About County Public Records

Population calculations are derived from census records. Though this is the most widely used purpose, it is only a small part of the record. A census record includes census indexes, census images, transcriptions, tax lists, occupations, marital status, years of immigration, directories and other genealogy data. Census records can be utilized in genealogical research, in the evidence of age and place of birth for employment, in obtaining social security benefits, in obtaining passports, and for insurance purposes.

Census records play a major role in our nation’s genealogical understanding. The census records were first taken in 1790. The Federal Population Census has been taken every ten years since. The National Archives has records on microfilm from 1790 to 1930. It should be noted that many of the census records from 1890 were destroyed in a fire at the Department of Commerce.

Visit www.census.gov for updates on the 2010 Census or search through years past to place together your family’s ancestry with a census record search today.

Largest population counties according to the US Census: