Riley county, Kansas State Census, 1865

Riley County, Kansas is located on the western edge of Northeast Kansas, about 100 miles west of Kansas City. Riley County was young in 1865. It was on the western frontier during Kansas Territorial times, from 1854-61, with the settlement reaching as far as the location of Ft. Riley, Kansas. Although it grew rapidly, only 1,809 people were counted in 1865. This database was originally taken from the original census sheets housed in the Kansas State Historical Society Library in Topeka KS. The database consists of 15 fields: Microfilm Roll & Sec., Microfilm Page Number, City/Township, Dwelling No., Family No., Surname, Given name, Age, Gender, Civil War Unit, Occupation, Real Estate value, Personal Property value, Birthplace, and Marital Status. Additional information on: school attendance; literacy of persons 20 years or older; and whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, pauper, or convict; are available on microfilm but not included in this database. Some agricultural production data are also listed in a separate schedule in the microfilm. Information from the state censuses, taken in ten-year intervals midway between the Federal Census counts, can be valuable for those seeking information on family who resided in early Kansas.

The records in this database were transcribed by Earl Darby from the original census sheets. These were compiled into digital form and proofread against microfilm copies by Lewis Browder. Information for Riley County is shown in KSHS Roll 7 in two sections with dwellings and families paginated separately within each section. Thus, information within the database is presented as KSHSRL-A and KSHSRL-B so that these sections can be distinguished. The information is available as microfilm at the Kansas State Historical Society and the Riley County Genealogical Society Library, 2005 Claflin Road, Manhattan KS 66502. Copies of specific records can be obtained by nominal cost by writing that address or by e-mail at [email protected]. Printed copies of the database are also available through RCGS. Extracts of Riley County Kansas Territorial censuses of 1855, 1857, and 1860 are also available in printed form as well as other Riley County, Kansas state census information. Standard ISO abbreviations are used for countries and states within the United States.

The following abbreviations are used for areas within Germany when this information was stated: Badn = Baden; Bavr = Bavaria; Brem = Bremen; Frnk = Frankfurt; Hnvr = Hannover; H.Drn = Hesse Darnstadt; Mckl = Mecklenburg; Saxn = Saxonia; Tyrl = Tyrol; and Prus = Prussia; and Wurt = Wurtenburg. One use of Nsau = Nassau occurs. Some TN and CAN items in the birthplace column are further stated as: E.TN = East Tennessee; E.CAN = East Canada; W.TN = West Tennessee; and W.CAN = W. Canada.