Story County, Iowa 1920 Census



Click Here to Search or Browse Transcribed
Story County 1920 Census Records

The 1920 census is held on microfilm, Series T625, by the National Archives and Records Administration. The microfilm records for Story County, Iowa are located on reel 515 containing book pages 1 through 285, each page page having up to 100 entries, with 1-50 on the left or "A" side and 51-100 on the right or "B" side. This is the fourteenth federal census and represents the seventh federal census enumerated for Story County after its formation. The effective date of the census was 01 Jan 1920. Errors may have been introduced by the census taker or during transcription. The extensive instructions for enumerators are availabe in PDF format. Click here to download them from the United States Census Bureau site.

The Internet Archive contains images of the 1920 census, available for downloading or viewing. Image quality varies.

Search results contain an abstract of the data for the individuals found. Views of the census pages, seen when selecting an individual in search results or when browsing the census, contain all of the census data found on that page. A link to the Internet Archives page image is provided with each displayed page.

The 1920 Census data is comprised of:

  • Page Number. Shown at the top of each census page view, this is the double page number within the census book. For Story County the page numbers run from 1 througn 287.
  • Sheet Number Shown at the top of each census page view, this is the sheet number. The numbering convention is 01A, 01B, 02A, 02B, 03A, etc. Sheet number restart at 01A for each enumeration district.
  • Supervisor's District Number. Shown at the top of each census page view, the supervisor's district number is 7 for all of the Story County census.
  • Enumeration District Number. Shown at the top of each census page view, the enumeration district numbers change with each district within Story County. For Story County, they run from 185 through 203.
  • Township, Town, Ward, Institution. This location information is shown at the top of each census page view and in summary name search results.
  • Enumerator's Name. Shown at the top of each census page view.
  • Date of Enumeration. This is the date the information was collected. Shown at the top of each census page view. Sometimes one page was enumerated across multiple days.
  • Line Number. Line number within the page. These run from 1-50 on "A" numbered sheets and from 51-100 on "B" numbered sheets. Under heading "Line."
  • Street. Within cities may show the street name. Under heading "Street."
  • House Number. Within cities may show the house number. If a farm, "Fm" is shown. Under heading "House."
  • Dwelling Number or Farm Numbered within each census location. Under heading "Dwell'g."
  • Family Number. Numbered within each census location. Under heading "Family."
  • Name. I have separated the surname from the given names so the surname can be used for searching. The surname is displayed capitalized.
  • Relationship to Head of Family. Head, wife, son, daughter, etc.
  • Sex.
  • Color.
  • Age. This is person's the age as of the last birthday as of January 1, 1920.
  • Marital Status. S=Single, M=Married, W=Widowed, D=Divorced. Under heading "S/M#/W/D."
  • Place of Birth. Place names are have been standardized (such as spelling out full state name instead of copy abbreviations) unless the name is ambiguous.
  • Tongue. Native language of enumerated person if not native-born. When present, this information is listed under the title "Various" on the census page view (not in surname search results).
  • Father's Birth Place. Place of birth of person's father.
  • Father's Tonque Native language of father if not native-born. When present, this information is listed under the title "Various" on the census page view (not in surname search results).
  • Mother's Birth Place. Place of birth of person't mother.
  • Mother's Tonque Native language of mother if not native-born. When present, this information is listed under the title "Various" on the census page view (not in surname search results).
  • Immigration Year. When present, this information is listed under the title "Various" on the census page view (not in surname search results).
  • Naturalization Status. Na=naturalized, Pa=intent to naturalize with first papers taken out, Al=alien. When present, this information is listed under the title "Various" on the census page view (not in surname search results)
  • English. If the person was able to speak English "Y" appears in the English column.
  • Trade. Occupation, kind of work, profession. If the person was not working but living on their own incomer, "Own Income" was entered. For this census "none" was entered for any person of any sex or age who either was not employed nor living on their own income.
  • Industry. When a trade other than "none" or "own income" was given, this column contains kind of business or establishement, place where worked, or branch of industry. When present, this information is listed together with the Employer/Employee/Own Account data under the title "Various" on the census page view (not in surname search results). Examples are "Employer of General Farm", "Employee of Post Office."
  • Employer/Employee/Own Accord. This identifies whether the person is an employer (in their own business), and enployee, or self-employed (working on own account). When present, this information is listed together with the industry under the title "Various" on the census page view (not in surname search results). Examples are "Employer of General Farm", "Employee of Post Office."
  • Read?. Y=can read (any language), N=can not read Any language. Applies to persons 10 years of age and older although the enumerator sometimes unnecessarily entered data for persons under 10 years of age. Under heading "Read."
  • Write? Y=can write (any language), N=can not write (any language). Applies to persons 10 years of age and older. Under heading "Write."
  • Attended School? Y=peson attended school at any time during 1919. Under heading "School."
  • Residence Owned or Rented. When present, this information is listed under the title "Various" on the census page view (not in surname search results)
  • House Owned Free or Mortgaged. When present, this information is listed under the title "Various" on the census page view (not in surname search results)
  • Number of Farm Schedule. For farms, the entry number for the farm schedule. When present, this information is listed under the title "Various" on the census page view (not in surname search results)
The following information is included in the transcription but is not taken directly from the census:
  • AKA Surname. This is believed to the correct surname based upon the transcriber or proofer's analysis. The intent is to increase the opportunities of finding somebody in a surname search even though their name may have been recorded incorrectly in the census.
  • AKA Source. The source of the AKA Source. 1877 Dir (for 1877 Story County Directory); 1885 Cen (for 1885 census); 1895 Cen (for 1895 Story County census); 1905 Cen (for 1905 Story County Census); 1920 Cen (for 1920 Story County Census); Birth Rec (For Story County birth records); Cem Rec (for Story County cemetery or grave marker records); Death Cert (for Story County death certificates); Div Rec (for Story County divorce records); Ed Guess (for educated guess); Mar Rec (for Story County marriage records); Obit (for obituary).
  • Transcriber comments. When present, this information is listed under the title "Various" on the census page view (not on surname search results).
  • Transcriber name. Shown at the top of the census page view.
  • Proofer name. Shown at the top of the census page view.

[Search Story Co. 1920 Census Records][Story Co. Home Page]

Please E-Mail Mark Christian with your questions, comments, or suggestions.
©2016 Mark Christian