1880 United States Federal Census

The 1880 census began on 1 June 1880 for the general population of the United States. The enumeration was to be completed within thirty days, or two weeks for communities with populations of 10,000 or more. Regardless of when an individual was contacted, all responses were to reflect the status of the individual as of 1 June 1880, the official Census Day.

Thirty-eight states (including the recently admitted Colorado) were enumerated in the 1880 census, along with eight territories: Arizona, Dakota, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Non-organized Alaska was also enumerated, but the "Indian Territory" (Oklahoma) was not enumerated for non-Indians.

Enumerators collected the following information for each household:

• Address (name of the street; house number)
• Occupant (name of each person and their relationship to head of family)
• Personal (sex, race, age, marital status, ability to read and write, birthplace, and birthplace of parents)
• Occupation (trade or profession; number of months unemployed)
• Health (whether blind, deaf and dumb, crippled, maimed, idiotic, insane, bedridden, or otherwise disabled)

1880 United States Federal Census contains records of the  50 million individuals enumerated in the 1880 United States Federal Census. Census takers recorded many details including each person's name, address, occupation, relationship to the head of household, race, sex, age at last birthday, marital status, place of birth, parents’ place of birth. Additionally, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1880 Federal Census.

1880 United States Federal Census

The 1880 United States Federal Census contains information about 50 million individuals. This census gives us a glimpse into the lives of Americans in 1880, and contains information about a household’s occupants including birthplaces, occupations, health conditions, and education.

Many of these questions, specifically those detailing mental and physical health, can only be found within the original census document. The age of this data may lead to discoveries about fourth, fifth or even sixth ancestral generations. The depth of this data can offer personal detail lacking in earlier census surveys.The family relationships category can provide information about extended family. If a married daughter has been counted as part of her father's household, her married surname will appear in the census.

 Family Health Issues

Questions about health may reveal symptoms of family illnesses that have appeared in later generations.

1880 Census

The 1880 United States Federal Census 1880 census is a valuable tool in part because it is the only U.S. census available for the last two decades of the 1800s. Most of the original 1890 population schedules were destroyed in a fire at the Commerce Department in 1921. Less than one percent of the schedules—records enumerating only 6,160 individuals—survived.