1890 U.S. Federal Census

Most of the 1890 census records were destroyed in a fire in the Commerce Department Building in Washington, D.C. in January 1921. The remaining schedules were filmed and preserved on three rolls of microfilm. DCS has converted them to a digital format. They are available here.

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1890 Special Census of Veterans

Due to a fortuitous bit of luck, an alternative set of census records exist for 1890. It is called the 1890 Special Census of Veterans.* A Congressional act of March 1, 1889 provided for the taking of a special census enumerating those who had served (or their widows) in the military during the War of the Rebellion (Civil War).

Almost all of the schedules for the states of Alabama through Kansas and approximately half of those for Kentucky have been lost, possibly by fire, before the transfer of the remaining records to the National Archives in 1943.

Civil War Veterans census records exist for 34 states, the District of Columbia and miscellaneous United States Vessels and Navy Yards.

Select a State or Territory

USA map graphic.
District of Columbia
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
  Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
U.S. Vessels and
Navy Yards

Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
 

The 1890 Special Census of Veterans asks for the following information: name of the veteran (or if he did not survive, the names of both the widow and her deceased husband); the veteran's rank, company, regiment or vessel, date of enlistment, date of discharge, and length of service in years, months, and days; post office and address of each person listed; disability incurred by the veteran; and remarks necessary to a complete statement of his term of service.

The records for the States Alabama through Kansas and approximately half of those for Kentucky appear to have been destroyed, possibly by fire, before the transfer of the remaining schedules to the National Archives in 1943.

*Technically, the correct name for this census is:

Special Schedules of the Eleventh Census (1890)
Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War.