Indian Census Records

The first federal decennial census that clearly identifies any Native Americans is the 1860 census. The instructions to the 1860 census enumerators defined who was to be counted and who was not:

Indians not taxed are not to be enumerated. The families of Indians who have renounced tribal rule, and who under state or territory laws exercise the rights of citizens, are to be enumerated.

Most genealogy guides that address Native Americans in the census incorrectly state that the first federal decennial census in which at least a portion of the Indian population is enumerated is 1870. Although the 1870 census schedule is the first to list "Indian" as a choice in the column heading for "Color," Native Americans were enumerated earlier. Even though the 1860 census schedule does not include "Indian" as a choice in the column heading for "Color," enumerators nevertheless followed the instructions cited in the previous paragraph and recorded more than 40,000 Indians.

Census Rules - A prepared list for the use of the Census Taker

Blackfeet Indians

• Field Survey and Individual Indian Report of the Heart Butte District
  Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Montana Accompanied by Briefs and Pictures.

Caddo Indians

• 1901 Caddo Indian Census

California Indians

• 1928 Konkow Valley Band of Maidu, Round Valley, CA

Catawba Indians

• 1847 Census of the Catawba Native Americans

• 1854 Census of the Catawba Native Americans

• 1900 Census of the York County, SC Indian Reservation

• 1930 Catawba Reservation Census

• 1930 Catawba Reservation Census

Cherokee Indians

• 1835 Cherokee East of the Mississippi Census Index
  In 1835, the Cherokee Nation contained almost 22,000 Cherokees and almost 300 Whites connected by marriage.

  • 1835 Cherokee Indian Census, Cherokee County, North Carolina

  • 1835 Cherokee Indian Census, Clay County, North Carolina

  • 1835 Cherokee Indian Census, Graham County, North Carolina

• 1860 Federal Census Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory

• Free Census

  • State: Arkansas  County: Indian Lands  Post Office: Lang Swamfe

  • State: Arkansas  County: Indian Lands  Post Office: Tahlequah

• Slave Census

  • Slave Federal Census Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory (File 1 of 6)

  • Slave Federal Census Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory (File 2 of 6)

  • Slave Federal Census Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory (File 3 of 6)

  • Slave Federal Census Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory (File 4 of 6)

  • Slave Federal Census Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory (File 5 of 6)

  • Slave Federal Census Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory (File 6 of 6)

• 1851 Cherokee Census East of the Mississippi, Siler Roll

• 1851 Chapman Eastern Cherokee

• 1880 Cherokee Census
  The census of 1880 was authorized by an act of the Cherokee National Council Senate Bill No. 33 on December 1, 1879.

• Cherokee Intruder Census 1893

Chickasaw Indians

• 1818 Chickasaw Census Roll, Partial
  On Thursday, October 8^th, began enrolling members of the Chickasaw Nation for the purpose of distributing the annuity when it arrived.
• 1837 Chickasaw Muster Roll
• 1847 Chickasaw Census

• 1860 Federal Census Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory

• Free Census

  • State: Arkansas  County: Indian Lands  Post Office: Fort Arbuckle

• Slave Census

  • Slave Federal Census Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory (File 1 of 3)

  • Slave Federal Census Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory (File 2 of 3)

  • Slave Federal Census Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory (File 3 of 3)

• Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, 1900 Census

Choctaw Indians

• 1855 Census of Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory

• 1860 Federal Census Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory

• Free Census

  • State: Arkansas  County: Indian Lands  Post Office: Luk fah tah

  • State: Arkansas  County: Indian Lands  Post Office: Armstrong Academy

• Slave Census

  • Slave Federal Census Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory (File 1 of 7)

  • Slave Federal Census Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory (File 2 of 7)

  • Slave Federal Census Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory (File 3 of 7)

  • Slave Federal Census Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory (File 4 of 7)

  • Slave Federal Census Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory (File 5 of 7)

  • Slave Federal Census Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory (File 6 of 7)

  • Slave Federal Census Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory (File 7 of 7)

• 1885 Choctaw Census
  • 1885 Choctaw Census, Atoka County
  • 1885 Choctaw Census Blue County
    • Page 1
    • Page 2
    • Page 3
  • 1885 Choctaw Census Boktolo County
  • 1885 Choctaw Census Cedar County
  • 1885 Choctaw Census Eagle County
  • 1885 Choctaw Census Gaines County
  • 1885 Choctaw Census Jacks Forks County
  • 1885 Choctaw Census Kiamitia County
  • 1885 Choctaw Census Red River County
  • 1885 Choctaw Census San Bois County
  • 1885 Choctaw Census Skullyville
  • 1885 Choctaw Census Sugarloaf
  • 1885 Choctaw Census Tobucksy
  • 1885 Choctaw Census Towson County
  • 1885 Choctaw Census Wade County
• 1929 Restricted Choctaw Census
• 1929 Mississippi Choctaw Census

Choptank Indians

• 1726-1727 "Census" of Choptank Indians
  Many of the Choptank Indians were named in the deeds by which they sold their land in Dorchester County, Maryland between 1726 and 1727

Creek Indians

• 1832 Creek Census
  By a treaty of March 24, 1832, the Creek Indians ceded to the United States all of their land east of the Mississippi River. Heads of families were entitled to tracts of land, which, if possible, were to include their improvements.

• 1832 Creek Census, Images

• 1860 Federal Census Creek Nation, Indian Territory

• Free Census

  • State: Arkansas  County: Indian Lands  Post Office: Micco

  • State: Arkansas  County: Indian Lands  Post Office: Creek Agency

• Slave Census

  • Slave Federal Census Creek Nation, Indian Territory (File 1 of 5)

  • Slave Federal Census Creek Nation, Indian Territory (File 2 of 5)

  • Slave Federal Census Creek Nation, Indian Territory (File 3 of 5)

  • Slave Federal Census Creek Nation, Indian Territory (File 4 of 5)

  • Slave Federal Census Creek Nation, Indian Territory (File 5 of 5)

• Creek 1860 Census West of Arkansas

• 1882 Creek (Muskogee Nation Census)

• 1900 Indian Territory Creek Nation, Indian Population, McIntosh County, OK

  File 1 File 2 File 3 File 4 File 5 File 6 File 7 File 8

  File 9 File 10 File 11 File 12 File 13 File 14 File 15

Five Civilized Tribes in Oklahoma

• Enrollment of the Five Civilized Tribes 1896 Applications
  This is the Index of Cherokees, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Creek found on microfilm M1650 obtained from the National Archives in Fort Worth, Texas.  If your ancestor was on the 1896 Cherokee Census they probably will NOT be on this index.  This is NOT the 1896 CENSUS.  It is an index of people who were NOT recognized by the Cherokee Tribe and subsequently made application to be considered for citizenship.

• 1839 Census in Indian Territory

• 1860 Federal Census Indian Territory

  • Free Schedule

    • Part 1

    • Part 2

    • Part 3

    • Part 4

    • Part 5

    • Part 6

  • Slave Schedule

    Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10

    Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19

• 1860 Oklahoma Census Index, Indian Territory

• 1870 Colorado Indian Census

  • Name Index

• 1890 Smith's First Directory of Oklahoma Territory (May include Indians)

• 1920 Oklahoma Census

  • 1920 Berwyn Carter Oklahoma

  • 1920 Roberts Oklahoma

  • 1920 Pickens Oklahoma

  • 1920 Stevenson Oklahoma

  • 1920 Whitaker Oklahoma

• 1930 Oklahoma Census

  • 1930 Lone Grove Carter County, Oklahoma

  • 1930 Ardmore Carter County, Oklahoma

  • 1930 Carter County, Oklahoma

  • 1930 Berwyn Carter County, Oklahoma

  • 1930 Akers Carter County, Oklahoma

Gay Head Indians

• 1860 Indian Census of Gay Head (Aquinnah), Massachusetts

Kiowa Indians

• Census Of Kiowa Indians Alive On On June 30, 1912

Mohegan Indians

• 1861 Census of Persons on Mohegan Reservation
• 1870 Census of Montville Those Families and Individuals Classified as Indian
• 1880 Census of Montville Those Families and Individuals Classified as Indian
• 1900 Census of Montville Those Families and Individuals Classified as Indian
• 1920 Census of Montville Those Families and Individuals Classified as Indian

Multi Tribe Census

• Indian Census Rolls 1885-1940 $$$
  These are actual copies of the rolls for many tribes.

• 1836 Census of the Mixed-Blood Indians of Michigan, PDF file 

• 1880 Census of Native Americans St. Marys, Pottwatamie, County Kansas

• 1900-1910 Dakota County, MN Native American Census Database

• 1900 Indian Census, Murray County, OK

• 1900 Quapaw Agency Lands, Shawnee,  Modoc, Ottawa, Quapaw, Wyondotte Nations Census

• 1860 Federal Census Seminole Nation, Indian Territory

  • State: Arkansas  County: Indian Lands  Sheet No: 1221

• 1915 Census of the Seminole Indians of Miami Agency, Florida

Shawnee Indians

• Shawnee 1871 Census
  Register of the names of members of the Shawnee Tribe of Indians who have moved to and located in the Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, (prior to the 10th day of June, 1871) within two years from the 9th day of June 1869, in accordance with an agreement entered into by and between the Shawnee Tribe of Indians and the Cherokee Nation of Indians, through their Delegations in Washington City, D.C. United States of America, on the 7th day of June, 1869.

Sioux Indians

• 1889 Mdewakanton Sioux Census
  Sioux living in Minnesota.  Compiled by Robert B. Henton Special Indian Agent.  No information was given as to where exactly they lived.

• 1855 Santee-Sioux Reservation, NE Census, Index

  • Text

• 1890 Santee-Sioux Reservation, NE Census, Index

  • Text

• 1900 Federal Census Rosebud Indian Reservation, Myers County, SD

  File 1 File 2 File 3 File 4 File 5 File 6 File 7 File 8 File 9 File 10

  File 11 File 12 File 13 File 14 File 15 File 16 File 17 File 18 File 19

  File 20 File 21 File 22 File 23 File 24 File 25 File 26 File 27 File 28

  File 29 File 30 File 31 File 32 File 33 File 34 File 35 File 36 File 37

• 1910 Sioux Census ~ New Jersey
  This is a most interesting piece of information, especially for those who have lost Sioux ancestors in 1910.  All give South Dakota as their birthplace and the birthplace of both parents.  All say they are full-blooded Sioux.  All give occupation as “Wild West Show.”

Wyandot Indians

• Wyandot Tribal Roll 1867

Other Indian Census Records

• Microfilm Rolls at the National Archives

• 1900 Indian Territory Census $$$

• Indian Census Rolls 1885-1940 $$$

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