1890 Census Substitutes

1890 Census Substitutes - Alternate Records For Finding Your Ancestor

The 1890 federal population census was badly damaged in a fire in 1921, and then later destroyed. Less than 1% of the total census survived. For details on the destruction of the 1890 census see the Fate of the 1890 Population Census from the National Archives.

Listed below are some suggestions for substitute records, veterans schedules and reconstructed or alternate 1890 census records.

State Census Records 1885-1895...

A few states took their own censuses in 1885 and 1895. Many of the surviving records have been microfilmed and a few have been indexed online at Ancestry.

City Directories...

You might be able to find your ancestor (usually heads of household only) listed in city directories around the year 1890. Old city directories are sometimes found in the local library for that city. Some have been microfilmed and are available at the Family History Library. To see what they have do a place search in the Family History Library's Catalog for the town, city or county you are looking for, then look for the "directories" topic. Also see: Online Historical Directories

Ancestry's 1890 Census Substitute Collection...

1890 Census Substitute (requires payment)
Ancestry has posted assorted records to help find ancestors around the time of the 1890 census. It includes fragments of the original 1890 census that survived the fire, special veterans schedules, several Native American tribe censuses for years surrounding 1890, state censuses (1885 or 1895), city and county directories, alumni directories, and voter registration documents. Included in a subscription...
- US City Directories Collection (requires payment)
- 1890 Civil War Union Veterans & Widows Census Index & Images (requires payment)

Disclaimer...
These are merely suggestions to help locate a person in alternate records to the 1890 census. There is no guarantee of success. You may not be able to find someone for a variety of reasons.

Alternate Resources for Finding Your Ancestor in Circa 1890 Records