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1820 United States Federal Census

Original Images

This database contains images of original records.

Sample Forms
Download blank Census forms
You can fill out the form with information on your ancestor, or just use it to better read the column headings.

Handwriting Help
View a sampling of handwriting examples
The examples should help you read the text on the original images more easily.

Please choose a county in Virginia:

Accomack Hampshire Ohio
Albemarle Hanover Orange
Amelia Hardy Patrick
Amherst Harrison Pendleton
Augusta Henrico Petersburg (Independent City)
Bath Henry Pittsylvania
Bedford Isle of Wight Powhatan
Berkeley James City Preston
Botetourt Jefferson Prince Edward
Brooke Kanawha Prince George
Brunswick King and Queen Prince William
Buckingham King George Princess Anne
Cabell King William Randolph
Campbell Lancaster Richmond
Caroline Lee Richmond (Independent City)
Charles City Lewis Rockbridge
Charlotte Loudoun Rockingham
Chesterfield Louisa Russell
Culpeper Lunenburg Scott
Cumberland Lynchburg Shenandoah
Dinwiddie Madison Southampton
Elizabeth City Mason Spotsylvania
Essex Mathews Stafford
Fairfax Mecklenburg Surry
Fauquier Middlesex Sussex
Fluvanna Monongalia Tazewell
Franklin Monroe Tyler
Frederick Montgomery Warwick
Fredericksburg Morgan Washington
Giles Nansemond Westmoreland
Gloucester Nelson Williamsburg
Goochland New Kent Wood
Grayson Nicholas Wythe
Greenbrier Norfolk York
Greensville Northampton
Halifax Northumberland

Census Records - Counties

After separating the census records into groups by state, the federal government subdivided these records into county groups. Searching for an ancestor on the county level provides a smaller region for research if you remain uncertain about the specific township where your ancestor resided. Researchers should also be aware of boundary line or jurisdictional changes through time. These changes may affect where an ancestor was enumerated on the census, so it remains important to search the counties surrounding the area where your ancestor lived.