records guide
US census records — the researcher's most-used source, decoded
Short answer
US census records are the backbone of American genealogy. Taken every ten years since 1790, they snapshot the country's population at a moment in time and — from 1850 onward — name every person in every household. The most recent public release is the 1950 census, opened by NARA in April 2022.
- 1790–1840: heads of household named; everyone else tallied by age/sex.
- 1850–1940: every individual named, with age, occupation, and birthplace.
- 1890: destroyed by fire in 1921 — 99% loss, fragmentary survivals.
- 1950: released April 2022; next release (1960) due April 2032.
This guide is being expanded. In the meantime, the linked pages below and the FAQ answer the questions readers most often send us. If yours isn't here, write the desk and we'll add it in the next revision.