Old Search

1840 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 Virginia:

Accomack Hanover Ohio
Albemarle Harrison Orange
Alleghany Henrico Page
Amelia Henry Patrick
Amherst Isle Of Wight Pendleton
Augusta Jackson Pittsylvania
Bath James City Pocahontas
Bedford Jefferson Powhatan
Berkeley Kanawha Preston
Botetourt King And Queen Prince Edward
Braxton King George Prince George
Brooke King William Princess Anne
Brunswick Lancaster Pulaski
Buckingham Lee Randolph
Cabell Lewis Rappahannock
Campbell Logan Richmond
Caroline Loudoun Roanoke
Charles City Louisa Rockbridge
Charlotte Lunenburg Rockingham
Chesterfield Madison Russell
Clarke Marshall Scott
Culpeper Mason Shenandoah
Cumberland Mathews Smyth
Dinwiddie Mecklenburg Southampton
Elizabeth City Mercer Spotsylvania
Essex Middlesex Stafford
Fairfax Monongalia Surry
Fauquier Monroe Sussex
Fayette Montgomery Tazewell
Fluvanna Morgan Tyler
Franklin Nansemond Warren
Frederick Nelson Warwick
Gloucester New Kent Washington
Goochland Nicholas Westmoreland
Greene Norfolk Wood
Greensville Northampton Wythe
Halifax Northumberland York
Hampshire Nottoway

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.