In a message dated 02/2/7 7:56:22 PM, VistaRon96@aol.com writes: << And where do you find this index? >> Chapter 2; Page 46 of Szucs' "The Source:" As early as 1996, statewide census indexes existed for all federal censuses taken throughout 1860 and for all but thirteen states for the 1870 census. ....... Book indexes for later censuses (1880, 1910) for many western states are available.>< Some are available in CD format at your local FHC, and if not there, can be ordered on film (fiche?). The member service sites also have some, if not all of them available (i.e., Ancestry.com), and many can be purchased in CD format from FamilySearch.com. There's just one example of how the index may not help, and why scrolling through townships sometimes is necessary, in this article: HTTP://www.ancestry.com/library/view/news/tip/1618.asp