Census Records
You can find searchable indexes for US Federal Census records and original images at the LDS online library at FamilySearch.org. You will need to create a free account to view the images.If you would like to transcribe census records for USGenWeb, please visit the Census Transcription Project.
Before the 1850 US Federal Census, Texas did not belong to the US so any census records for it will either be found in Mexico or in the State Archive (Republic of Texas).
The 1850 gives names, ages, places of birth, values of real estate, Color (White, black or mulatto) and occupations but also has columns for married within the year, attended school within the year, person over 20 who cannot read or write and "Whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, pauper or convict"; which can make interesting notes. There are a transcription and index in the Archives.
In 1860, in addition to the 1850 columns, this census asked for value of personal property.
The 1870 census added columns for born within the year (asking for the month), whether parents were foreign-born and two questions about men over 20 (voting information). Folks with a free account can search and view this census at FamilySearch.org.
The 1880 Federal Census is the first census to ask for marital status and relationships within a household. You can search and view this census at FamilySearch.org.
The 1890 Federal Census burned before it could be copied.
The 1900 census is the first census to ask for years married and asks women how many children they've borne and how many are living. It also asked for the month and year that each person was born, the year they immigrated and whether they own or rent their homes. There are also colums for street addresses but they were not generally used in rural areas. We have a transcription in the Archives that needs an index (big hint).
1910 - This is the second census that asked for number of years married, number of children borne by females and number of living children. The index to this census is available to everyone with a free account at the LDS on-line library.
The 1920 census was enumerated in January and many families were missed, likely due to weather. It offers very little in the way of extra information except for the names of the roads on which the people lived. The index to this census is available to everyone with a free account at the LDS on-line library.
The 1930 offers addresses for folks in town, age at first marriage and veteran status. The index to this census is available to everyone with a free account at the LDS on-line library.
The 1940 offers addresses for folks in town, education level, residence in 1935, employment status and total income for 1939. The index to this census is available to everyone with a free account at the LDS on-line library.
