Oregon Secretary of State

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Census Records

​​​About Census Records

​​The State Archives has census records from the provisional, territorial, state and federal governments. It also has Bureau of Indian Affairs census records in the Reference Room.

The first census in the Oregon Country was taken by Elijah Whit​e​, Oregon Superintendent of Indian Affairs, in 1842. In 1845 ​the Provisional Government authorized a 2nd census. In 1848 the Oregon Territory was established and the governor was given authority to take "an enumeration of the inhabitants and qualified voters of the several counties and districts of the territory." The territorial census rolls and abstracts were used to document county population and report statistics to the government. These census tallied statistics for apportionment, school-age children and military strength.

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​The federal census (population schedules), taken every 10 years, expanded the amount of information gathered over th​e decades. For example, the 1850 census included questions such as:

  • Name, age, sex and color of every person in the household
  • Occupation of each person over age 15
  • Value of real estate owned
  • Place of birth of each person
  • Was the person married within the year
  • Did the person attend school within the year
  • Can the person read and write. (only if over age 20)
  • Is the person deaf, dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, a pauper or convict
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​By the 1940 census, the informat​ion grew to include 50 columns of questions. An abbreviated list of these includes:

  • Living location
  • Household information
  • Name of each person
  • Relationship
  • Personal description (sex, color, age, marital status)
  • Education
  • Birthplace
  • Citizenship
  • Residence in 1935
  • Employment
  • Income
  • Mother's and father's birthplace
  • Mother tongue
  • Military service
  • Social Security status
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​The federal government also took special (nonpopulation) schedules on agriculture, industry, mortality and social statistics for administrative purposes. The 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 mortality schedules contain information on persons who died during the 12 months prior to the date the census was taken. Some entries give the cause of death. The agricultural schedules for these years also include names of individuals. The other special schedules include only statistical data and not the names of individuals.​
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​​​​​​​​​​​C​ensus Burea​u

The U.S. Census Bureau has census records that are protected by the 72-Year Rule access restrictions. Only the named person, their heirs or legal representatives are granted access. There is a Congressionally-mandated fee for this service.

Request to Search Records

How do I request census records that are not available from the National Archives?

National Arc​hives

All federal census records of states through 1950 are available at the National Archives​ and all Regional Archives​: Find Regional Offices here

Family ​History Cente​rs

Federal census records are also available at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Family History Centers.

Center for Populatio​n Research and Census

The Population Research Center annually estimates the population of each city and county in Oregon and provides population information to the state and political subdivisions. The Center has library materials from previous U.S. census and other demographic information. ​

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State Archives Census Records

​​​​​​​​​The State Archives holds provisional, territorial and state census records for Oregon as well as federal censuses of Oregon. The records are either in the original format or part of the Reference Library as microfil​m or publications. Most microfilmed census records are part of the Provisional and Territorial calendared documents - you'll find the document number in parentheses after the listing.

​Census of persons living south of the Columbia River taken by Elijah White. (National Archives, Film 234, roll 607, frames 112-119) ​​

​Champoic (now Marion) County (Doc. #12194)​​

​Clackamas County (Doc. #12194)​​

​Clatsop County (Doc. #12194)​​

​Tuality (now Washington) County (Doc. #12193)​​​

​Yamhill County (Doc. #12193)​​

​Tuality (now Washington) County (Microfilm, Provisional and Territorial Census records and Original)​​

​Yamhill County (abstract) (Doc. #3453)​​

​​Apportionment Census (males over 21) (Provisional and Territorial Microfilm, 1842-1859)​​

Champoeg (now Marion) County (Doc. #1078)​

Clackamas County (Doc. #3452)​

Clatsop County (Doc. #1080)​

Lewis (now Washington State) County (Doc. #1082)​

Linn County (Doc. #1082 1/2)​

Polk County (Doc. #1079)​

Tuality (now Washington) County (Doc. #3451)​

Vancouver (now Washington State) County (Doc. #3455)​

Yamhill County (Doc. #3454)​

Yamhill (includes school census) County. (Doc. #1081)​

Washington County (Doc. #3450)​​

​Reference Room Library Publications: Oregon Territory Census; Yamhill County​​

U.S. Federal Census for Oregon Microfilm: Nonpopulation Schedules (mortality, agriculture, industry, social statistics). (Microfilm); Population Schedule (National Archives film #M432)​​

Benton County (abstract) (Doc. #5289)​​​

Benton County (Provisional and Territorial Census Records Microfilm, 1842-1859)​​

Clackamas County (abstract) (Doc. #5288)​​

Clark County (now Washington State; abstract) (Doc. #5286)​​

Lane County (abstract) (Doc. #5281)​​

Linn County (abstract) (Doc. #5283) ​​

Marion County (Doc. #5287)​​

Polk County (Doc. #5282)​​

Umpqua (now Douglas) County (Doc. #5285)​​

Washington County (Doc. #5290)​​

Yamhill County (abstract) (Doc. #5284)​​

​​Clackamas County

​Clatsop County (Doc. #5567)

Douglas County (abstract) (Doc. #5568)

Jackson County (Doc. #12281)

Lane County (abstract) (Doc. #5571)

Linn County (abstract) (Doc. #5569)

Marion County (abstract) (Doc. #5572)

Tillamook County (abstract) (Doc. #5570)

Reference Room Library Publications: Benton County (transcribed); Lane County (includes enumeration of inhabitants and agriculture)

​​Benton County (abstract) (Doc. #7091)​

​​Clackamas County

​​Coos County (Doc. #6384)

​​Douglas County (Doc. #6383)

​​Jackson County (Provisional and Territorial Census Records Microfilm, 1842-1859; and Jackson County Microfilm)

​​Lane County (Doc. #6385)

​​Linn County (Doc. #7087)

​​Marion County (abstract) (Doc. #7089)

​​Tillamook County (abstract) (Doc. #7088)

​​Umpqua (now Douglas) County (abstract) (Doc. # 7090)

​​Yamhill County (Doc. #6333)

​​Benton County (Doc. #6904)​

Benton County (Provisional and Territorial Census Records, Microfilm, 1842-1859; and Benton County records in the Oregon State Archives)

Clackamas County (Doc. #6913)

Clatsop County (Doc. #6909)

Columbia County

Coos County (Doc. #6910)

Curry County (Doc. #6906)

Jackson County (Doc. #6911 and Jackson County Microfilm)

Josephine County (Doc. #6907)

Lane County (Doc. #6908)

Linn County (Doc. #6905)

Marion County (Doc. #6916)

Multnomah County (Doc. #6902)

Polk County (Doc. #6912)

Washington County (Doc. #6914, and Provisional and Territorial Census Records Microfilm, 1842-1859)

Yamhill County (Doc. #6903)

Reference Room Library Publications: Columbia County, Polk County

Benton County​

Benton County. (Doc. #7996)

Clackamas County (Doc. #7990; and Clackamas County records)

Clatsop County (Doc. #7989)

Coos County (Doc. #7997 and Provisional and Territorial Census Records Microfilm, 1842-1859)

Curry County (Doc. #7988)

Douglas County (Doc. #7992)

Jackson County (Provisional and Territorial Census Records Microfilm, 1842-1859)

Linn County (Doc. #7995)

Marion County (Doc. #7994)

Multnomah County (Doc. #7998)

Tillamook County (Doc. #7993)

Umpqua (now Douglas) County (Doc. #7991)

Washington County (Doc. #7987)​​

​​Benton County

​​​Benton County (abstract) (Doc. #8954)

​​ Clackamas County (abstract) (Doc. #8949)

​​Clatsop County (abstract) (Doc. #8957)

​​Coos County (Doc. #14044)

​​Curry County (abstract) (Doc. #8958)

​​Jackson County (Provisional and Territorial Census Records Microfilm, 1842-1859)

​​Lane County (abstract) (Doc. #8953)

​​Linn County (abstract) (Doc. #8956)

​​Multnomah County (abstract) (Doc. #8952)

​​Oregon Territory (abstract by county) (Doc. # 8951)

​​Tillamook County (abstract) (Doc. #8950)

​​Umpqua (now Douglas) County (Doc. # 8995 (abstract), #9001, and #12278)

Clatsop County (Doc. #14028)

​Umpqua (now Douglas) County (Doc. #12278)​​

​​Multnomah County​

Yamhill County​

Reference Room Library Publications: Benton County; Columbia County; Coos County; Douglas County; Ja​ckson County; Josephine County; Lane County; Marion County; Multnomah County; Tillamook County; Washington County; Yamhill County.​

U.S. Federal Census for Oregon Microfilm: Nonpopulation Schedules (mortality, industry, social statistics) (Microfilm); Population Schedule (National Archives film #M653)​

1860 U.S. Federal Census​ (Searchable database includes Oregon - by FamilySearch.org) ​

​Benton County​

Columbia County

Marion County (search in Oregon Historical Records Index)

Umatilla County (search in Oregon Historical Records Index​)​​

​​​​Umatilla County​

Yamhill County​

Reference Room Library Publications: Jackson County; Josephine County; Lane County; Marion County; Multnomah County; Polk County; Tillamook County.​

U.S. Federal Census for Oregon Microfilm:​

Nonpopulation Schedules (mortality, agriculture, industry, social statistics) (Microfilm)​

Population Schedule (National Archives film #M593)​

1870 U.S. Federal Census​ (Searchable database includes Oregon - by FamilySearch.org)​

​​Lake County (searchable in Oregon Historical Records Index)

Umatilla County (search in Oregon Historical Records Index​)

​Wasco County (Wasco County Microfilm)​

​​Wasco County

Yamhill County

Reference Room Library Publications: Columbia County; Douglas County; Jackson County; Josephine County; Lake County; Lane County; Marion County; Polk County; Tillamook County; Union County; Wasco County; Washington County; Yamhill County.

U.S. Federal Census for Oregon Microfilm:

Nonpopulation Schedules (agriculture, manufacturers, mortality, defective, dependent and delinquent classes). (Microfilm)

Population Schedule (National Archives film #T9)

Population Soundex (National Archives film #T768)

1880 U.S. Federal Census​ (Searchable database includes Oregon - by FamilySearch.org)​​

​​​Linn County (includes enumeration of inhabitants and industrial products)

Umatilla County (searchable in Oregon Historical Records Index​)

Reference Room Library Publication: Umatilla County

​Schedules of Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War (National Archives film #M123)​​

​​​Linn County

​​Marion County (includes enumeration of inhabitants and industrial products) (Marion County Microfilm) (searchable in Oregon Historical Records Index)

​​Morrow County (searchable in Oregon Historical Records Index)

​​Multnomah County (searchable in Oregon Historical Records Index​)

​​Reference Room Library Publications: Marion County; Morrow County

​​Reference Room Library Publications: Crook County; Curry County; Jackson County; Lane County (index); Lincoln County (index); Yamhill County ​​​

U.S. Federal Census for Oregon Microfilm:​​

Population Schedule (National Archives film #T623)​​

Population Soundex (National Archives film #T1067)​​

1900 U.S. Federal Census​ (Searchable database includes Oregon - by FamilySearch.org)​​

​​Baker County (includes enumeration of inhabitants and military enrollment) (Baker County Microfilm)​

​​Lane County (includes enumeration of inhabitants and military enrollment) (Lane County Microfilm)

​​Linn County (includes enumeration of inhabitants, industrial products, and military enrollment) (Linn County Microfilm)

​​Marion County (includes enumeration of inhabitants and military enrollment) (Marion County microfilm)

​​Reference Room Library Publication: Marion County

​​Reference Room Library Publications: Benton County; Crook County; Jackson County U.S. Federal Census for Oregon Microfilm:

Population Schedule (National Archives film #T624)

1910 U.S. Federal Census​ (Searchable database includes Oregon - by FamilySearch.org)​​

​​Population Soundex (National Archives film #M1583)​​

Population Schedule (National Archives film #T625)​​

​1920 U.S. Federal Census​ (Searchable database includes Oregon - by FamilySearch.org)​​

​​​Description of Enumeration Districts (National Archives film T1224)​​

Population Schedule (National Archives film #T626)​​

1930 U.S. Federal Census​ (Searchable database includes Oregon - by FamilySearch.org)​​

​​1940 U.S. Federal Census​ (Searchable database includes Oregon - by FamilySearch.org)​​

​​​195​0 U.S. Federal Census​​ (Searchable database includes Oregon - by FamilySearch.org)​​​

​Bureau of Indian Affairs Census Rolls (National Archives film #595)

Grande Ronde, 1885-1892, 1894-1914

Klamath (Klamath, Modoc, Paiute or Snake, and Pit River Indians), 1885-1906

Klamath (Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin Band of Paiute or Snake Indians), 1907-1920

Klamath (Klamath, Modoc, Paiute, and Other Indians), 1930-1939

Roseburg (Shasta, Klamath, Pit River, Winta and other Indians), 1915-1917

Sacramento (Indians of Fort Bidwell, Round Valley, and Tule River Reservation and of Modoc County), 1934-1939

Salem (Indians of Grande Ronde and Siletz Reservations, and Non-Reservation Indians), 1933-1939

Salem (Indians of Grande Ronde and Siletz Reservation and Non- Reservation Indians), 1926-1932

Siletz, 1885-1908, 1909-1925

Umatilla (Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla Indians), 1886-1894, 1896, 1898-1905, 1910-1939

Warm Springs (Warm Springs, John Day, Paiute, Tenino, Wasco and Other Indians), 1886-1891, 1895, 1897-1911, 1913-1939​

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Records Guides

Oregon Historical Records Index

FamilySearch.org

Oregon Historical County Records Guide​​

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