1940 Census FAQs | National Archives
Top
1940 Census FAQs
The 1940 population census schedules have been available for research since April 2, 2012. Below are answers to frequently asked questions about this census. If you have a question that hasn't been answered here, please email us at
inquire@nara.gov
Click "+" to display more information:
Accordion
Where can I research the 1940 Census?
The National Archives and Records Administration provides free online access to the
Population Schedules for the 1940 Census
through the National Archives Catalog. Researchers may search the 1940 Census using NARA's public access computers at any NARA research facility or using any other computer connected to the Internet.
Is there a fee to search or download the 1940 Census?
No. The
Population Schedules for the 1940 Census
are available for free through the National Archives Catalog. Users can download the results of their searches.
Is there a name index to the 1940 Census?
The National Archives does not currently have a name index to the 1940 Census. However,
Ancestry.com
and
FamilySearch.org
have both indexed this census on their websites.
If there is no name index, how can I locate people in the 1940 Census?
You can locate people by identifying the enumeration district in which they lived in 1940 and then browsing the census population schedules for that enumeration district. The National Archives has placed copies of the enumeration district maps and descriptions in the
National Archives Catalog
. For more information, see
How to Start Your 1940 Census Research
How can I locate someone in the 1940 Census if I don't know where he or she lived?
There are other sources that may provide addresses from around 1940. For more information, see
How to Start Your 1940 Census Research
What questions were asked on the 1940 Census?
A list of questions, including those on the supplemental schedules, is available on our website. See
Questions Asked on the 1940 Census
I heard that there were supplemental questions asked on the 1940 Census. Will I find information about my family in the supplemental questions?
The supplemental questions were asked for the people listed on two lines on each page of the census schedules (about a five-percent sample of the census). The supplemental schedule asked:
The place of birth of the person's father and mother;
The language spoken in earliest childhood home;
If the person was a veteran;
If the person was a child whose father was a veteran;
If the veteran served in a specific war or in peacetime military service;
For persons 14 years old or older, if the person had a Social Security number or had deductions for Federal Old Age Insurance or Railroad Retirement made in 1939;
The person's usual occupation (not just what they were doing the week of March 24-30, 1940, when the census was taken); and
For all women who were or had been married, if the woman had been married more than once, her age at first marriage, and the number of children born.
Where can I find a blank copy of the 1940 Census population schedule form?
We have blank forms available online at
1940 Census Forms
What do the codes used on the 1940 Census mean?
There are 10 separate codes on the census. The Bureau of the Census entered the codes at their headquarters after the enumerator shipped the census schedules to Washington, DC. A complete list of occupational and industrial codes is available at
Occupation and Industry Classifications
How do I request a certified copy of a page in the 1940 Census?
The National Archives certifies copies of pages in the 1940 Census for a fee upon request. Please send your request to
inquire@nara.gov
. Please see our
Reproduction Fee Schedule
for current reproduction fees.
Is it possible to purchase a copy of the entire 1940 Census or schedules for a particular state?
Yes. The entire 1940 Census and copies of schedules from individual states are available in digital format.  Please email
inquire@nara.gov
for more information.
Can I purchase a copy of an entire county or enumeration district from the 1940 Census?
No. You can only order the entire census or the schedules from individual states from us. However, you can access the
Population Schedules for the 1940 Census
through the National Archives Catalog, and download all images for a particular county or enumeration district for free.
More 1940 Census Resources
How to Start Your 1940 Census Research
Indexes and Other Finding Aids
Informative Articles and Online Data
Top