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Michigan Census Records Research Guide

The State of Michigan censuses span many years and cover many different types. Some examples are population, military, agriculture, churches, etc. Many of the state census records no longer exist. The first step in learning more about the extant census records is to read the article called “State Censuses of Michigan: A Tragedy of Lost Treasures.” This account written by LeRoy Barnett goes into detail about those that currently exist and where to find them. The other works in the list below talk about different aspects of the existing records. 

Selected general works

Barnett, LeRoy. “State Censuses of Michigan: A Tragedy of Lost Treasures.”.  Family Trails 5.1 (1983): 1-25.
LIB OF MICH - Reference Desk

Smith, Robert. Census of the State of Michigan. 1896. The statistical summary of Michigan’s 1894 population, Volume III contains a listing of U.S. Civil War soldiers living in the state
LIB OF MICH - MICH DOCS 2S HA442

Michigan Historical Commission. Michigan Historical Collections. 12. 1887. Following page 461.The 1827 Michigan territorial census.
LIB OF MICH - MICH DOCS 2S F561 .M62

Western Michigan Genealogical Society. Index to the 1884 State Census of Kent County, Michigan.
LIB OF MICH MICHIGAN 2N   F 572 .K3 I53

Montgomery, Mrs. Edgar. “Wayne County Returns From the Territorial Census of 1827.” 1955. Detroit Society for Genealogical Research Magazine. 19.2 (1955): 51-57
LIB OF MICH MICHIGAN PERIODICALS 2S     F574.D4 D547

Genealogists of the Clinton County Historical Society. United States Civil War Soldiers Living in Michigan in 1894. 1988.
LIB OF MICH MICHIGAN 2N   E494 .U6

Hill, Elton B. Census maps of Michigan, 1950 : showing information by counties and trends for the state. 1952.
LIB OF MICH MICHIGAN 2N   G1411.J1 H55 1952z

Jackson, Ronald V. Editor. Early Michigan.
LIB OF MICH MICHIGAN 2N   F565 .E15z

Detroit Society for Genealogical Research. Michigan censuses, 1710-1830, under the French, British, and Americans.
LIB OF MICH MICHIGAN 2N   F565 .M523z

United States. Department of State. The Territorial Papers of the United States. 1945.  Volume 12. pages 1018-1023. The published version of the 1834 census
LIB OF MICH MICHIGAN 2N   F566 .T472

Updated 1-16-2019