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1840 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 Illinois:

Adams Hancock Ogle
Alexander Hardin Peoria
Bond Henry Perry
Boone Iroquois Pike
Brown Jackson Pope
Bureau Jasper Putnam
Calhoun Jo Daviess Randolph
Carroll Johnson Rock Island
Cass Kane Saint Clair
Champaign Knox Sangamon
Christian La Salle Schuyler
Clark Lake Scott
Clay Lawrence Shelby
Clinton Lee Stark
Coles Livingston Stephenson
Cook Logan Tazewell
Crawford Macon Union
De Kalb Macoupin Vermilion
De Witt Madison Wabash
Du Page Marion Warren
Edgar Marshall Washington
Edwards Mcdonough Wayne
Effingham Mchenry White
Fayette Mclean Whiteside
Franklin Menard Will
Fulton Mercer Williamson
Gallatin Monroe Winnebago
Greene Montgomery
Hamilton Morgan

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.