Census Records - State Library of Pennsylvania

Introduction

All of the National Archives microfilm publications relating to Pennsylvania, including the federal population census 1790-1940 (except for 1890 which was destroyed by fire in 1921) are in the collection. Except for 1870 there is a name index for each of the Pennsylvania population census schedules. Book indexes list the heads of families from 1790 through 1860. For 1870, only portions of the Pennsylvania census have been indexed. The 1880 Soundex Index includes only households with children aged ten years and younger but the 1900 Soundex Index and the 1910 Miracode Index include all heads of families.

Soundex

An index (on microfilm or available on the Web) that groups together surnames that sound alike but are spelled differently.

[see the Surname-to-Soundex Converter to obtain the code for your surname]

The federal mortality schedules for Pennsylvania, 1850-1880 and book indexes for 1850, 1860 and 1870 are in the collection. The mortality schedules list persons who died within one year preceding June 1 of 1850, 1860, 1870 or 1880. Cause of death is frequently recorded.