[email protected] wrote:
> Can someone please tell me where in Columbia one would go to see US census

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Census Records at the SC Archives
http://www.state.sc.us/scdah/censusrc.htm
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As you begin to gather information about your family, census records are one of
the first sources you should consult. This pamphlet will give you an overview of
the South Carolina census schedules we have at the Archives and will tell you
how to access the information in these records. 

The federal government releases census records for public use seventy-two years
after enumeration. The Archives has federal population schedules from 1790 to
1920, supplementary schedules from 1850 to 1880, and some special federal
schedules and publications from 1790 to 1840. 

The Archives also has the following state census records: population schedules
for some counties for 1829, 1839, 1869, and 1875; and agricultural schedules for
some counties for 1868 and 1875. 

 * Federal Population Schedules 
 * Federal Supplementary Schedules 1850-1880 
 * State Census Schedules 1829, 1839, 1868, 1869, and 1875 
 * Appendix 
 * Additional Sources 


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Federal Population Schedules
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Begin your research with the most recent census records and work backwards. Our
description of the population schedules is presented in that order. 

Federal Population Schedules 1920-1880 
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Population schedules for this period are complete except for the 1890 Census. A
1921 warehouse fire in Washington, D.C., destroyed more than ninety-nine percent
of this schedule. A list of Union veterans and their widows living in South
Carolina is the only part of the 1890 Census that survives for this state. A
published index to the 1890 Census is available. 

The other population schedules for this period are arranged by county and
enumeration district. They list all household members by name, age, sex, and
race, and may also give information about occupations, schooling, place of
birth, parents place of birth, number of years married, and naturalization. 

To locate an individual on the 1920 to 1880 census records, you will use the
Soundex indexing system by obtaining a Soundex code number for a surname then
searching the Soundex microfilm. If you have a problem obtaining a Soundex code
number for a surname, please ask a reference staffer for help. (See Appendix
below for a description of Soundex and how to use it.) 

Federal Population Schedules 1870-1850 
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This series of census records is important the 1870 schedule is the first
federal census to enumerate former slaves by name; the 1860 schedule was taken
just before the start of the Civil War; and the 1850 schedule is the first to
list all household members by name. The Archives has an incomplete manuscript
copy of the 1870 population schedule and will make that copy available to
researchers who find the microfilm version illegible. 

Indexes: The schedules are arranged by county. To locate a name, consult the
published indexes located on the index stand across from the reference desk. The
Archives has an index to every name on the 1870 and 1860 schedules and an index
to heads of household on the 1850 schedule. These indexes cite the county where
the individuals lived and give a page number, which corresponds to the stamped
page number in the upper right hand corner of every other census page. When you
use these published indexes, do remember to check for variant spellings of
surnames. 

Listings: These census records list all household individuals by name, age, sex,
and race, and may contain information about occupations, schooling, value of
personal and real estate, and place of birth. 

Federal Population Schedules 1840-1790 
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These census records differ from later schedules in that they list only heads of
household by name; all other individuals they enumerate in age categories. As
you go back in time, you will find that the age categories on the schedules get
broader in scope and fewer in number. Although these census records cannot be
used to prove relationships, they are still a valuable source, for they can be
used to identify or eliminate certain families as possible ancestors. Indexes:
These schedules are arranged by county. You can locate a head of household by
consulting the published indexes on the stand across from the reference desk.
These indexes cite the county where the individuals lived and give a page number
for each head of household, which usually corresponds to a stamped number on the
census page. Because some of the published indexes print out the age categories
for each household, you will not have to look at the census records unless you
wish to verify the data given in the index. When you use these published
indexes, do remember to check for variant spellings of surnames. 

Listings: These schedules all give information about the number of males,
females, free persons of color, and slaves living in each household. The 1840
census gives information about occupations, schooling, and military service. The
1820 census gives information about occupations. 


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Federal Supplementary Schedules 1850-1880
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Federal census takers gathered information on mortality, industry, social
statistics, and agriculture in South Carolina the Archives has copies of extant
supplementary schedules on these topics for 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880. The
enumerators also compiled data about slaves and slave owners in 1850 and 1860. 

Mortality Schedules 1850-1880 
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These records are arranged by county and give information about people who died
during the twelve months ending on 1 June of the census year. Published indexes
are available for the 1850 and 1860 schedules. Once you locate an individual on
these records you will find the following information: name, age, sex, color,
married or widowed, place of birth, month of death, occupation, and cause of
death. In addition, the 1850 and 1860 schedules list the names and marital
status of slaves who appear in these records. 

Industrial Schedules 1850-1880 
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These records are arranged by county and give information about industry and
manufacturing. There are no indexes available for the industrial schedules. Once
you have located an individual or business on these records, you will find the
following information: capital invested in business, raw materials used, kind of
motive power, types of labor used, and value and quantity of annual production. 

Social Statistics Schedules 1850-1880 
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These records are arranged by county and give information about valuation,
public debt, taxation, pauperism, crime, libraries, wages, newspapers,
periodicals, colleges, academies, schools, religion, churches, and defective,
dependent, and delinquent classes. There are no indexes available. 

Agricultural Schedules 1850-1880 
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These records are arranged by county. There are no indexes available. Once you
have located a farm owner or operator on these records, you will find
information about types and values of crops and livestock, annual production,
and amounts and types of land used. 

Slave Schedules 1850 and 1860 
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These schedules are arranged by county and then by slave owner's name. Slaves
enumerated on these schedules are not listed by name and there are no indexes.
Once you have located a slave owner on these records, you will find the
following categories: name of slave owner; total number of slaves; age, sex, and
color of each slave; fugitive from the state; number manumitted; deaf and dumb;
blind, insane, or idiotic; and, on the 1860 schedule only, the number of slave
houses. Sometimes these schedules give plantation names, particularly when an
individual owned more than one plantation. 


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Special Federal Schedules and Publications 1790-1840
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The Archives has copies of some special federal schedules and publications,
which you may want to consult. On microfilm, we have an 1835 Census of the
Cherokee Indians East of the Mississippi River; it gives information about
Cherokees living in Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia. We also have
an 1820 Census of Manufactures for North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia;
it gives information about the South Carolina counties of Laurens, Lexington,
and Williamsburg. 

In book form we have two more sources you may want to use: 1840 Census,
Pensioners for Revolutionary or Other Military Service and List of Free Black
Heads of Families in the First Census of the United States, 1790 (South Carolina
section pages 38-41). 


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State Census Schedules 1829, 1839, 1868, 1869, and 1875
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Population Schedules 
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Four state population schedules survive for South Carolina: the 1829 schedules
for Fairfield and Laurens Districts; the 1839 schedules for Kershaw and
Chesterfield Districts; the 1869 schedules for all counties except Clarendon,
Oconee, and Spartanburg; complete 1875 schedules for Clarendon, Newberry, and
Marlboro counties and partial 1875 schedules for Abbeville, Beaufort, Fairfield,
Lancaster, and Sumter counties. 

These schedules list only heads of households by name. All other individuals in
the households are listed in age categories or groups. Only the Fairfield
schedule for 1829 has an index. The Laurens schedule for 1829 and both schedules
for 1839 are arranged alphabetically by surname. 

The 1869 census is especially important; it is the first state schedule to
enumerate former slaves by name, and it can also be used to locate blacks and
whites with the same surname who lived near each other; the latter information
may help you identify former slaveowners whose records you can search to get
more information about slaves. 

Agricultural Schedules 
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State agricultural schedules for 1868 and 1875 survive for South Carolina. There
are no indexes available to these records. 

The 1868 census consists of twenty-six counties: Abbeville, Anderson, Barnwell,
Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Darlington, Edgefield, Fairfield, Georgetown,
Greenville, Kershaw, Lancaster, Laurens, Lexington, Marlboro, Newberry, Oconee,
Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Spartanburg, Sumter, Union, Williamsburg, and
York. 

The 1875 State Agricultural Census consists of eight counties: Aiken (Silverton
Township), Beaufort (Lawton, Pocotaligo, and Bluffton Townships), Charleston
(Sullivan s Island and Moultrieville Townships), Clarendon (New Zion and Midway
Townships), Darlington (Colfax, Fludd, and Grant Townships), Marlboro
(Bennettsville, Brownsville, Red Bluff, and Hebron Townships), Newberry (Stoney
Battery, Cannon, Caldwell, Maybinton, Hellen, and Newberry Townships), and
Sumter (Middleton and Statesburg Townships). 

Once you have located an individual on these schedules you will find information
about the amount and types of crops and livestock, and data about the number of
acres of land under cultivation. 


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The Soundex system 
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Soundex is a phonetic indexing system based on the letters of an individual s
last name. Before you use it, you will have to find the Soundex code number for
the last name you are interested in, either by consulting The Soundex Reference
Guide, which contains Soundex codes for over one hundred twenty-five thousand
surnames, or by using the Soundex Coding Chart at the Reference Desk. Once you
find the code you want, you will be ready to search the microfilmed indexes for
the information you will need to locate families on the census records. 

Example: We'll search the 1920 Soundex microfilm for John Smith whose code
number is S-530. On the film, you will see a series of index cards arranged by
Soundex codes, which appear at the top of each card. The group of cards numbered
S-530 represents a listing of all the Smiths in the state. The cards, which are
arranged alphabetically by the first name of the head of each household, list
other members of the family by name, age, and relationship to the head of
household--John Smith's card, for example, shows he has a wife, Jane (37); a
son, Sam (14); and daughters Hannah (12), Mary (9), and Gail (7). Included in
the group of cards carrying the code S-530 you will also see surnames that are
phonetically compatible with Smith-the name Smythe, for example. The information
you must obtain from the Soundex card is the E.D. (enumeration district) number,
the sheet number, the line number, and the county. Once you have obtained this
data you will be able to locate the family on the census record. Knowing where
to find the family on the census record is important, for the census will
contain not only the data that is on the Soundex card but other information that
may enhance your research. 

Our example tells us that John Smith's enumeration district number is 36, the
sheet number is 3, the line number is 37, and the county is Richland. You are
now ready to consult the microfilm of the 1920 census. As you view the census
page, you will see the county listed in the upper left corner and the
enumeration district number and sheet number in the upper right. Go to the 1920
Richland County Census, enumeration district 36, sheet 3, and you will find the
Smith family listed on line 37 of that page. 

Soundex indexes, 1920 to 1880 
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You will be able to use this process to search the Soundex indexes from 1920 to
1880. The Soundex indexes to the 1920, 1910, and 1900 census records
theoretically list all families and individuals. It is possible however, for a
family to be listed on a census schedule and not appear on the Soundex. If you
fail to find a family on Soundex and you have good reason to believe the family
was living in a particular county at that time, you may want to consider a page
by page search of the census. 

Soundex index, 1880 
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This index lists only families having children ten years old and younger in
their household. If the family you are researching does not have young children
in the household, you must search the 1880 Census page by page in the county
where they were living. 


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Summary 
*******
When you are researching the 1920 through 1880 census records, first obtain the
Soundex code number for the surname you are researching by consulting The
Soundex Reference Guide or the Soundex Coding Chart. Next, find the appropriate
Soundex microfilm index and use the code number to locate the Soundex card you
want. Finally, get the enumeration district, the sheet number, the line number,
and the county from the card and use that data to locate the family on the
appropriate census microfilm roll. 


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Additional Sources
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For more information about census records please consult the sources listed
below. 

Anderson, Margo J. The American Census: A Social History. New Haven, Conn.: Yale
University Press, 1988. 

Carson, Helen Craig and R. Nicholas Olsberg. United States Census Agriculture,
Industry, Social Statistics, and Mortality Schedules for South Carolina
1850-1880. Microcopy Number 2. Columbia, S.C.: South Carolina Department of
Archives and History, 1971. 

Federal Census Records at the South Carolina Archives. South Carolina Historical
Magazine 85 (July 1984): 253-256. 

From the Archives. South Carolina Historical Magazine 84 (Jan. 1983): 47-49. 

Kirkham, E. Kay. A Survey of American Census Schedules. Salt Lake City, Utah:
Deseret Book Company, 1959. 

Steuart, Bradley W. The Soundex Reference Guide. Bountiful, Utah: Precision
Indexing, 1990. 

For more information contact Steve Tuttle at [email protected]

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