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1850 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 Halifax Page
Albemarle Hampshire Patrick
Alexandria Hancock Pendleton
Alleghany Hanover Petersburg (Independent City)
Amelia Hardy Pittsylvania
Amherst Harrison Pocahontas
Appomattox Henrico Powhatan
Augusta Henry Preston
Barbour Highland Prince Edward
Bath Isle of Wight Prince George
Bedford Jackson Prince William
Berkeley James City Princess Anne
Boone Jefferson Pulaski
Botetourt Kanawha Putnam
Braxton King and Queen Raleigh
Brooke King George Randolph
Brunswick King William Rappahannock
Buckingham Lancaster Richmond
Cabell Lee Richmond (Independent City)
Campbell Lewis Ritchie
Caroline Logan Roanoke
Carroll Loudoun Rockbridge
Charles City Louisa Rockingham
Charlotte Lunenburg Russell
Chesterfield Madison Scott
Clarke Marion Shenandoah
Culpeper Marshall Smyth
Cumberland Mason Southampton
Dinwiddie Mathews Spotsylvania
Doddridge Mecklenburg Stafford
Elizabeth City Mercer Surry
Essex Middlesex Sussex
Fairfax Monongalia Taylor
Fauquier Monroe Tazewell
Fayette Montgomery Tyler
Floyd Morgan Warren
Fluvanna Nansemond Warwick
Franklin Nelson Washington
Frederick New Kent Wayne
Giles Nicholas Westmoreland
Gilmer Norfolk Wetzel
Gloucester Norfolk (Independent City) Wirt
Goochland Northampton Wood
Grayson Northumberland Wyoming
Greenbrier Nottoway Wythe
Greene Ohio York
Greensville Orange

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.