Census

Iowa State Census

The state of Iowa conducted its own census enumerations between the decennial federal censuses.

1856 - This census includes all members of the household. Headings are Name, Age, Sex, Color, Marital Status, Years in Iowa, State or Country Born, Occupation, Native Voter?, Naturalized? Aliens, Militia, Deaf, Blind, Insane, Idiotic, Owner of Land, Paupers. Entries are arranged by township within the county.
 
1885 - Lists all members of household. Columns are: Name; Age at the 1884 birthday; Sex; Color; Marital Status; Location of Residence (including section, township & range or street name if in town); Occupation; Birthplace (if born in Iowa it lists the county); was the Father &/or Mother Native or Foreign Born; Subject to Military?; Entitled to Vote?; was the person an Alien who had Taken Out 1st Papers for Naturalization?; Can Read?; Can Write?; Deaf; Blind.
 
1895 - Headings are Name; Age; Sex; Color; Marital Status; Birthplace (including the county if born in Iowa); whether the Father &/or Mother was Native-born Americans or Foreign-born; Occupation; Religion; Subject to Military?; Entitled to Vote; Can Read &/or Write?; Deaf, Blind or Insane?; if a man was a Civil War Veteran ,he was asked for his Company, Regiment, State where Enlisted, Rank and Arm of the Service; if a man was a Mexican War Veteran, he was asked for his Regiment and the State where Enlisted, as well as the Arm of Service.
 
1905 - This census has some special problems because of the way it was microfilmed. Each person's information was recorded on an index card. When microfilmed all the cards from a county were put together and all the surnames beginning with "A" were tossed together, all the "B's", etc. This makes it very difficult to establish family units. The cards were filmed very small which makes it even more difficult to read. The categories in this census were Card #; Name, Address; Sex; Can Read &/or Write?; Age; Birthplace; Mother's Birthplace; Father's Birthplace; Own Home?; Value; Amount of Debt; Naturalized?; Years in US; Years in IA; Marital Status; Months in School; Type of School Attended; Occupation; Months Unemployed Last Year; Veteran of Civil or Mexican/Spanish War; and if Veteran, the Company, Regiment, State Enlisted; Class of Service; Date of Enlistment and Date Discharged.
 
1915 - This census was also recorded on index cards, but when microfilmed were put in alphabetical order by full name. The cards are bigger and easier to read than the 1905 census. Headings are Name; Card #; Address; Age; Sex; Marital Status; Can Read & Write?; Naturalized?; Years in Iowa; Years in U.S.; Level of Education; Birthplace; Own Home?; Value; Debt; Veteran of Civil War, Spanish War or Mexican War?; If so, Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, Navy? State?; Regiment?; Company?; Church Affiliation; Mother's Birthplace; Father's Birthplace.
 
1925 - This census includes the categories for Name; Relationship to head of household; Sex; Color; Age; Marital Status; Home Owned/Rented; Mortgaged/ Owned Free; Value; Rent Payment; Naturalized; Years in U.S.; Years in Iowa; Highest Grade Completed; Can Read & Write?; Birthplace; Name of Father & his Birthplace; if Father is living, his Age; Name of Mother & her Birthplace; if Mother is living, her Age;Where Parents were Married; Military Service?; type of Occupation; Church Affiliation.
 
 

The Osceola Public Library has copies of all these Clarke County censuses. It also has the Decatur County 1856, the Lucas County 1885, and in published, typed form the Lucas 1856 census.

The State Historical Society of Iowa Library in Des Moines has all the Iowa censuses for all Iowa counties.

FEDERAL CENSUS

1850 Clarke County Census

1854 Special Census

1930 Federal Census - This site shows a chart telling the Enumeration Description number for each township.

Boarders & lodgers registered in various censuses

Last Revised April 18, 2009