Census Records for Arizona

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This entry was originally written by Dwight A. Radford and Nell Sachse Woodard for Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources.

This article is part of
Arizona sil.png
the Arizona Family History Research series.
History of Arizona
Arizona Vital Records
Census Records for Arizona
Background Sources for Arizona
Arizona Maps
Arizona Land Records
Arizona Probate Records
Arizona Court Records
Arizona Tax Records
Arizona Cemetery Records
Arizona Church Records
Arizona Military Records
Arizona Periodicals, Newspapers, and Manuscript Collections
Arizona Archives, Libraries, and Societies
Native Americans of Arizona
Arizona County Resources
Map of Arizona


Federal

Population Schedules

• Indexed'1860 (Arizona County only), 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930

• Soundex'1880, 1900, 1920

Mortality Schedules

• 1870 (Mohave through Yuma counties only), 1880 (index available)

The 1860 federal census contains only that portion of the state below the Gila River (as Arizona County) that was enumerated as part of the New Mexico Territory. People who resided in Pah-Ute County in 1870 were enumerated as part of Pah-Ute County, Nevada, and possibly part of Washington County, Utah.

Territorial and State

Both the 1864 and 1866 territorial censuses are available as well. Original and duplicates of the 1864 territorial census, in addition to being on microfilm, are housed in the Arizona State Archives, which also holds microfilm copies of the 1882 state census available for Cochise, Gila, Graham, Maricopa, Mohave, Pima, Yavapai, and Yuma counties.

Several territorial censuses are indexed at www.ancestry.com in the Arizona Census, 1831-80 database. These include the 1831 census of Santa Cruz County, 1862, 1866, and 1867 censuses. These are on microfilm through the FHL. Also at Ancestry.com is the Arizona and New Mexico Territories Census, Late 1800s database, an Arizona Territory Census, 1864 index and the Navajo County, Arizona Census, 1910. The 1801 Mexican census of Pimeria Alta (the southern pre-territorial portion of Arizona) has been transcribed and published by the Arizona State Genealogical Society (1986). The Mexican census of 1852 of Pimeria Alta in the District of Altar, Sonora has also been transcribed and published by the Arizona State Genealogical Society (1986).

Although not a census, a source that can be used to document people in a similar fashion as a census or tax list would be the 'great registers' of voters. These can be used to place a person at a particular place at a particular time and are at the Arizona State Archives, with many on microfilm at the FHL. The following counties are represented: Apache (1884'1910); Cochise (1882'1910); Coconino (1894'1910); Gila (1882'1910); Graham (1882'1911); Maricopa (1876'1938); Mohave (1866'82); Navajo (1895'1932); Pima (1876'1913); Pinal (1894'1911); Santa Cruz (1902'35); Yuma (1882'1910); and Yavapai (1882'1906). The Great Registers allowed people to vote who were white, male, and over twenty-one years of age. In 1913, females and African Americans were allowed to vote, and in 1948, Native Americans were allowed. The 1890 Great Register for the entire Arizona Territory has been indexed and published by the Arizona Genealogical Advisory Board, which provides a viable substitute for the lost 1890 federal enumeration.

External Links

  • Arizona Census Records - free up-to-date guide to accessing Arizona census records. Identifies federal, state, and territorial censuses, as well as substitute records (FamilySearch Research Wiki).