Statewide Vermont Census records that exist are 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940.

There are Industry and Agriculture Schedules 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. The Union Veterans Schedules exist for 1890.

The first federal census was taken in Vermont in 1791, which was the same year that Vermont became a state. However, it is often referred to as the “1790 census” by mistake. Other censuses were taken in other states in 1790.

Some of the families from those censuses may be listed in the 1791 census for Vermont as well, if they moved to Vermont around that time. The 1800 census has been published by the Vermont Historical Society. There are several online subscription databases that hold all of the federal census record indexes for Vermont.

There are several unusual bits of information in the census records for 1810 and 1820, including the amount of lumber made on the property and the amount of material made (in yards) on the property.

The names on those census records may vary in spelling, as might the names in most other census records. In particular, any Greek, Italian, and French-Canadian names listed after 1850 might be listed under several different spellings.

The Vermont Department of Libraries has both microfilmed copies and originals of the agricultural, industrial, and population census records for 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880. Microfilmed copies of mortality schedules are also on file there.

Searchable Vermont Census Databases and other Helpful Links

  • Vermont Census, 1790-1860 This collection contains the following indexes: 1790 Federal Census; 1800 Federal Census Index; 1810 Federal Census Index; 1820 Federal Census Index; 1830 Federal Census Index; 1840 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners List; 1850 Federal Census Index; 1860 Federal Census Index; Early Census Index.
  • Vermont Census Books

Further Reading

  • Vermont 1771 census – Jay Mack Holbrook – (Oxford, Mass.: Holbrook Research, 1982) is not an “official” census. It is a collection of names associated with Vermont in 1771 drawn from several sources in New York, New Hampshire, and Connecticut as well as Vermont. It does include the official New York census for 1771 for Cumberland and Glouster counties (covering land now in Vermont) that was published in Callaghan. Many of the names listed were granted land but never lived in Vermont.