1790 - 1840 Census: Birth Year Calculations ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- 1790 On 1790 United States Federal Census there are 9 columns. (1)County (2)City (3) page (4)names of heads of families, (5)Free white males of 16 years & upwards, including heads of families. (6) free white males under 16 years. (7) free white females including heads of families (8)all other free persons (9) Slaves Census: 1790 Age Range: Birth Year (Range): Male: 16 & over: Before 1774 Male: Under 16: 1774 - 1790 Female: Before 1790 =================== Census: 1800 There are 16 column headings for the 1800 census (1) County (2) City (3) page (4) names of heads of households (5)free white males ,broken down into 5 columns(see below) (6) Free white females, broken down into 5 columns(see below) (7) All other free persons (8) Slaves Age Range: Birth Year (Range): Under 10: 1790 - 1800 10-16: 1784 - 1790 16-26: 1774 - 1784 (draft age group) 26-45: 1755 - 1774 45 & over: Before 1755 There were 10 columns broken down into divisions (1) Names of Town, City, County or Village (2) Names of Heads of Families (3) Line name is recorded on (4) Free White Males, broken down into age groups (see below) (5) Free White Females, broken down into age groups (see below) (6) All other free persons except Indians, not taxed. (7) Slaves (8)Total (9) See notice below (10) page number where this was recorded ================ basically same as 1800 Census: 1810 Age Range: Birth Year (Range): Under 10: 1800 - 1810 10-16: 1794 - 1800 16-26: 1784 - 1794 (draft age group) 26-45: 1765 - 1784 45 & over: Before 1765 =========== 1820 Basically same as before but Slaves and Free Colored Persons are broken down into age groups. Census: 1820 Age Range: Birth Year (Range): Under 10: 1810-1820 10-16: 1804-1810 16-18 (males only): 1802-1804 16-26: 1794-1804 (draft age group) 26-45: 1775-1794: 45 & over: Before 1775 ====================== Census: 1830 Age Range: Birth Year (Range): Under 5: 1825-1830: 5-10: 1820-1825: 10-15: 1815-1820: 15-20: 1810-1815: 20-30: 1800-1810: 30-40: 1790-1800: 40-50: 1780-1790: 50-60: 1770-1780: 60-70: 1760-1770: 70-80: 1750-1760: 80-90: 1740-1750: 90-100: 1730-1740: 100 & over: Before 1730: ===================== Census: 1840: Age Range: Birth Year (Range): Under 5: 1835-1840: 5-10: 1830-1835: 10-15: 1825-1830: 15-20: 1820-1825: 20-30: 1810-1820: 30-40: 1800-1810: 40-50: 1790-1800 50-60: 1780-1790 60-70: 1770-1780: 70-80: 1760-1770: 80-90: 1750-1760: 90-100: 1740-1750: 100 & over: Before 1740: =========== >From 1850 Census on all people were supposedly listed by their names, ages, state of birth. Many times children's last names were listed under a stepfather's last name or a relatives name. That is why you have to search for collateral families.....not just the surname you are looking for. Most of the 1890 census burned at the Archives in 1926. The 1930 census is now available. The 1940 census will not be available until 72 years after, which is 2012.