The Census Book

The Census Book: Facts, Schedules & Worksheets for the U.S. Federal Censuses; William Dollarhide, 2019 (updated 2021), 245 pages; Color printing throughout; Tables; Website links; ISBN: 978-1-62859-266-5. Hardbound; Item # FR0478HARD

Following a 20-year hiatus, William Dollarhide has again written the definitive guide to the United States Census. Written specifically for genealogists and family historians, this book details all the census schedules for 1790 through 1950. This all-new volume covers a lot of new ground that the earlier volume could not do. Read on for details.

Section 1 – Census Facts, Historical U.S. Censuses. This section includes many historical facts dealing with the United States Census. See the Table of Contents (below) to get a full overview of the section.

Section 2 – Population Schedules. Includes links to 630 websites, providing instant access to over 600 million indexed census records/names online. A table for each census year includes the starting FHL film roll number for each state's population schedules, providing links to 580 FHL catalog webpages. It is the searchable roll number that gives a researcher quick access to the digital images of any census year, state, county, or town. Census substitutes have been added where available; U.S. maps of each census year are included; 1885; 1940 and 1950 census chapters are included in this edition.

Section 3 – Non-Population Schedules. This section identifies all non-population categories, with all-new statewide tables, Alabama to Wyoming, to 1935. URL links to 560 online databases. The location of the original Non-Population schedules is given, and the locations of microfilm copies features many direct links to a Family History Library online catalog webpage, in particular, those with digital images available.

Section 4 – Census Samples & Worksheets. The Census Book has 57 Samples and 42 Worksheets, including an 1890 Short Form; the 1940 Census; and the 1820, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, and 1885 Manufactures Schedules.

The following is extracted from the Table of Contents:

Introduction

Growth of the U.S. Federal Census

Section 1 – Census Facts

Section 2 – Population Schedules

Contents – Section 2

Table 4: Availability of U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1950

Section 3 – Non-Population Schedules Contents – Section 3

Table 6: Availability of Non-Population Schedules

Descriptions of the Non-Population Schedules, 1820-1935

State Availability Tables:

Section 4 – Census Samples & Worksheets

Contents – Section 4

Population Schedules:

Industry/Manufactures Schedules:

Agriculture Schedules:

Mortality Schedules:

Slave Schedules:

Social Statistics Schedules:

Soundex Extraction Forms:

Soundex Indexes Description & Contents

Census Comparison Sheets

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

William Dollarhide is best known as the co-author and cartographer of the classic Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Census, a book of 393 census-year maps, and one of the best-selling books ever published in the field of genealogy. He released the first edition of The Census Book in 1999, a book that is still cited frequently at many genealogical websites. He has also written numerous Censuses & Substitutes guidebooks for genealogical research; e.g., a 5-volume set and a 52-volume set (for each U.S. state, DC, and U.S. Territories). His other works include New York Censuses and Substitutes, referred to as "the definitive guide," by the NY Genealogical & Biographical Society; and Genealogical Resources of the Civil War Era, a review of Military and Civilian name lists; and several other publications.

REVIEWS

"Bill Dollarhide is the authority on U.S. federal censuses. The first edition of The Census book was the bellwether for census research and has remained the go-to reference. The new edition is updated to include Internet resources and contains a wealth of insightful information, graphics of the schedules, and essential worksheets to help your federal census analyses. This book should be on every genealogist's bookshelf and in every genealogical library collection. Bravo!" - George C. Morgan, co-host of The Genealogy Guys podcast, lecturer, and genealogy writer.