Iowa Census Records Online includes Federal and State censuses. Census records (especially when indexed) are one of the easiest ways to find family members and track individuals over their lifetime.
US Census Records
In the United States, federal censuses are taken every 10 years and these records are made public 72 after the census is taken. US Censuses began in 1790 and the most recent census available is the 1950 census. Most of the 1890 census was destroyed by fire, but parts remain and you can use other records as census substitutes.
HINT: You can look at federal (1870-1920) census records to see if your ancestor was naturalized and if they were, visit Iowa Naturalization Records online.
HINT: Between 1790 and 1840, only the head of household is named in the census.
HINT: Between 1850 and present, all people living in a household are named in the census.
HINT: Between 1850 and 1880 there are census mortality schedules listing who died in the year before the census was taken.
TIP – Login with your free FamilySearch account to unlock some collections — see other tips for opening FS resources.
US level Census Records
US – 1800 – United States Census, 1800, index & images, at FS
US – 1810 – United States Census, 1810, index & images, at FS
US – 1820 – United States Census, 1820, at FS, index & images
US – 1820 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1830 – United States Census, 1830, at FS, index & images
US – 1830 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1840 – United States Census, 1840, at FS, index & images
US – 1840 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1848-1970 – United States, Native American, Eastern Cherokee Indian Reservation Rolls, 1848-1970, index & images
US – 1850 – United States Census (Mortality Schedule), 1850, at FS, index & images
US – 1850 – United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850, at FS, index & images
US – 1850 – United States Census, 1850, at FS, index & images
US – 1850 – United States census, Alabama, 1850: Autauga thru Wilcox counties, at FS
US – 1850 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1850 United States Federal Census (Slave Schedule), at MH
US – 1850 United States Federal Census (Mortality Schedule), at MH
US – 1860 – United States Census, 1860, at FS, index & images
US – 1860 – United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860, index & images
US – 1860 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1870 – United States Census, 1870, at FS, index & images
US – 1870 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1880 – United States Census, 1880, at FS, index & images
US – 1880 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1885-1940 – United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940, at FS
US – 1890 – United States Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War, 1890, at FS, index & images
US – 1890 – United States Census, 1890, at FS, index & images
US – 1890 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1900 – United States Census, 1900, at FS, index & images
US – 1900-1940 – United States Enumeration District Maps for the Twelfth through the Sixteenth US Censuses, 1900-1940, at FS
US – 1900 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1908-1910 – United States, Native American, Eastern Cherokee Enrollment Records, 1908-1910, index links to images
US – 1910 – United States Census, 1910, at FS, index & images
US – 1910 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1920 – United States Census, 1920, at FS, index & images
US – 1920 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1930 – United States Census of Merchant Seamen, 1930, at FS, index
US – 1930 – United States Census, 1930, at FS, index & images
US – 1930 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1930 United States Census of Merchant Seamen, at MH
US – 1940 – United States Census, 1940, at FS, index & images
US – 1940 United States Federal Census, at MH
US – 1950 – United States Census, 1950, at FS, index & images
Iowa Census Records online at the state level
Iowa – 1836 – The first census of the original counties of Dubuque and Demoine (Iowa) : taken in July 1836, at FS
Iowa – 1840 – Heads of families, 1840 census of Iowa, at FS
Iowa – 1840 – Iowa, 1840 federal census, at FS
Iowa – 1840 – The 1840 Iowa census, at FS
Iowa – 1850 – Iowa 1850 census index, at FS
Iowa – 1850 – Iowa non-population census schedules, 1850-1880, at FS
Iowa – 1850 – Iowa, 1850 federal census, at FS
Iowa – 1850 – Seventh census of the United States, 1850, Iowa, roll 2, schedule 3, mortality, at FS
Iowa – 1850 – Seventh census of the United States, 1850, Iowa, roll 2, schedule 3, mortality, at FS
Iowa – 1850-1880 – Iowa census record, [1850-1880], at FS
Iowa – 1850-1880 – Iowa non-population census schedules, 1850-1880, at FS
Iowa – 1850-1880 – Iowa Non-Population Census Schedules, 1850-1880, at FS
Iowa – 1854 – 1854 census of various counties in Iowa, at FS
Iowa – 1856 – 1856 state census of Iowa, at FS
Iowa – 1859 – Census of Iowa. 1859, at FS
Iowa – 1860 – Eighth census of the United States, 1860, Iowa, roll 5, schedule 3, mortality, at FS
Iowa – 1860 – Eighth census of the United States, 1860, Iowa, roll 5, schedule 3, mortality, at FS
Iowa – 1860 – Iowa non-population census schedules, 1850-1880, at FS
Iowa – 1860 – Iowa, 1860 federal census, at FS
Iowa – 1862 – Census returns of the different counties of the state of Iowa for the year 1862 : showing in detail the population, agricultural statistics, domestic and general manufactures, &c, at FS
Iowa – 1867 – The census of Iowa, as returned in the year 1867, at FS
Iowa – 1869 – The census of Iowa as returned in the Year 1869, at FS
Iowa – 1870 – Iowa non-population census schedules, 1850-1880, at FS
Iowa – 1870 – Iowa, 1870 federal census, at FS
Iowa – 1870 – Ninth census of the United States, 1870, Iowa, at FS
Iowa – 1870 – Ninth census of the United States, 1870, Iowa, at FS
Iowa – 1875 – T. Andreas’ illustrated historical atlas of the state of Iowa, 1875, at FS
Iowa – 1875 – The census of Iowa as returned in the year 1875 : thirteenth state census, at FS
Iowa – 1880 – Iowa mortality schedules, 1880, at FS
Iowa – 1880 – Iowa non-population census schedules, 1850-1880, at FS
Iowa – 1880 – Iowa, 1880 federal census, at FS
Iowa – 1880 – Iowa, 1880 federal census, at FS
Iowa – 1880 – Tenth census of the United States, 1880, Iowa, at FS
Iowa – 1880 –Tenth census of the United States, 1880, Iowa, at FS
Iowa – 1885 – Iowa state census, 1885, at FS
Iowa – 1885 – Iowa state census, 1885, at FS
Iowa – 1885 – Iowa State Census, 1885, index & images, at FS
Iowa – 1885 – State census, 1885, at FS
Iowa – 1895 – Census of Iowa for the year 1895, at FS
Iowa – 1895 – Iowa state census, 1895, at FS
Iowa – 1895 – Iowa state census, 1895, at FS
Iowa – 1895 – Iowa State Census, 1895, index & images, at FS
Iowa – 1895 – State census, 1895, at FS
Iowa – 1900 – Iowa, 1900 federal census , at FS
Iowa – 1900 – Iowa, 1900 federal census, at FS
Iowa – 1905 – Census register, 1905, at FS
Iowa – 1905 – Iowa state census, 1905, at FS
Iowa – 1905 – Iowa State Census, 1905, index & images, at FS
Iowa – 1905 – Iowa, state census, 1905, at FS
Iowa – 1910 – Iowa, 1910 federal census, at FS
Iowa – 1915 – Iowa state census, 1915, at FS
Iowa – 1915 – Iowa state census, 1915, at FS
Iowa – 1915 – Iowa state census, 1915, at FS
Iowa – 1915 – Iowa State Census, 1915, index & images, at FS
Iowa – 1920 – Iowa, 1920 federal census, at FS
Iowa – 1925 – 1925 Iowa state census index, at FS
Iowa – 1925 – Iowa state census, 1925, at FS
Iowa – 1925 – Iowa state census, 1925, at FS
Iowa – 1925 – Iowa State Census, 1925, index & images, at FS
Iowa – 1925 – Population census of Iowa, 1925, at FS
Iowa – 1930 – Iowa, 1930 federal census, at FS
Iowa – 1940 – Iowa, 1940 population census, at FS
Iowa – Census of Iowa for the year …, at FS
Iowa – On the cover, Iowa, at FS
Iowa Census Records online at the county level
Adair County – Census – Adair County Census Card File Indexes, at FS
Allamakee County – Census – 1850 – Federal Census for Iowa, 1850, Allamakee County, at FS
Appanoose County – Census – 1900 – Arthur’s in Iowa, at FS
Benton County – Census – 1849 – Benton County, Iowa, Census, 1849-1850, at FS
Benton County – Census – 1850 – Benton County, Iowa, Census, 1849-1850, at FS
Black Hawk County – Census – 1850 – Federal Census for Iowa, 1850, Black Hawk County, at FS
Boone County – Census – 1850 – 1850 Federal Census for Iowa, Boone County, at FS
Boone County – Census – 1895 – 1895 Iowa Census, Boone County, Iowa, at FS
Carroll County – Census – 1875 – Census Records, 1875, 1885, 1895, at FS
Carroll County – Census – 1895 – Census Records, 1875, 1885, 1895, at FS
Carroll County – Census – 1885 – Census Records, 1875, 1885, 1895, at FS
Clay County – Census – 1860 – The 1860 Census Records of Clay County, Iowa, at FS
Clayton County – Schools – School Census, 1938, at FS
Clinton County – Census – 1850 – 1850 Federal Census for Iowa, Clinton County, at FS
Dallas County – Census – 1850 – Iowa : Dallas County Records, at FS
Davis County – Census – 1850 – [1850 Census, Iowa-1870 Census Crawford Co., Missouri], at FS
Davis County – Census – [Iowa State Census 1847] : [Davis and Clinton Counties], at FS
Davis County – Census – Early Records of the Members, 1850-1925 of the Pulaski Mennonite Church, Pulaski, Iowa, at FS
Decatur County – Census – 1850 – Federal Census for Iowa, 1850, Decatur County, at FS
Delaware County – Census – 1840 – Index to the 1840 Census of Delaware County, Iowa; 1841 Revolutionary War Pensioners in Iowa; Index to 1820 Census of Crawford County, Michigan Territory; Index to 1820 Census of Oakland County, Michigan Territory; Index to 1830 Census of B, at FS
Des Moines County – Directories – Special Census of the City of Clinton, 1887, at FS
Des Moines County – Statistics – The History of Des Moines County, Iowa : Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, &c., a Biographical Directory of Citizens, War Record of Its Volunteers in the Late Rebellion, General and Local Statistics, …, at FS
Des Moines County – Statistics – The History of Des Moines County, Iowa : Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, &c., a Biographical Directory of Citizens, War Record of Its Volunteers in the Late Rebellion, General and Local Statistics, …, at FS
Dickinson County – Schools – School Census Report, 1929, at FS
Dubuque County – Census – 1850 – Federal Census for Iowa, 1850, Dubuque County, at FS
Dubuque County – Schools – Census Book, East Cascade School District, Dubuque County, Iowa, at FS
Fayette County – Census – 1850 – Federal Census for Iowa, 1850, Fayette County, at FS
Floyd County – Census – 1880 – 1880 Census, V. 1-2, at FS
Fremont County – Census – 1870 – 1870 Federal Census of Fremont County, Iowa, at FS
Hardin County – Census – 1880 – Census of 1880, at FS
Hardin County – Census – 1885 – Census of 1885, at FS
Iowa County – Census – 1850 – Federal Census for Iowa, 1850, Iowa County, at FS
Jasper County – Census – 1850 – [1850 Census, Iowa-1870 Census Crawford Co., Missouri], at FS
Jefferson County – Census – 1850 – 1850 Census Index, Jefferson County, Iowa, at FS
Jefferson County – Census – 1850 – Stephenson Family Information, at FS
Jefferson County – Census – 1860 – 1860 Census Index, Jefferson County, Iowa, at FS
Jefferson County – Census – 1840 – History Information About Jefferson County, Iowa, at FS
Jefferson County – Census – Company E, 2nd Iowa Infantry Regiment, at FS
Jefferson County – Census – Correspondence Relating to D.A.R. Matters, 1964-1971, at FS
Jefferson County – Census – Jefferson County Records, at FS
Jefferson County – Census – Jefferson County, Iowa Family Records, at FS
Jefferson County – Census – Jefferson County, Iowa Historical Information, at FS
Jefferson County – Census – 1870 – 1870 Mortality List, Jeff. Co. Persons Who Died During Year Ending 1 June 1870, at FS
Johnson County – Census – 1850 – [1850 Census, Iowa-1870 Census Crawford Co., Missouri], at FS
Johnson County – Census – 1844 – Assessor’s Book, 1840-1853, at FS
Jones County – Census – 1850 – 1850 Federal Census, Jones County, Iowa, at FS
Jones County – Census – 1925 – 1925 Iowa Census, Jones Co., at FS
Jones County – Census – Madison Center Cemetery, Madison Township, Jones County, Iowa : Established 1852, Restored 1980-86, at FS
Jones County – Census – Workman’s Census of Labor, 1833-1937, at FS
Keokuk County – Census – 1860 – 1860 Census – Keokuk County, Iowa, at FS
Linn County – Census – 1850 – [1850 Census, Iowa-1870 Census Crawford Co., Missouri], at FS
Linn County – Census – 1850 – 1850 Federal Census for Iowa, Linn County, at FS
Linn County – Census – 1900 – Arthur’s in Iowa, at FS
Lucas County – Census – 1850 – Federal Census for Iowa, 1850, Lucas County, at FS
Madison County – Census – Indexes – 1850 – Madison County, Iowa Census, 1850, at FS
Mahaska County – Schools – School Census, 1898-1931, at FS
Marshall County – Census – 1850 – 1850 Federal Census for Iowa, Marshall County, at FS
Monroe County – Census – 1850 – 1850 Federal Census, Monroe County, Iowa, at FS
Monroe County – Statistics – The History of Monroe County, Iowa : Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Town, &c., a Biographical Directory of Citizens, War Record of Its Volunteers in the Late Rebellion, General and Local Statistics …, at FS
Muscatine County – Census – 1850 – 1850 Federal Census, Muscatine County, Iowa, at FS
Plymouth County – Census – 1870 – Index to Federal Census for Plymouth County, Iowa, 1870-1880, at FS
Plymouth County – Census – 1880 – Index to Federal Census for Plymouth County, Iowa, 1870-1880, at FS
Pottawattamie County – Census – 1850 – 1850 Census, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, at FS
Pottawattamie County – Census – 1850 – Index to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, 1850 Census, at FS
Pottawattamie County – Census – 1850 – Key to Migration Sources, Great Britain and North America : a Manual for Students Attending the Second Annual Priesthood Genealogical Research Seminar, June 19-23, 1967, Brigham Young Univ., at FS
Pottawattamie County – Census – List of Persons by Enumeration District in the State of Iowa, at FS
Sioux County – Census – 1880 – Index to Federal Census for Sioux County, Iowa, 1880, at FS
Story County – Census – 1856 – 1856 Story County, Iowa, Census Index, at FS
Story County – Census – 1860 – 1860 Story County, Iowa, Census Index, at FS
Story County – Census – 1870 – 1870 Story County, Iowa Census Index, at FS
Story County – Census – 1885 – 1885 Story County, Iowa, Census Index, at FS
Tama County – Census – 1870 – 1870 Census Tama County, Iowa, at FS
Taylor County – Schools – School Census Records, 1924-1936, at FS
Taylor County – Schools – School Census Records, 1950-1984, at FS
Union County – Census – 1860 – Union County, Iowa 1860 Census Index File, at FS
Warren County – Census – 1853 – Census of Part of Warren County, Iowa, 1853, at FS
Wayne County – Census – 1870 – 1870 Census, Wayne County, Iowa, at FS
Wayne County – Census – Indexes – Wayne County, Iowa Special Census Indexes, 1854, 1856, 1860, at FS
Winneshiek County – Census – 1850 – Federal Census for Iowa, 1850, Winneshiek County, at FS
Winneshiek County – Census – And So They Came — to Bloomfield Township, at FS
Iowa Census Records online at the city level
Algona – Census – 1888 – Census of Town of Algona, Iowa. 1888, at FS
Ames – Census – 1893 – Census of the Town of Ames, Iowa. 1893, at FS
Bloomfield – Census – 1893 – Census of the Town of Bloomfield, Iowa. 1893, at FS
Carroll – Census – 1892 – Census of Town of Carroll, Iowa. 1892, at FS
Cherokee – Census – 1889 – 1889 Census of the Town of Cherokee, Iowa, at FS
Clinton – Census – 1887 – Special Census of the City of Clinton, 1887, at FS
Colesburg – Schools – School Census, 1938, at FS
Des Moines – Census – 1920 – Huebinger’s Map of the City of Des Moines, Iowa : Showing Streets, Parks, Public Buildings, Etc, at FS
Des Moines – Census – 1889 – Census of Town of North Des Moines, Iowa. 1889, at FS
Eagle Grove – Census – 1892 – Census of Eagle Grove, Iowa, 1892, at FS
Emmetsburg – Census – 1891 – Census of Town of Emmetsburg, Iowa. 1891, at FS
Estherville – Census – 1892 – Census of Town of Estherville, Iowa. 1892, at FS
Fairfield – Census – Shriner Family History Records, at FS
Hampton – Census – 1893 – Census of the Town of Hampton, Iowa. 1893, at FS
Independence – Census – 1895 – 1895 Census of the City of Independence, Iowa, at FS
Jefferson – Census – 1892 – Census of Town of Jefferson, Iowa. 1892, at FS
Keokuk – Census – 1882 – 1882 Census of City of Keokuk, Iowa, at FS
Keokuk – Census – 1882 – 1882 Census of Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa, at FS
Lockridge Township – Census – History of Lockridge Township, Jefferson County, Iowa, at FS
Mason City – Census – 1881 – Census of Town of Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. 1881, at FS
Mystic – Census – 1893 – Census of the Town of Mystic, Iowa, 1893, at FS
Nevada – Census – 1893 – Census of the Town of Nevada, Iowa. 1893, at FS
New Hampton – Census – 1897 – 1897 Census of the Town of New Hampton, Iowa, at FS
Oelwein – Census – 1896 – 1896 Census of the Town of Oelwein, Iowa, at FS
Polk Township – Census – 1856 – Polk Township History Information, 1800-1970, at FS
Spencer – Census – 1891 – Census of Town of Spencer, Iowa. 1891, at FS
Tama – Census – 1892 – Census of Town of Tama, Iowa. 1892, at FS
Villisca – Census – 1891 – Census of Town of Villisca, Iowa. 1891, at FS
Volga – Schools – School Census, 1929-1934, at FS
Walnut Township – Census – 1856 – Walnut Township Historical Records, at FS
West Union – Census – 1893 – 1893 Census of the Town of West Union, Iowa, at FS
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