How to Research

United States Census Records

Population schedules

The Arkansas History Commission has some census records for 42 states and the District of Columbia. Population Schedules 1790-1840 provide names of the heads of households only; later returns list names of all persons living in each household. Published indexes are available for many states up to 1870. Beginning in 1880 Soundex indexes are available for Arkansas and selected other states. Patrons visiting the History Commission may also search Ancestry Library Edition for census records. To request a copy of a record from our microfilm, see the U.S. Census Photocopy Order Form.

Special census schedules

The Commission has productions of agriculture for Arkansas and a few other states, and slave schedules for Arkansas and other southern states. Mortality schedules, social statistics, manufactures, and defective classes are available for Arkansas only.

United States Census Records on Microfilm