United States, Census, 1890

About the 1890 United States Census

The 1890 census was the 11th census of the United States. For historical and genealogical researchers, it marked a turning point in the nation’s growth and documented the United States as it moved from a largely rural society to an increasingly industrial and urban one.

Census takers officially began collecting information on 1 June 1890. They counted more than 62 million people living in these places:

• The 44 states
• The District of Columbia
• United States territories, including Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma Indian Territory, and Utah Territory

Destroyed by Fire

In 1896, a fire at the Census Bureau destroyed many special census schedules, including records related to industry and transportation. A second, more devastating fire broke out in 1921 at the Commerce Department building in Washington, D.C., where the remaining 1890 census records were stored. Many of the population schedules were either burned or so badly damaged by smoke and water that they could not be saved.

Remaining Fragments of the 1890 Population Schedules

Fragments of the 1890 census list only 6,285 people of the nearly 63 million originally recorded in the census. The surviving records come from:

• Alabama
• District of Columbia
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Minnesota
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• South Dakota
• Texas

If you have relatives who were alive on 1 June 1890, especially those known to have lived in these areas, it is worth searching these surviving fragments. Comparing locations from the 1880 and 1900 censuses can help narrow your search.

The 1890 Veterans Schedule

About half of the 1890 Veterans Schedule survives. This schedule lists Union Civil War veterans and widows and covers many states from Kentucky through Wyoming.

When searching these records, try multiple name variations and locations. Keep in mind that a veteran may have remarried, so a widow listed may not be the ancestor from whom you descend.

America in 1890

In the United States of 1890:

• Large numbers of immigrants arrived from Europe and Asia and formed communities in cities and industrial regions.
• Railroad towns and mining camps expanded.
• Families transitioned from farm labor to wage-based work.

The United States Census Bureau also officially declared that the American frontier was closed. For family historians, this period often marks:

• Permanent settlement after generations of movement.
• Land ownership replacing homesteading.
• Families becoming settled in towns rather than frontier areas.

Questions in the 1890 Census

The 1890 census introduced new questions and expanded the government’s interest in social and economic data.

Primary 1890 Census Questions

The population schedule asked questions about the following:

• Full name of the head of household
• Names of all persons living in the household
• Whether the head of household was a participant in the Civil War
• Relationship of each individual to the head of household
• Race
• Sex
• Age at nearest birthday; if under 1 year, given in months
• Marital status (single, married, widowed, or divorced)
• Whether the person was married during the census year
• Mother of how many children
• How many children still living
• Place of birth
• Birthplace of father
• Birthplace of mother
• Number of years having lived in the United States
• Whether the person was a naturalized citizen
• Profession or occupation
• Able to read, write, and speak English
• Ever been a prisoner, convict, homeless, or a pauper

Veterans Schedule

The 1890 veterans schedule survives for many states and is a valuable source of information about Union Civil War veterans and widows, with details such as the following:

• Full name of surviving soldier, sailor, marine, or widow
• Rank, company, regiment, or vessel
• Date of enlistment
• Date of discharge
• Length of service in years, months, and days

Replacements for the 1890 Census

You will likely need to use a combination of sources to replace the 1890 census.

State and Local Census Records

Some states and territories conducted their own censuses in 1885 and 1895. They may list entire households and often included ages, birthplaces, and occupations. Availability varies by place, but state censuses are one of the closest substitutes for the lost federal census.

City Directories

Looking through city, town, and farm directories from several years can help you figure out when a family first appeared in an area, how long they lived there, and how their occupations changed over time. Directories often list the following:

• Heads of households
• Spouses
• Occupations
• Street addresses

Tax, Land, and Probate Records

Tax lists and land records can confirm a person’s residence and economic status in the late 1880s and 1890s. Probate records may identify family members, spouses, and heirs, especially when someone died during this period.

These records are especially useful in rural areas, where city directories were not available.

Voter Registrations and Military Records

Voter lists may place adult men in a specific location at a specific time. For Civil War veterans and their families, the 1890 veterans schedule is often the single most valuable replacement for the missing census.

Pension files, service records, and veterans schedules can provide residence, family relationships, and health information.

Church, School, and Funeral Records

Church membership lists, baptism records, school registers, and funeral home records can document families and individuals who lived in a community during the 1890s. These records often include birth dates, relationships, and places of residence.

Accessing the 1890 United States Census

Because most of the 1890 population schedules were destroyed, a complete census does not exist. However, important fragments are available. You can search them for free on FamilySearch.org with a free account. These include:

• Fragments of the population schedule.
• The 1890 veterans schedule.

Fragments and related records are on Ancestry, Findmypast, MyHeritage, and the National Archiveswebsite. These sites may require a subscription, but many public libraries and FamilySearch centers offer free access.