Where is the 1890 Census?

The 1890 census was mostly destroyed in a 1921 warehouse fire.  Small fragments of the 1890 census survived and comprises less than 1% of the original schedules.  Keep in mind that even the remaining census fragments do not contain complete counties, townships or districts.  The loss of these census records has put a real kink in genealogy research during this time period, particularly when people seem to have begun moving around a lot more.  It is much harder to pick up the trail of our ancestors when there is a 20 year gap between records.  This would have been the first enumeration for Oklahoma so people with ancestry in OK will experience particular difficulty with this loss.
Good Sense Census Tips:  The 1890 census schedules enumerating Union Veterans and widows of Union veterans of the Civil War did survive and is often used as a census substitute.  Although, it is most likely not helpful if your ancestor was on the Confederate side, sometimes even they are listed by accident in these schedules, so it does bear checking.  

The Veterans & Widows schedules for some states were lost.  
Surviving schedules are extant for the following states:  Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma and Indian Territories, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Washington DC and United States Vessels and Navy Yards.
Which 1890 Census Fragments Survived the Fire?

Alabama: Perry County - Perryville Beat #11 and Severe Beat #8.
District of Columbia: Q. Thirteenth, Fourteenth, R.Q. Corcoran, Fifteenth, S.R. and Riggs Streets, Johnson Avenue, and S. Street.
Georgia: Muscogee County - Columbus.
Illinois: McDonough County - Mound Township.
Minnesota: Wright County - Rockford.
New Jersey: Hudson County - Jersey City.
New York: Westchester County - Eastchester.  Suffolk County - Brookhaven Twp.
North Carolina: Gaston County: South Point Township and River Bend Township.  Cleveland County - Township #2.
Ohio: Hamilton County - Cincinnati.  Clinton County - Wayne Township.
South Dakota: Union County - Jefferson Township.
Texas: Ellis County - J.P. #6, Mountain Peak and Ovila Precinct.  Hood County - Precinct #5.  Rusk County - Precinct #6 and J.P. #7.  Trinity County - Trinity Town, and Precinct #2.  Kaufman County - Kaufman.
Which States Were Originally Included in 1890 Census Records? (49 states)

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.


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