1870 new york

An aerial view of the southern tip of Manhattan during the early morning hours. Illustration includes the shores of Brooklyn and New Jersey. The Lake Manahatta Reservoir was built between and as a temporary water supply for the city, receiving water from the Croton Aqueduct. Views of Union Square, including the park, equestrian statue of George Washington, and the rustic buildings which once inhabited the neighborhood. An elevated perspective of the Washington Statue at Union Square, surrounded by crowds of people and decorated for Decoration Day.

Print shows portion of a St. Photograph of a row of buildings and storefronts taken from the perspective of Madison Square Park. A train is stopped at an elevated station on a street filled with pedestrians and horse drawn coaches.

A photograph of the waiting room at Ellis Island, where recently arrived immigrants await examination. The 's NYC would see increased commerce and growth in outer boroughs with the completion of both the Brooklyn and George Washington Bridges.

It also asked about the relationship of each family member to the head of the household - something that was not asked in the federal census until The New York state census is notable because it was the first to record the names of every individual in the household. The New York state census also provides the length of time that people had lived in their towns or cities as well as their state or country of origin - this is particularly helpful for tracing immigrant ancestors.

If born in New York State, the county of birth was noted, which is helpful for tracing migration within New York State. Availability of records: Most counties have records available from this census, but some - including some larger downstate counties, including New York City boroughs - have been destroyed.

For substitutes or alternate records, see the additional state census resources section of this guide. As this Lower East Side ward was a temporary home for many new immigrants, this census was frequently the only record of their stay in New York City.

Search the New York state census. The census, taken just after the Civil War ended, was arguably the most detailed New York state census ever taken. It is especially useful because it included more than the usual questions asked on the "population schedule" - additional schedules were included, which collected information on military service and marriages and deaths that occurred the year ending June 1, The military information is of great use to those beginning to uncover the stories of Civil War ancestors beginning right at the conclusion of the war is often an excellent place to start.

The marriage and death information can also be immensely helpful for New York vital records research - New York did not begin reliable tracking of births, marriages, and deaths for a few decades , so this may be used as a replacement for missing vital records.

The schedules about military service, marriages, and deaths all have additional information related to those events. Availability of records: Most New York counties are available, but some are missing. The state census is nearly as rich as the one taken in - it also includes additional schedules that collected information on military service and marriages and deaths that occurred within a year prior to June 1, The marriage and death information may be particularly useful for those seeking vital record substitutes - New York did not begin reliable tracking of births, marriages, and deaths for a few decades.

The New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer explains that "because of various political and bureaucratic issues, there was no census. Instead, the state took a census in , skipped the census, and then resumed the pattern, conducting state censuses in , , and This interruption of our regularly scheduled census can be a boon for researchers - the state census is a valuable substitute for the destroyed federal census.

The information included this census is a little less detailed than in the immediately preceding state censuses:. Availability of records: Only 40 of New York's counties are covered. New York State resumed its normal state census schedule in The information asked on this census is very similar to the state census:. Availability of records: All but 13 New York counties are available for this census.

The state census is the oldest of New York's state censuses to have records for every county in the state. Information collected on this census includes:. Researchers should note that while the index to this state census is available to search on FamilySearch. In , the New York State Constitution was amended to abolish the state census, which made the state census was the last one.

Information collected on this census was the same as the state census:. As noted in the introduction, there were often multiple copies of each New York State census, and some including many copies for counties that are otherwise unavailable online can only be accessed in a physical repository. Researchers will want to consult some of the below resources to ensure that an exhaustive search is completed.

The chapter also includes useful information about the federal census that relates to New York State. The census chapter of the New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer goes into more detail distinguishing between state and county copies of each census.

It also provides guidance to accessing records for certain counties that have incomplete or missing censuses for a given year.

More information on this publication can be found on our website - additional chapters form a comprehensive overview of all other New York State records and locations. This publication, written by William Dollarhide, is a comprehensive text on New York's state censuses and goes into more specific detail than the chapter in the New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer.

It is the perfect tool for a researcher determined to complete the most exhaustive state census searches possible, though it may not contain the most up-to-date information on online records due to recent changes.