Census

     Every ten years since 1790, the United States Federal Government has done an official count of the residents of the country. Initially the census records were "statistical in nature. Those census records gave only the name of the head of household and the various statistics about the home. It was not until 1850 that each person living in the home was listed by name. Following you will find a listing of each federal census and what type of information is available for that particular census.

     Remember - Michigan did not become a state until 1837.  Before that time, residents of Michigan may be found in earlier territorial census records.

     One may assume that most of the information given on the census returns is accurate. However, the census takers were not the best spellers and many had very poor penmanship. Census takers were supposed to go door-to-door, so you will find neighbors listed sequentially on the returns. Occasionally, when a family was not home, the information was obtained from a neighbor. Thus, you may find some inaccuracies in the returns. In addition, studies have shown that men nearly always aged more than the 10 years between census. Were they attempting to get beyond the age of eligibility for military service? Women on the other hand, rarely aged the ten years!

     Follow the links to find out information on each of the census.   Please keep in mind that the first IONIA county federal census would be in 1840 as our county began in 1831.  Records for Ionia County area  for the 1830 federal census would be found as part of the Kent County census. 

     Images of all U.S. census from 1790-1930 available free to Michigan residents through Heritage Quest (via mel.org). 

Year	Comments
1790	General information about the 1790 Federal Census
1800	General information about the 1800 Federal Census
1805	Michigan Territorial Tax List
1810	General information about the 1810 Federal Census
1820	General information about the 1820 Federal Census
1827	Territorial Census
1830	General information about the 1830 Federal Census
1840	General information about the 1840 Federal Census
1850	Scanned images of the census have been placed  in the USGenWeb Archives, as part of the USGenWeb Archives Census Project.  These pages can be viewed HERE.   This census has also been transcribed.  Just click on the township name to view the transcription or to see page numbers for viewing actual page images.
	Pages/Files       Township
	123A-126A     Sebewa
	126B-129B     Danby
	130A-134B     Orange
	135A-136B     Campbell
	137A-146B     Portland
	147A-157B     Lyons
	158A-161B     North Plains
	162A-167B     Berlin
	168A-176A     Ionia
	176B-181B     Easton
	182A-187A     Orleans
	188A-193A     Ronald
	193B-198B     Boston
	199A-207B     Keene
	208A-end        Otisco
1860	General information about the 1860 Federal census
1870	General information about the 1870 Federal census.  Scans available online HERE from the Library of Michigan.
1880	General information about the 1880 Federal census.  Transcription is available HERE
1884	Michigan state and territorial census
1890	General information about the 1890 Federal census and 1890 Michigan Union Veterans and Widows Census
1894	General information about the 1894 Michigan state and territorial census
1900	General information about the 1900 federal census.  Actual scanned images of the Ionia County census have been placed  in the USGenWeb Archives, as part of the USGenWeb Archives Census Project.  These pages can be viewed HERE.   Because each page of the census is listed as a file name, the following guide will help you to decide which page you want to view for the actual images:
	Berlin Township: ED 001-002 Boston Township: ED 003-004 Campbell Township: ED 005-006 Danby Township: ED 007 Easton Township: ED 008-009 (page 008-01A says Ionia Township) State House of Correction (Easton Township): ED 146 State Asylum (Berlin Township): ED 147 City of Ionia, 1st Ward: ED 010 City of Ionia, 2nd Ward: ED 011 City of Ionia, 3rd Ward: ED 012 City of Ionia, 4th Ward: ED 013 Ionia Township North: ED 014 Ionia Township South: ED 015 Keene Township: ED 016 Lyons Township: ED 017-018 North Plains Township: ED 019-020 Odessa Township: ED 021-022 Orange Township: ED 023 Orleans Township: ED 024 Otisco Township: ED 025 Belding City (Otisco Township): ED 026-027 Portland Township: ED 028 Village of Portland (Portland Township): ED 029 Ronald Township: ED 030 Sebewa Township: ED 031
1904	General information about the 1904 Michigan state and territorial census
1910	General information about the 1910 Federal census
1920	General information about the 1920 Federal census
1930	General information about the 1930 Federal census

  Blank Census Forms for all Federal Census

Please take a few minutes to visit The USGenWeb Archive "Census-On-Line" Project

Last Updated  December 20, 2008