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Last Updated January 18, 2023<\/span><\/p>\n<\/header>\n Ancestry 50% Off Gift Memberships for Black Friday (Gift to Anyone, Even Yourself!)<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Most genealogists use federal census records on a regular basis. Few resources are, after all, as packed full of information and as easy to access as a census.<\/p>\n And, while we all know that the details found in a census can often be incorrect,\u00a0this helpful record collection\u00a0has become a family history staple for good reason. No other resource\u00a0recorded details\u00a0about our ancestor\u2019s lives in such a frequent and predictable way and, often times, the federal census may seem to be the only<\/em> method\u00a0we have to explore\u00a0our ancestors\u2019 lives between birth, marriage and death.<\/p>\n However, a recent comment by a Family History Daily reader reminded us that there is another related resource group that many people researching US ancestors are either unaware of, or regularly underuse.\u00a0And it\u2019s a very valuable one.<\/p>\n We\u2019re talking about US state census records. (See our guide to state censuses by year.)<\/strong><\/p>\n Make Instant Discoveries in Your Family Tree Now Imagine adding your family tree to a simple website and getting hundreds of new family history discoveries instantly.<\/b><\/p>\n MyHeritage is offering 2 free weeks of access to their extensive collection of 20 billion historical records, as well as their matching technology that instantly connects you with new information about your ancestors<\/b>. Sign up using the link below to find out what you can uncover about your family. Discover New Genealogy Records Instantly<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Many of you are probably nodding your head right now because you\u2019ve already found a good deal of information in\u00a0a state census.. Others many be wondering \u2014 what the heck is a state census?<\/p>\n While the regularity and availability of state census records varies widely by state, this record collection could easily be the resource you need to fill in critical details about your ancestors\u2019 lives. Most state censuses were conducted exactly between\u00a0federal census years \u2014 such as the 1885, 1905 and 1915 New Jersey state census, whereas some were conducted on off years,\u00a0such as California\u2019s 1852 census. This means the details found in these records can often provide a special window<\/em> into a person\u2019s life between federal census dates \u2014 or when you cannot locate an ancestor in the federal census at all.<\/p>\n This record collection becomes even more valuable when we consider the lost 1890 census and the twenty year gap that loss created.<\/strong><\/p>\n As we pointed out, the dates and availability vary widely, as does the information contained in each census. But most of us researching ancestors in the US will likely be able to locate ancestors in some, or many, states censuses.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s take a look at a census record from the Minnesota 1885 census, one of eight state census collections easily available online from that year.<\/p>\n 20 Billion Genealogy Records Are Free for 2 Weeks Get two full weeks of free access to more than 20 billion genealogy records right now. You\u2019ll also gain access to the MyHeritage discoveries tool that locates information about your ancestors automatically<\/b> when you upload or create a tree. What will you discover about your family\u2019s past?<\/p>\n Claim My Free Record Access Now<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n While we don\u2019t see some of the wonderful details in this census that we have come to expect from a federal census, like the occupation, there are many other tidbits to be gathered \u2014 such as residence, family relationships and parental birth information.<\/p>\n A\u00a0look at the Nebraska State Census from 1885 on the other hand feels\u00a0a little bit more like perusing\u00a0a federal census, right down to the coveted occupation box \u2013 and that\u2019s because this census (and those of several other states and territories) was requested and partially funded by the federal government.\u00a0 The best free place to access these records (or transcripts of records when no image is available) is on FamilySearch.\u00a0You can head straight over to this page on their site which showcases all of their record collections.<\/p>\n You may remember that we covered this page on FamilySearch in another article about accessing millions of records that cannot be searched.<\/em><\/p>\n To find the state census records just type in the term \u201cstate census\u201d in the left sidebar and further filter by including the state name or date to find what you are looking for. Once you have done this, click on a resource name to search it, or browse images if a search is not available. FamilySearch does<\/strong> require login for some of these records, but since a membership is always free you have nothing to lose.<\/p>\n Happy Hunting!<\/p>\n You may also like:<\/strong><\/p>\n Thousands of 1890 Census Records DO Still Exist: Here\u2019s How to Find Them for Free<\/p>\n This Guide to the U.S Census Tells You Exactly What You Can Find by Year<\/p>\n By:<\/strong> Melanie Mayo | Editor, Family History Daily<\/em><\/p>\n Image:\u00a0<\/strong>Unidentified woman and child in front of porch. Library of Congress<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Hugely Valuable Records Many Family Historians Forget About Last Updated January 18, 2023 Ancestry 50% Off Gift Memberships for Black Friday (Gift to Anyone, Even Yourself!) Most genealogists use federal census records on a regular basis. Few resources are, after all, as packed full of information and as easy to access as a census. 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