How to Use the United States Federal Non-Population Census Schedules

Non-population schedules were census schedules that were created as an adjunct to the “normal census” that was gathered every ten years and still is. Essentially they were gathered to obtain information on special subsets of the population for the government to determine what resources needed to be applied to these special subsets and to obtain statistical data. The Quicksheet has some details about the schedules and links to where you can access them online.

There were 8 types of these non-population schedules:

• Agricultural
• Manufacturing
• Mortality
• Veterans
• Indian Population Inquiries
• Slave
• Dependent, Defective, and Delinquent Classes
• Social Statistics

There is a Quicksheet available with details about Mortality Schedules at Are You Using Mortality Schedules from the Census Records?

There are two very good discussions about the non-population schedules, with excellent details at:

• The Cass County, Missouri Library has a detailed PDF at https://www.casscolibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/Genealogy/Guide-to-Non-Population-Schedules.pdf
• The Ancestry Academy has some outstanding videos that detail these schedules at https://www.ancestryacademy.com/non-population-schedules-your-next-step-in-census-research

Here is a short description of each of the types of schedules:

• Agricultural Schedule (1850-1880) – farm owner; number of acres and value; value of farm tools and implements; livestock and crop details
• Manufacturing Schedule (1850-1880) – name of business and type; capital invested; employees and costs; products manufactured, and value
• Mortality Schedule (1850-1880) – name, age, gender, and color for those people who died the year prior to the decennial census. Also recorded were birthplace, cause of death, and month when death occurred
• Veterans Schedule (1890) – name of veteran or widow, rank, name of regiment, date of enlistment and discharge, address, and disability incurred
• Indian Population (1900-1910) – tribe, tribe of father and mother, blood quantum, number of times married, and school and tax information
• Slave Schedule (1850-1860) – age, sex, and color, name of slave owner, fugitive status
• Dependent, Defective, and Delinquent Classes Schedule (1880) – name, race, gender, age, and residence. Classes of individuals included Insane, Idiots, Deaf-mutes, Blind, Paupers and Indigent Persons, Homeless Children, Prisoners
• Social Statistics and Supplemental Schedule (1850-1880) – include detailed information about cemeteries; trade groups, societies, lodges, clubs, and other organizations, churches; and current newspapers and periodicals

FamilySearch has an outstanding set of collections. Detailed links can be found at https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/United_States_Federal_Non-Population_Census_Schedules.  If you access the records available via the FamilySearch Catalog, make sure you are logged in or you won’t be able to access the records remotely.

The collections that FamilySearch has made available are:

•  United States Census (Mortality Schedule), 1850
• Illinois, Non-Population Census Schedules, 1850-1880
• Illinois Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880
• Iowa non-population census schedules, 1850-1880
• Iowa Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880
• United States, Kentucky, Agricultural Schedules, 1850-1880
• Massachusetts, Federal Census Mortality Schedule, 1870
• Massachusetts, Federal Census Mortality Schedule, 1880
• Michigan Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880
• Pennsylvania Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880
• West Virginia, Census (Mortality Schedule), 1870-1880

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