United States Virgin Islands, Census Records, 1841-1911

Census records from the US Virgin Islands created during the time period when the islands were known as Danish West Indies. Some of these records have been indexed and are searchable as part of this collection. Additional indexed records will be published as they become available.

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United States Virgin Islands, Census Records

Source: https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/United_States_Virgin_Islands,_Census_Records_-_FamilySearch_Historical_Records

What is in This Collection?

The United States Virgin Islands were part of the Kingdom of Denmark from 1672 to 1917 when they were sold to the United States. These census records were created during the time period when the islands were a Danish colony known as Danish West Indies (Dansk Vestindien). Some of these records have been indexed and are searchable as part of this collection.

Census were made in 1835, 1841, 1846, 1850, 1855, 1857, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1901, and 1911. The 1835, 1841, and 1846 censuses contained separate schedules of the free and enslaved population (euphemistically identified as unfree). Slavery in the West Indies ended on 3 July 1848 and was officially confirmed by the Danish parliament on 22 September of the same year.

Not all records are extant. For example, after the 1835 census was completed and statistical data extracted the records were destroyed without being forwarded to Denmark. Significant parts of the 1890 census are also missing. The following table shows which records are available. The 1846 and 1846 censuses included separate schedules for enslaved persons.

Island	City	1841	1846	1850	1855	1857	1860	1870	1880	1890	1901	1911
St John	Rural	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X		X	X
St Thomas	Charlotte Amalie		X	X	X	X	X	X	X		X	X
St Thomas	Rural	X	X	X	X	X	X	X			X
St. Croix	Christiansted	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
St. Croix	Frederiksted	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X		X	X
St. Croix	Rural	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X