1950 census: how to search it free
Search the 1950 US census free at the National Archives site, 1950census.archives.gov. Type a name and pick a state. No account, no card, no trial.
The records opened on and cover about 151 million people. FamilySearch has the same census with a free account, and its index is often easier to search.
How to find one family
- Start with a name and a state. On the National Archives site, enter the head of household's name and the state where they lived in April
1950. - Add a county if you get too many results. Common names return hundreds of pages. A county or city cuts that to a handful.
- If the name search misses, search by place. The name index was built by machine reading of handwriting, so some names are misspelled. Find the enumeration district for the street instead, using the free finder at stevemorse.org.
- Read the whole page, not just the line. Neighbours were often relatives. Note the street, the house number and everyone in the household.
- Copy the citation into your tree. Write down the enumeration district, sheet and line, for example
ED 2-417, sheet 12, line 9. In RootsFree that becomes a PROVEN source with the image attached.
What the 1950 census asked
| Everyone | Name, relationship, race, sex, age, marital status, birthplace, citizenship if foreign born |
|---|---|
| Age 14 and up | Work status, hours, occupation, industry, class of worker |
| Sample lines | About one person in five also answered on schooling, income, veteran status and parents' birthplace |
| Not asked | Year of immigration, home value, radio ownership |
In their own words
On April 1, 2022, the 1950 Census records were released and are available free of charge.
National Archives, read
Questions
Is the 1950 census free?
Yes. The National Archives site needs no account and no card. FamilySearch has it too, with a free account.
Why can't I find a name I know is there?
The National Archives index was read by machine and is not fully accurate. Search by place, or try the FamilySearch index.
Go to the records
- National Archives 1950 censusFree name search and page images. No account.archives.gov
- FamilySearch 1950 census indexFree account. Human-reviewed index, easier on misspelled names.familysearch.org
- Enumeration district finderTurn a street address into the ED number when the name search fails.stevemorse.org
- Search free records hereRootsFree searches free record sets for you./records/
- Start or import a treePrivate, in your browser. Free, no card./tree/