Research Guide to Census Records at the Connecticut State Library

Colonial and State Census Enumerations
For information on Connecticut's colonial and early state censuses, consult Research Guide to Colonial and State Census Records at the Connecticut State Library, available separately.

Connecticut has conducted no mid-decade censuses such as those of Massachusetts, New York, and some Midwestern states. However, in 1917-1918 the state undertook a manpower census of all male inhabitants over the age of sixteen as part of the state's preparation for World War I. This census was microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah; the films are available for use at the Connecticut State Library or through LDS Family History Centers. See Research Guide to the Connecticut Military Census of 1917, available separately.

Federal Census Schedules
United States population censuses were taken in 1790 and every 10th year thereafter. The Connecticut State Library has microfilm copies of the federal censuses for Connecticut, 1790 through 1880 and 1900 through 1930. The 1890 census was destroyed by fire. A Research Guide to the 1920 Federal Population Census for Connecticut, which also includes research tips for earlier censuses, is available on request.

The library also holds federal census microfilms for the New England states, New York, and Pennsylvania 1790-1850, and Ohio 1820-1850 and subscribes to online census images and indexes for the entire country through Ancestry Library Edition and Heritage Quest Online.

The History and Genealogy staff does not search or provide copies from microfilm records, including census records or from Web Reference Resources, nor do we make our census microfilms available on interlibrary loan. You are welcome to use them here. A list of Professional Genealogists Familiar with Connecticut State Library Collections who will search our films is available. Census microfilms are available at National Archives regional branches, and through Heritage Quest, PO Box 329, Bountiful, UT  84011-0329, telephone 800-760-2455. Microfilms may also be used at public libraries participating in the NARA Microfilm Rental Program. Libraries may obtain information on the program by calling (301) 604-3699 or writing to PO Box 30, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701-0030.

Special Census Schedules
In 1810 the federal government began compiling special schedules covering categories such as industry, agriculture, social statistics, and mortality. A Research Guide to Special Federal Census Schedules for Connecticut, which lists the special Federal censuses available for use at the State Library, is available separately.

Census Indexes
The State Library has a statewide alphabetical Connecticut Census Index, 1790-1850. However, it should be noted that this index was prepared from copies of the census schedule bound by and housed in the State Archives and that the pagination is different from the "official" copies at the National Archives and the microfilms made from the National Archives copies.

Index volumes covering the 1800-1860 Connecticut censuses published by Accelerated Indexing Systems, an index to the 1860 census produced by Index Publishing, and indexes to the 1870 and 1910 Connecticut Census published by Heritage Quest are available for use of researchers visiting the State Library. The library also holds indexes to most Federal censuses for New England and New York, 1790-1850.

Soundex indexes are important tools for genealogists searching census records from 1880 onwards. The Soundex filing system is a coded phonetic index, alphabetic for the first letter of the surname and numeric thereafter. This keeps names of the same and similar sounds, but of variant spellings, together. Information in the Soundex index generally includes the name, age, and birthplace (country or state) of each person in the household, an Enumeration District number, and a page citation to the family in the actual enumeration. Cross-reference cards are provided for those whose surnames differ from that of the head of the household in which he or she appears. Note that the 1880 Soundex index lists only those households in which there was a child or children aged 10 or under.

The History and Genealogy Unit has 16mm microfilm copies of the 1880, 1900, and 1920 Soundex indexes for Connecticut as well as a copy of The Soundex Reference Guide (Bountiful, UT: Precision Indexing, 1990) [CSL call number HistRef CS 49.S64 1990] and other materials to help researchers understand the Soundex system.

No index is currently is available for the 1930 census. Researchers must search throughout the enumeration for the town believed to be the person's place of residence. To locate an individual in a large community in these censuses, one may consult city directories to determine a street address and then attempt to locate entries covering that street within the census. This process is facilitated by using 1930 enumeration district maps available on National Archives microfilm [CSL call number HistRef F93.V5651 2001 mfilm reel 5].

Prepared by the History and Genealogy Unit, Connecticut State Library, 11-96.