The Federal government of the United States has taken a census every ten years since 1790. Some records contain misspellings, omissions and inaccuracies, but can contain valuable clues for researching family history. Microfilm copies can be viewed at National Archives and Record Administration locations and various libraries. The census records 

1790.   Name of head of family, number of free white males under age 16, number of free white males 16 and over, number of free white females in family, number of all other free persons, number of slaves.

1800.   Name of head of family, number of free white males by age groups, number of free white females by age groups, number of other free persons (except Native Americans), number of slaves.

1810.   Name of head of family, number of free white males by age groups, number of free white females in age groups, number of other free persons (except Native Americans), number of slaves.

1820.   Name of head of family, number of free white males by age groups, number of free white males age 16-18, number of free white females in age groups, number of other free persons in age groups( except Native Americans), number of slaves in age groups, number of foreigners not naturalized, number of persons engaged in agriculture, number of persons in commerce, number of persons engaged in manufacture.

1830.   Name of head of family, number of free white males by age groups, number of free white females in age groups, number of other free persons in age groups by sex, number of slaves by sex and age groups, number of foreigners not naturalized, number of deaf and dumb whites, number of deaf and dumb coloured, number of blind whites, number of blind coloured, total number of persons in household.

1840.   Name of head of family, number of free white males by age groups, number of free white females in age groups, number of other free persons in age groups by sex, number of slaves by sex and age groups, number of deaf and dumb whites, number of deaf and dumb coloured, number of blind whites, number of blind coloured, number of white insane or idiotic, number of coloured insane or idiotic, number of persons engaged in agriculture, number of persons in commerce, number of persons engaged in manufacture and  the trades, number of persons employed in mining, number of persons employed in navigation of canals, lakes, rivers, number of persons employed in navigation of the ocean, number of persons employed in learned professions and engineers, names and ages of Revolutionary of military pensioners, number of white males over 21 who cannot read or write, number of scholars, total number of persons in household.

1850. Name of every person whose usual place of residence was in the household on the census date of 1 June 1850, age of each person at last birthday, prior to census date, sex of every person, race of each person - white, black or mulatto; profession, occupation, or trade of males over age of 15; value of real estate owned by person; state, territory, or country of birth of each person; if person was married since 1 June 1849; if individual attended school since 1 June 1849; if persons over 20 could not read or write; if person was deaf and dumb, blind, or idiotic; if person was a pauper or a convict.

1860.Name of every person whose usual place of residence was in the household on the census date of 1 June 1860; age of each person at last birthday prior to census date; sex of every person; race - white, black or mulatto of each person; profession, occupation, or trade of people over age of 15; value of real estate owned by person; value of personal property of person; state, territory, or country of birth of each person; if person was married since 1 June 1859; if individual attended school since June 1, 1859;if persons over 20 could not read or write; if person was deaf and dumb, blind, insane or idiotic; if person was a pauper or a convict. 

1870. Name of every person whose usual place of residence was in the household on the census date 1 June 1870; age of each person at last birthday prior to census date; sex of every person ; race - white, black, mulatto, Indian or Chinese of each person; profession, occupation, or trade of all individuals ; value of real estate owned by each person; value of personal property of each person; state, territory or country of birth of each person; month if person was married since 1 June 1869; if person could not read or write; if person was deaf and dumb, blind, insane or idiotic; month of birth if born within the year prior to 1 June 1870; if persons father was of foreign birth ; if persons mother was of foreign birth; if person was a male citizen of US age 21 or over, if male citizen of US over 21 whose right to vote was denied or abridged on grounds other than rebellion or other crime.

1880.Name of every person whose usual place of residence was in the household on the census date 1 June 1880; street address in some cities; age of each person at last birthday prior to census date ; sex of every person; race of each person - white, black, mulatto, Indian or Chinese; relationship of each person to head of family; marital status; Profession, occupation or trade of all individuals ; state, territory or country of birth of each person; state, territory or country of father's birth; state, territory or country of mother's birth; if person was married since 1 June 1879; if person could read or write; if person was deaf and dumb, blind, insane or idiotic; month of birth if born within the year prior to 1 June 1880; number of months unemployed during census year, sickness or disability on date of enumerators visit; if person was maimed, crippled, bedridden or otherwise disabled.

1890.Destroyed by fire in Washington D.C.

1900.Name of every person whose usual place of residence was in the household on the census date of 1 June 1900; street address in some cities; age of each person at last birthday prior to census date and the month and year of birth; sex of every person; race of each person age 10 and older- white, black, mulatto, Indian and Chinese; relationship of each person to head of family; marital status; number of years of present marriage; how many children  a mother had and how many were still living; profession, occupation, or trade of all individuals 10 and older; state, territory or country of father's birth; state, territory or country of mother's birth; number of months individual attended school since 1 June 1899; if person could read or write; number of months unemployed during census year; length of time in US if immigrant and whether naturalized; if farm or home was owned or rented; if owned whether property was mortgage free; if person spoke English.

1910.Name of every person whose usual place of residence was in the household on the census date of 15 April 1910; street address in some cities; age of each person at last birthday prior to census date; sex of every person; race of each person; relationship of each person to head of family; marital status; number of years of present marriage; how many children a mother had and how many were still living; state, territory or country of birth of each person; state, territory or country of father's birth; state, territory or country of mother's birth; profession, occupation or trade of all individuals and type of business and whether employer, employee or working on own account; whether individual attended school during the census year; if person could read or write; number of weeks unemployed during the census year; whether person was deaf and dumb or blind in both eyes; length of time in US; if immigrant and whether naturalized; if farm or home was owned or rented; if owned whether property was mortgage free; language spoken; whether a person was a Civil War veteran or widow.

1920. Name of every person whose usual place of residence was in the household on census date of 1 January 1920; street address in some cities; age of each person at last birthday prior to census date; sex of every person; race of each person; relationship of each person to head of family; marital status; profession, occupation or trade of all individuals; state, territory or country of birth of each person; state, territory or country of father's birth; state, territory or country of mother's birth; whether individual attended school during the census year; length of time in US; if immigrant or naturalized; if farm or home was owned or rented; if owned whether property was mortgage free; language spoken; native tongue of person's father and mother.