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You are here: Search > Census > U.S. Census > 1840 United States Federal Census > Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania:

Adams Erie Northumberland
Allegheny Fayette Not Stated
Armstrong Franklin Perry
Beaver Greene Philadelphia
Bedford Huntingdon Pike
Berks Indiana Potter
Bradford Jefferson Schuylkill
Bucks Juniata Somerset
Butler Lancaster Susquehanna
Cambria Lebanon Tioga
Centre Lehigh Union
Chester Luzerne Venango
Clearfield Lycoming Warren
Clinton Mckean Washington
Columbia Mercer Wayne
Crawford Mifflin Westmoreland
Cumberland Monroe York
Dauphin Montgomery
Delaware Northampton

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.