Federal Census records have been digitized and are available in a variety of locations. 

• You can view the Federal Census at any library location using Ancestry Library Edition or at home with your library card using Heritage Quest or Family Search.  

The 1890 census was destroyed in 1921 by a fire in Washington, D.C. A copy of the Ascension Parish 1890 census was discovered in the parish courthouse, however, and microfilmed.

Additional resources for Federal Census:

National Archives and Records Administration. Descriptions of Geographic Subdivisions and Enumeration Districts, 1900 Census. This series, covering the entire country, describes the geographic area covered by each enumeration district for the 1900 census. For each district, the records give the enumeration district number, bounding streets (or other geographic description), number of persons enumerated, name of the enumerator, enumerator’s post office address, and rate of pay.

• Available on microfilm, call number: mf T1210

National Archives and Records Administration. Census Descriptions of Geographic Subdivisions and Enumeration Districts [Louisiana only], 1830-1890, 1910-1920.
For this series, similar to the one above, the Archives holds only rolls that include the state of Louisiana.

• Available on microfilm, call number: mf T1224

The geographic boundaries of enumeration districts for the 1880, 1900, 1920, and 1930 censuses can also be found at www.ancestry.com (free) and at Ancestry Library Edition, accessible in all NOPL facilities.

A search engine that allows researchers to find an enumeration district in the 1880-1950 censuses by street address can be found through the Unified Census ED Finder.

Manuscript census, in Spanish, dated November 6, 1791 and signed by Carlos De Morant. There is no reference to this census in the acts and deliberations of the Cabildo.

The census is arranged by street of residence of the enumerated individuals, apparently the heads of households. In addition to the named individuals, each entry also records the numbers of other members of the household by category as follows: white men, white women, free men of mixed blood, free women of mixed blood, free men of color, free women of color, enslaved men of mixed blood, enslaved women of mixed blood, enslaved men, and enslaved women. Within each of these categories the numbers are further broken down into age groups (although the age groupings themselves are not specified).

Also recorded is the occupation of each white head of household, the number of members of the militia resident in each household, and the total number of persons living in each. The various statistics are cumulated for each street and a final total for the city is given at the end of the volume. Page one of the record, said to include residents of Front Street and of a portion of Bienville Street, is missing.

• Available online Census of New Orleans, 1791; original closed for research.
• Available on microfilm, call number: mf AA840, 1791
• An English translation of the record, made by the City Archives Department, is also available. This translation was microfilmed by the Louisiana State Archives; call number: mf AA840, 1791
• Statement on Archival Content and Description. In describing records regarding the institution of slavery and enslaved individuals, the City Archives & Special Collections follows the National Archives’ reparative description recommendations.

Currently unavailable due to an ongoing digitization project.

The record is a bound volume in English and French, signed “H.A. Heins, Commissaire de 2d Quartier” and dated June 1, 1804. The census counts residents in three broad categories: whites, free persons of color, and enslaved persons. For whites and free persons of color, the following information is recorded: the names of male residents (sometimes only a surname) and their wives (usually listed only as “Madame …”) or other adult women living in the household, the profession and employment of the male (the distinction between these two categories is blurred), the age of males and females, the number of boys and girls living in the household, and, usually, their ages. The number of male and female adult and juvenile enslaved persons in each household is also tallied; no names are recorded. A final column, labelled “Observations,” indicates the head of household’s military status, listing the company in which he served (e.g. “Capt. Chew’s,” “Fire Co.,” “Orleans Ranger”) or describes his rank (e.g. “Officier de milice,” “Officer of Dragoons”); one entry in this column reads “lame at present”; several other notes indicate that a person intends to leave the City. On several occasions, for free persons of color, the column contains a brief note about the circumstances under which the person was freed.

• Census of the Second District of the City of New Orleans, 1804
• Available on microfilm, call number: mf TK840, 1804

Currently unavailable due to an ongoing digitization project.

One of the varied duties of the Street Commissioner was to take a census of all persons subject to the license taxes (every March and between November 15 and December 15 of each year). These volumes, covering only two years, give name, residence or place of business, callings or professions, number of license, amount paid, and remarks; individuals are listed together by square of property occupied; related forms are also included at the front of each volume. Volume one (1855) is for the Second Ward; volume two (1855) covers the Third Ward; and volume three (1856) is for the Third Municipal District.

• Census of Merchants and Persons Following Professions Requiring Licenses, 1855-1856
• Available on microfilm, call number: mf LC840

Currently unavailable due to an ongoing digitization project.

Lafayette (La.) Commissary of Police. 

The City of Lafayette, covering the area now known as the Garden District and the Irish Channel, was incorporated as part of Jefferson Parish in 1833. In 1852, it was annexed to the City of New Orleans as the Fourth Municipal District. Its original boundaries were the River, Toledano Street, St. Charles Avenue, and Felicity Street. This census, arranged by type of business (e.g., coffee houses or taverns; dry goods merchants), gives the name and location of businesses, the date the license was issued, the term of the license, and its expiration date.

• Census of Licensed Merchants, 1844-1846.
• Available on microfilm, call number: mf II LM430 1841-1849

Currently unavailable due to an ongoing digitization project.

The City of Carrollton was incorporated in 1845 as part of Jefferson Parish and, in 1874, was annexed to the City of New Orleans. The boundaries of Carrollton were the River, the present Jefferson Parish line, the shore of Lake Pontchartrain, and Lowerline Street (and its projected extension to the Lake). This census gives the name and occupation of householders in the City of Carrollton and tallies the number of males and females in each household, and the number of children in general age groups. The names are grouped alphabetically by first letter of the name only.

• Carrollton (La.) Census, 1854-1857
• Volume 1: 1854-1855, call number: IV TK840  (unfilmed)
• Unfilmed material is available to view by appointment and mist be requested according to the Materials Request Guidelines.
• Volume 2:1854-1857, available on microfilm, call number: mf IV TK840 

Note: Several additional volumes of the Carrollton Census are housed at Tulane University.