FEDERAL POPULATION CENSUS RECORDS 1790-1930
The microfilm copies of the Federal Population Census, taken every ten years, are extremely helpful in supplementing the town vital statistics of Maine. The census schedules for 1790-1840 list the heads of households only by name; other members of the household are listed as numbers in categories of age, sex, and race. The censuses from 1850-1920 list all persons living in the household by name. Many of the censuses have state-wide or at least partial indexes. Note: the 1890 Federal Census for Maine was completely destroyed by fire.
Researchers may wish to consult the decennial U.S. Agricultural, Industrial, and Social Censuses for the years 1850-1880. The Archives also has partial returns of the special revenue-sharing census of 1837.
Page updated December 8, 2005
