Old Search

1880 United States Federal Census

Original Images

This database contains images of original records.

Sample Forms
Download blank Census forms
You can fill out the form with information on your ancestor, or just use it to better read the column headings.

Handwriting Help
View a sampling of handwriting examples
The examples should help you read the text on the original images more easily.

Please choose a county in Illinois:

Adams Hardin Morgan
Alexander Henderson Moultrie
Bond Henry Ogle
Boone Iroquois Peoria
Brown Jackson Perry
Bureau Jasper Piatt
Calhoun Jefferson Pike
Carroll Jersey Pope
Cass Jo Daviess Pulaski
Champaign Johnson Putnam
Christian Kane Randolph
Clark Kankakee Richland
Clay Kendall Rock Island
Clinton Knox Saint Clair
Coles La Salle Saline
Cook Lake Sangamon
Crawford Lawrence Schuyler
Cumberland Lee Scott
De Kalb Livingston Shelby
De Witt Logan Stark
Douglas Macon Stephenson
Du Page Macoupin Tazewell
Edgar Madison Union
Edwards Marion Vermilion
Effingham Marshall Wabash
Fayette Mason Warren
Ford Massac Washington
Franklin Mc Donough Wayne
Fulton Mc Henry White
Gallatin Mc Lean Whiteside
Greene Menard Will
Grundy Mercer Williamson
Hamilton Monroe Winnebago
Hancock Montgomery Woodford

Census Records - Counties

After separating the census records into groups by state, the federal government subdivided these records into county groups. Searching for an ancestor on the county level provides a smaller region for research if you remain uncertain about the specific township where your ancestor resided. Researchers should also be aware of boundary line or jurisdictional changes through time. These changes may affect where an ancestor was enumerated on the census, so it remains important to search the counties surrounding the area where your ancestor lived.