http://www.sos.state.il.us/departments/archives/research_series/rseries5.htm l Genealogical Research Series Pamphlet No. 5 State Census Records - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- This pamphlet is one in a series designed to assist the genealogical researcher in using the most pertinent of related federal, state, and local governmental records in the possession of the Illinois State Archives and its Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) system. This pamphlet concerns state censuses. State Census Records Historical Background The Illinois Constitution of 1818 required that a state census be taken in 1820 and every fifth year thereafter in order to determine apportionment of representation in the General Assembly. The state constitution of 1848 accepted the federal decennial censuses as the basis for apportionment but also provided for state censuses at mid-decades. Thus state censuses were conducted in 1855 and 1865. The Illinois Constitution of 1870 ended the practice of state censuses when it established the federal decennial censuses as the sole guide to reapportionment. State censuses were taken in 1820, 1825, 1830, 1835, 1840, 1845, 1855, and 1865. Unfortunately only the 1820, 1855, and 1865 ones have survived reasonably intact. Most of the county returns for 1825, 1830, 1835, and 1845 are missing and nearly half of the 1840 state census has been lost. Record Contents State censuses list only the name of the head of each household. Other inhabitants simply were tallied. All of the state censuses listed below are available on microfilm for consultation at the Illinois State Archives in Springfield. 1820 Record Series 103.002. STATE CENSUS. 2 vols. Index. Each county return includes name of county and for each household name of head of household and numbers of free white males twenty-one years of age and older, other white inhabitants, slaves and servants, and free Negroes and mulattoes. Returns are included for 18 of 19 counties existing at that time: Alexander Gallatin Monroe Washington Bond Jackson Pope Wayne Clark Jefferson Randolph White Crawford Johnson St. Clair Franklin Madison Union Only Edwards County is missing. Census was edited, indexed, and published in Margaret Cross Norton, ed., Illinois Census Returns: 1820 in Theodore Calvin Pease, ed., Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library Statistical Series, III (Springfield, 1934). 1825 Record Series 103.003. STATE CENSUS. 0.1 cu. ft. and 1 microfilm roll. Index. Each county return includes name of county and names or legal descriptions of legal subdivisions contained in county (e.g., townships, towns, villages). Under each of these categories entries for each household include name of head of household; number of free white males twenty-one years of age and older, including heads of families; number of free white males under twenty-one years of age, including heads of families; number of free white females, including heads of families; numbers of male and female servants and slaves, and free persons of color; and type (e.g., mill, distillery) and number of manufacturing establishments. Returns are included for 3 of 43 counties existing at that time: Edwards, Fulton, and Randolph. 1830 Record Series 103.004. STATE CENSUS. 1 partial microfilm reel. Index. Each county return includes name of county and for each household name of head of household; numbers of white males and females in each decennial age group (e.g., ages 0–9, 10–19, 20–29); numbers of male and female Negroes and mulattoes, indentured or registered servants, and French Negroes and mulattoes held in bondage; total number of inhabitants in household; number of males subject to duty in state militia; and type (e.g., gristmill) and number of manufacturing establishments. Of the 51 counties existing at that time, the only return included is for Morgan County. 1835 Record Series 103.005. STATE CENSUS. 1 partial microfilm reel. Index. Each county return includes name of county and for each household name of head of household; numbers of free white males and females in each decennial age group (e.g., ages 0–9, 10–19, 20–29); numbers of male and female Negroes and mulattoes, indentured or registered servants and their children, and French Negroes and mulattoes held in bondage; total number of inhabitants in household; number of males subject to duty in state militia; and type (e.g., gristmill) and number of manufacturing establishments. Returns are included for 4 of 60 counties existing at that time: Fayette, Fulton, Jasper, and Morgan. 1840 Record Series 103.006. STATE CENSUS. 3 microfilm reels and 1 partial microfilm reel. Index. Each county return includes name of county and occasionally the names or legal descriptions of legal subdivisions contained in counties (e.g., townships, cities, villages). Under each of these categories entries for each household include name of head of household; numbers of free white males and females in each decennial age group (e.g., ages 0–9, 10–19, 20–29); numbers of male and female Negroes and mulattoes, indentured and registered servants and their children, and French Negroes and mulattoes held in bondage; number of males subject to duty in the state militia; total number of inhabitants in household; and type (e.g., sawmill, gristmill) and number of manufacturing establishments. Returns are included for 35 of 87 counties existing at that time: Adams Cook Jasper Rock Island Bond Crawford Jo Daviess Schuyler Brown Edgar Johnson Stark Calhoun Effingham Knox Tazewell Champaign Franklin La Salle Union Clark Fulton Lawrence Vermilion Clay Hamilton Livingston White Clinton Hardin Monroe Whiteside Coles Jackson Randolph 1845 Record Series 103.007. STATE CENSUS. 1 partial microfilm reel. Index. Each county return includes name of county and for each household name of head of household; numbers of free white males and females in each decennial age group (e.g., ages 0–9, 10–19, 20–29); numbers of male and female Negroes and mulattoes, indentured or registered servants, and French Negroes and mulattoes held in bondage; total number of inhabitants in household; number of males subject to duty in state militia; and type (e.g., gristmill) and number of manufacturing establishments. Returns are included for 3 of 98 counties existing at that time: Cass, Putnam, and Tazewell. 1855 Record Series 103.008. STATE CENSUS. 13 microfilm reels. Index. Each county return includes name of county and frequently names or legal descriptions of legal subdivisions contained in county (e.g., townships, cities, villages). Under each of these categories entries for each household include name of head of household, numbers of free white males and females in each decennial age group (e.g., ages 0–9, 10–19, 20–29), numbers of male and female Negroes and mulattoes, total number of inhabitants in household, number of males eligible for duty in state militia, type (e.g., mill, tinshop, saddleshop) and valuations of products of manufacturing establishments, valuations of livestock and products of coal mines, pounds of wool produced, and infrequent remarks (e.g., occupation of head of household, legal description of area covered by return). Returns are included for 90 of 100 counties existing at that time: Adams Fulton McHenry Randolph Alexander Greene McLean Richland Bond Grundy Macon Rock Island Boone Hamilton Macoupin St. Clair Brown Hancock Madison Saline Bureau Hardin Marion Sangamon Calhoun Henderson Marshall Schuyler Cass Iroquois Mason Scott Christian Jackson Massac Shelby Clark Jasper Menard Stephenson Clay Jersey Mercer Tazewell Clinton Jo Daviess Monroe Union Coles Johnson Montgomery Vermilion Cook Kane Morgan Wabash Crawford Kankakee Moultrie Warren Cumberland Kendall Ogle Washington De Kalb Knox Peoria Wayne De Witt La Salle Perry White Du Page Lawrence Piatt Whiteside Edgar Lee Pike Williamson Edwards Livingston Pope Winnebago Effingham Logan Pulaski Fayette McDonough Putnam 1865 Record Series 103.010. STATE CENSUS. 18 microfilm reels. Partial index. Each county return includes for each household name of head of household; numbers of free white males and females in each decennial age group (e.g., ages 0–9, 10–19, 20–29); numbers of male and female Negroes; total number of inhabitants in household; number of males eligible for duty in state militia; type (e.g., blacksmith shop, wheelwright shop) and valuation of products of manufacturing establishments; valuations of livestock, grain products, and other agricultural products; tons of coal produced annually; pounds of wool products; and numbers of flour and gristmills, sawmills, and distilleries. Returns are included for 99 of Illinois’ 102 counties: Adams* Fayette* Lee Randolph* Alexander* Ford* Livingston Richland Bond* Franklin* Logan* Rock Island Boone* Fulton* McDonough St. Clair* Brown* Greene* McHenry* Saline* Bureau* Grundy* McLean* Sangamon Calhoun* Hamilton Macon* Schuyler* Carroll* Hancock* Macoupin Scott Cass* Hardin* Madison* Shelby* Champaign* Henderson Marion* Stark Christian* Henry Marshall Stephenson* Clark* Iroquois* Massac* Tazewell* † Clay Jackson* Menard* Union Clinton* Jasper* Mercer Vermilion* Coles* Jefferson* Montgomery Wabash* Cook Jersey* Morgan* Warren Crawford* Jo Daviess Moultrie Washington Cumberland Johnson* Ogle* Wayne De Kalb* Kane Peoria* White De Witt* Kankakee Perry Whiteside* Douglas* Kendall* Piatt* Will Du Page* Knox* Pike* Williamson Edgar* Lake* Pope* Winnebago Edwards* La Salle Pulaski* Woodford Effingham* Lawrence Putnam* *These counties have been indexed. †Elm Grove Township only. Finding Your Ancestors Researching On Your Own The Name Index to Early Illinois Records, located in the Archives card catalog aisle, includes entries for heads of households for state censuses through 1855. Filed separately, the index for the 1865 state census currently covers 70 counties. Because volunteers are in the process of indexing the remaining counties, an updated list should be requested at the reference desk. Index citations will enable the genealogist to reference original entries in the state censuses. The Archives also has a collection of published indexes to state censuses. Issued by local genealogical societies, these indexes cite heads of households of particular counties for various census years. Archives staff can provide a list of these published indexes. Mail, Telephone and Internet Requests In searching state censuses Archives staff members require the census year, the full name of the head of the household, that person’s county residence, and if possible, the township. For the 1865 census counties not yet indexed will be searched if the researcher can provide all of the above information. For this census reference staff cannot perform searches of cities exceeding 2,500 persons which have not been indexed. If a subject’s name is found, the Archives will furnish the genealogist an uncertified and unofficial photocopy of the census page on which it appears. As a result of limitations on staff research time, the Archives can research no more than two searches per inquiry. Send inquiries to: Illinois State Archives, Reference Unit, Norton Building, Springfield, Illinois 62756. Telephone: (217) 782-3553. Fax: (217) 524-3930. Submit a Request Via the Internet. http://www.sos.state.il.us/cgi-bin/archives/arcreq.s