Nebraska, State Census, 1885
Name index and images of the state census for Nebraska taken in 1885. The microfilms are from National Archives publication M352. The population schedule lists all household members.
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Nebraska, State Census, 1885
Source: https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Nebraska,_State_Census,_1885_-_FamilySearch_Historical_Records
What is in This Collection?
The Nebraska State Census, 1885 collection consists of a name index for the population schedules listing the inhabitants of the state of Nebraska and images for the population, mortality, manufactures and agriculture schedules. The 1885 census was taken at the request of the United States Federal Government and with their assistance. Nebraska was one of five states (or territories) who participated. The records are handwritten on pre-printed pages with rows and columns. The schedule format is similar to the 1880 federal census. The census includes all of the counties that existed at the time, with the exceptions of Blaine and Chase County.
The collection was taken from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm number M352, Schedules of the Nebraska State Census of 1885, which is part of Record Group 29 Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007. The microfilm pamphlet is available for download from the National Archives Microfilm Resources for Research: A Comprehensive Catalog.
General Information about the 1885 Census
In March of 1879, Congress passed an act authorizing the tenth and following censuses. In addition to the regular censuses taken every ten years, this act also made authorized a census to be taken in the middle of the decade. On 1 June 1885, a special federal census of Nebraska was taken following the guidelines outlined in the March 1879 census act. The 1885 census included four general schedules: population, agriculture, manufactures, and mortality. These schedules are organized alphabetically by county and then by the number assigned to each type of schedule. Within each type of schedule, the records are arranged by enumeration district. The 1885 population schedule resembles a typical census schedule and can provide valuable information that can be used to fill the gap caused by the loss of the 1890 federal census in the 1921 Department of Commerce fire.
Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.
To Browse This Collection
| You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for Nebraska State Census, 1885. |
What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:
Census
- Name of every member of the household
- Race
- Gender
- Age
- If born within the last year age in months
- Relationship to head of household
- Single, married, widowed, or divorced
- Profession or occupation
- Number of months unemployed in the previous year
- If disabled and nature of the disability
- Attended school
- Whether can read, write, or speak English
- Birthplace
- Father's birthplace
- Mother's birthplace
Collection Content
Sample Images
Population Schedule
Manufacture Schedule
Agriculture Schedule
Mortality Schedule
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Collection Details
Location of Original Records
National Archives and Records Administration
"Nebraska, State Census, 1885." Database with images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 2 May 2026. Citing NARA microfilm publication M352. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
