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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 Michigan:

Allegan Ingham Not Stated
Barry Ionia Oakland
Berrien Jackson Oceana
Branch Kalamazoo Ottawa
Calhoun Kent Saginaw
Cass Lapeer Saint Clair
Chippewa Lenawee Saint Joseph
Clinton Livingston Shiawassee
Eaton Mackinac Van Buren
Genesee Macomb Washtenaw
Hillsdale Monroe Wayne

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.