1810 United States Census

The third official census of the United States was taken in 1810. The enumerators began taking information on August 6, 1810. It took 10 months for the census to be completed and at the end it was determined that the population of the country was 7,239,881.

The 1810 census asked the same questions as the 1800 census.

Things included:

Name of the county, parish, township, town, or city where the family resides

The name of the head of the family

A statement for each family of the number of free White males and females

Under 10 years of age

Of age 10 and under 16

Of age 16 and under 26

Of age 26 and under 45

Of age 45 years and upward

The number of all other free persons (except Indians not taxed)

The number of slaves

As far as usefulness to genealogist, it is the same as the 1800 census. It can, if you have an idea where your ancestor may have been living, be very helpful. However, since it does not give the relationship to the head of household it can also be maddening. There is no way to tell if the head of household is the father, uncle, older brother, grandfather or more distant relative of any of the other people listed. Is that his sister he lives with or his wife? His sister-in-law or cousin? There just is no way to tell.

At the same time, the population was enumerated a tally was also being done by the enumerators of the manufacturing that was being done in every place they went. Taking a look at this information can be helpful if your ancestor was involved in manufacture instead of agriculture.

17 States were included in the 1810 census.

Connecticut

Delaware

Georgia

Kentucky

Maine (part of Massachusetts)

Maryland

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Vermont

Virginia

Ohio was the newest state to be added to the census at this time (statehood was achieved in 1803) and the territories of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Louisiana and Missouri. 

As with many early censuses not all the returns have survived. The missing pieces are:

District of Columbia

Georgia

New Jersey

Tennessee

Indiana Territory

Michigan Territory

Mississippi Territory

Louisiana Territory (Missouri)

Partial losses include:

Illinois Territory’s where one of its two counties St. Clair is lost but Randolph records exist)

Ohio, everything is lost except for Washington County