confederate veterans. You will find the following type of information: name, rank, company, regiment or vessel, dates of enlistment and discharge, length of service, residence, disability, and remarks. Muchofthe1890censuswas destroyed by fire. Nearly all of the records for the states of Alabama through Kansas and the western half of Kentucky were lost. Of those states that have been lost, few schedules exist, and they are:
- California – Alcatraz
- Connecticut – Fort Trumbull
- Connecticut – Hartford County Hospital
- Connecticut – U.S. Naval Station
- Delaware – Delaware State Hospital for the Insane
- District of Columbia – Lincoln Post #3
- Florida – Fort Barrancas
- Florida – St. Francis Barracks
- Idaho – Boise Barracks
- Idaho – Fort Sherman
- Illinois – Cook County
- Illinois – Henderson County
- Indiana – Warrick County
- Indiana – White County
- Kansas – Barton Count
(Video) 1840 and 1890 U.S. Census Veteran Schedules Overview. An overview of what types of information you will find in the U.S. Census Veterans Schedules. Learn about the veterans’ schedules and view the 1890 schedule questions.
The schedules for the remaining half of Kentucky and the states of Louisiana to Wyoming are available. Actual remaining schedules are from: The remaining half of Kentucky and the states of Louisiana to Wyoming are available. Actual states include Half of Kentucky, and Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Indian Territory, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, U.S. ships and navy yards, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
How 1880 U.S. Census Can Lead to Military Records
Even though there is no information in the 1880 U.S. Census identifying veterans of war, there are still men living who served in one or more military wars and conflicts. The records available for these veterans vary but can yield important clues and knowledge about the individual and their family. For example:
- Pension applications. Search for pension applications and records of pension payments for veterans, their widows, and other heirs. The pension applications usually provide the most information. They can include supporting documents such as marriage, birth, and death records/certificates, pages from family Bibles, family letters, dispositions of witnesses, affidavits, discharge papers and other supporting documents. Even if an individual did not receive a pension, see if his pension request was denied.
- Bounty lands. Bounty land applications also are related to wartime service. The federal government provided bounty land for those who served in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the Indian wars between 1775 and 1855. Bounty lands were offered as an incentive to serve and as a reward for service. Veterans or their heirs claimed bounty land.
Search for these military records:
Early Indian Wars 1815-1858
Look for military records of men serving in the Early Indian Wars aged 45+ in the 1880 U.S. Census. These men would have been born before 1835.
Mexican War 1846-1848
Look for military records of men serving in the Mexican Wars aged 47+ in the 1880 U.S. Census. These men would have been born before 1832.
Civil War 1861-1865
Civil War 1861-1865. Look for military records of men who would be serving in the U.S. Civil War between the ages of 30 and 80 in the 1880 U.S. Census. These men would have been born in 1850 and earlier. Keep in mind that many young men lied about their age and served with their father, brother (s), or other family members if an individual living in the Union or Confederate states that they served in their army. Suppose someone living in the Union or Confederate states that they served in their army. Many men who were in the Union served in the Confederacy. And many men from the South served in the Union Army. Make sure that you search for all male family members (i.e., father, sons, brothers, uncles, and nephews.) The Civil War enlistment card will give you clues of an individuals’ location and place of residence. See the article: How to Find WWII Soldier Records for Writing Narratives
Researching military headstones
Military headstones have evolved through time. See the following articles for details: Meaning of Each Religious Emblem of Belief for U.S. Military Headstones
(Video) Introduction to U.S. Military Headstones. An introduction to U.S. military headstones provides an understanding of the design, history, symbolism, and individual and family research.
Use the 1880 U.S. Census to Calculate the Birth Year
In Column 6 of the 1880 US Population Census, learn the age of each household member. The following 1880 U.S. Census Birth Year Reference Chart will provide the approximate corresponding birth year for the age provided. For more information, see the following article: How to Use the Census to Calculate the Birth Year
Age calculated as of June 1, 1880.
| 1880 U.S. Census Birth Year Reference Chart | |||||
| Age | Birth Year | Age | Birth Year | Age | Birth Year |
| May 0/12 | 1880 | 28 | 1852 | 67 | 1813 |
| Apr 1/12 | 1880 | 29 | 1851 | 68 | 1812 |
| Mar 2/12 | 1880 | 30 | 1850 | 69 | 1811 |
| Feb 3/12 | 1880 | 31 | 1849 | 70 | 1810 |
| Jan 4/12 | 1880 | 32 | 1848 | 71 | 1809 |
| Dec 5/12 | 1879 | 33 | 1847 | 72 | 1808 |
| Nov 6/12 | 1879 | 34 | 1846 | 73 | 1807 |
| Oct 7/12 | 1879 | 35 | 1845 | 74 | 1806 |
| Sep 8/12 | 1879 | 36 | 1844 | 75 | 1805 |
| Aug 9/12 | 1879 | 37 | 1843 | 76 | 1804 |
| Jul 10/12 | 1879 | 38 | 1842 | 77 | 1803 |
| Jun 11/12 | 1879 | 39 | 1841 | 78 | 1802 |
| 1 | 1879 | 40 | 1840 | 79 | 1801 |
| 2 | 1878 | 41 | 1839 | 80 | 1800 |
| 3 | 1877 | 42 | 1838 | 81 | 1799 |
| 4 | 1876 | 43 | 1837 | 82 | 1798 |
| 5 | 1875 | 44 | 1836 | 83 | 1797 |
| 6 | 1874 | 45 | 1835 | 84 | 1796 |
| 7 | 1873 | 46 | 1834 | 85 | 1795 |
| 8 | 1872 | 47 | 1833 | 86 | 1794 |
| 9 | 1871 | 48 | 1832 | 87 | 1793 |
| 10 | 1870 | 49 | 1831 | 88 | 1792 |
| 11 | 1869 | 50 | 1830 | 89 | 1791 |
| 12 | 1868 | 51 | 1829 | 90 | 1790 |
| 13 | 1867 | 52 | 1828 | 91 | 1789 |
| 14 | 1866 | 53 | 1827 | 92 | 1788 |
| 15 | 1865 | 54 | 1826 | 93 | 1787 |
| 16 | 1864 | 55 | 1825 | 94 | 1786 |
| 17 | 1863 | 56 | 1824 | 95 | 1785 |
| 18 | 1862 | 57 | 1823 | 96 | 1784 |
| 19 | 1861 | 58 | 1822 | 97 | 1783 |
| 20 | 1860 | 59 | 1821 | 98 | 1782 |
| 21 | 1859 | 60 | 1820 | 99 | 1781 |
| 22 | 1858 | 61 | 1819 | 100 | 1780 |
| 23 | 1857 | 62 | 1818 | 101 | 1779 |
| 24 | 1856 | 63 | 1817 | 102 | 1778 |
| 25 | 1855 | 64 | 1816 | 103 | 1777 |
| 26 | 1854 | 65 | 1815 | 104 | 1776 |
| 27 | 1853 | 66 | 1814 | 105 | 1775 |
Census taker instructions for age on 1880 U.S. Census. The following are the exact instructions given to the census taker (enumerator):
Ages.-The exact age in figures will be inserted in column 6 whenever the same can be obtained; otherwise, the nearest approximation thereto. Children who, on June 1 1880, were less than a year old will have their age stated by the fractional part of the year, as (one month), 1/12; (three months), 3/12; (nine months), 9/12, etc. In all other cases, months will be omitted.
What is the 1880 U.S. Federal Census?
A census is a government-sponsored enumeration of the population in a particular area. It contains a variety of information — names, heads of household (or all household members), ages, citizenship status, ethnic background, and so on. Here are some different types of census records you are likely to come across in your research.
U.S. federal census is also called a population schedule. Federal census records provide the building blocks of your research, allowing you to confirm the information and learn more. Compiled in the United States for every decade since 1790, census population schedules are comprehensive, detailed records of the federal government’s decennial survey of American households. The federal government uses information from the schedules for demographic analysis.
The schedules themselves, of interest primarily to genealogists, contain the personal information of the survey respondents. To protect the people’s privacy whose names appear in each schedule, census records are restricted for 72 years after the census is taken and are not available to researchers during that time.
What Can You Find in U.S. Census
Use the 1880 U.S. Census Guide to learn about and discover the stories of the people who lived during and before the 1880s. With the 1880 U.S. census information, you can, for starters, build individual and family profiles, write narratives, build family trees and find related records to research. For example, you can use the census to:
- Identify head of household
- Identify members of the household by name
- Identify relationships—surnames of married daughter, mother-in-law, cousins, other relatives
- Indicate that wife may not be the mother of kids
- Identify ages of individuals by name
- Begin to establish family relationships (e.g., spouse, children, siblings, parents)
- Identify people of color: White (W), Indian (I), American Indian, Black (B), Chinese (C), Japanese (J.P.)
- Begin to identify possible remarriages and step relationships
- Identify birthplace of parents-immigrant information
- Supplement birth/marriage info. Due to relationship info.
- Locate and identify birthplaces
- Identify month of birth
- Identify year of marriage
- Determine year of immigration
- Identify occupations
- Locate and identify real estate
- Find information in various schedules that include: Population, agriculture, industry and mortality
- Locate and identify a family who are neighbors
- Identify spelling variations
- Locate and identify a family in other census substitute records (e.g., probate inventories, tax lists)
- Locate and identify children not yet known
- Locate and identify possible parents
- Locate and identify possible children not listed in later censuses
- Differentiate between families of the same name
- Locate and identify possible neighbors who might be family
- Give clues to genetic symptoms or diseases
Questions Asked in the 1880 U.S. Census
The following are the questions found on the 1880 U.S. federal census:
LOCATION
Col. 1: Name of Street House Number
Col. 2: Dwelling Number
HOUSEHOLD DATA
Col. 3: Family Number
NAME
Col. 4: Names
PERSONAL DESCRIPTION
Col. 5: Color
- White (W)
- Black (B)
- Mulatto (M)
- Chinese (C)
- Indian (I)
Col. 6: Sex
Col. 7: Age prior to June 1
Col. 8: Month of birth if born in census year
RELATION
Col. 9: Relationship to head of house
ADDITIONAL PERSONAL DESCRIPTION
Col. 10: Single
Col. 11: Married
Col. 12: Widowed (W), Divorced (D)
Col. 13: Married in census year
OCCUPATION
Col. 14: Profession, Occupation, or Trade
Col. 15: No of months unemployed
HEALTH
Col. 16: Health Information Item No.
• 15-Sick or temporarily disabled
• 16-Blind
• 17-Deaf & dumb
• 18-Idiotic
• 19-Insane
• 20-Maimed or crippled
EDUCATION
Col. 17: Attended School
Col. 18: Cannot read/Cannot write
PLACE OF BIRTH
Col. 19: Place of birth
Col. 20: Place of birth of father
Col. 21: Place of birth of mother.
Author B. Schreiber’s Introduction to the U.S. Census
I first used the U.S. census to help find and discover the past of my step-father, John. I was interested in writing a personal narrative about his life. I wanted to answer questions like.
- Where was he born?
- Who was his family?
- What was his family story?
- What was it like during different periods of his life?
- Are there any family records (e.g., birth, marriage, school, death, etc.) that exist?
- Are there any photos, journals, letters, memorabilia about the individual or family?
- Are there living families or descendants that I can interview or help tell the story?
I did not have much information. I knew where he was buried. He was born in either the 1920s/1930s. He was born in one of four states, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania. John had been married to my mother for about 5 years. After their divorce, my mother lost track of him until she received a call from the police department one day asking if she knew John. John’s body had been left in a hospital’s emergency room parking lot without any personal identification. His body was taken to a local morgue, where he remained for four months until he was identified by my mother. My mother then took steps to have John’s remains buried in a nearby cemetery with a military headstone.
I shared the story with a friend of mine who was a genealogist/family historian. She asked me if I had ever thought of looking in the U.S. Census. I responded with the answer of no and questioned her about how the c
She invited me to join her at a local library, where over the next couple of hours, she began to show me the census of the 1940s, 1930s, and 1920s. Within a couple of hours, she helped me find John and his related family in and around Jersey City, New Jersey. From those humble beginnings, I used the census as a steppingstone to finding records, locating living members of John’s family, and so much more.
In short, John was born in the late 1920s in Jersey City. Growing up, he became a bookie for the mob when he was in his early 20s. When he was caught stealing from the mob, the mob put out a contract on his life.
Desperately needing help, John went to his brother, a captain for the local police department, for safety. His brother was able to work directly with the mob to negotiate for Johns’s life. John was required to pay the money back with interest and leave town, never to return. He was a soldier in WWII and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. When he met my mom, he was a dispatcher for a taxicab company.
From that first experience, I spent 1000s hours learning how to use the U.S. 1940-1790 Censuses as a primary resource for my narrative and background research about individuals, families, and character development.
