| Sorted by District of Columbia census & voter lists | Sort by Count |
|---|---|
| Washington D.C., U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1840-1890 | 5,659 |
| Smocks in the censuses, 1790-1840 | 32 |
| View other census & voter lists collections related to District of Columbia (31) |
| Sorted by District of Columbia birth, marriage & death | Sort by Count |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1810-1953 | 863,463 |
| District of Columbia, U.S., Compiled Marriage Index, 1830-1921 | 493,981 |
| District of Columbia, U.S., Select Births and Christenings, 1830-1955 | 324,995 |
| District of Columbia, U.S., Select Deaths and Burials Index, 1769-1960 | 190,903 |
| District of Columbia, U.S., Glenwood Cemetery Records, 1854-2013 | 122,382 |
| View all District of Columbia birth, marriage & death (13) |
| Sorted by District of Columbia military | Sort by Count |
|---|---|
| U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 | 54,144,553 |
| U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 | 14,501,913 |
| U.S., Lists of Men Ordered to Report to Local Board for Military Duty, 1917–1918 | 613,480 |
| Washington D. C., U.S., Military Naturalization Petitions, 1918-1924 | 8,728 |
| Washington D.C., U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1840-1890 | 5,659 |
| View all District of Columbia military (7) |
| Sorted by District of Columbia immigration & emigration | Sort by Count |
|---|---|
| U.S., Applications for Seaman's Protection Certificates, 1916-1940 | 320,331 |
| Washington D. C., U.S., Military Naturalization Petitions, 1918-1924 | 8,728 |
| View other immigration & emigration collections related to District of Columbia (51) |
| Sorted by District of Columbia newspapers & periodicals | Sort by Count |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-current | 78,783,392 |
| Washington Post, The (Washington, District of Columbia) | 137,283 |
| The Daily Globe (Washington, District of Columbia) | 364 |
| View other newspapers & periodicals collections related to District of Columbia (21) |
| Sorted by District of Columbia pictures | Sort by Count |
|---|---|
| Texas, U.S., Select Headstone Photos, 1850-2005 | 94,225 |
| View other pictures collections related to District of Columbia (16) |
| Sorted by District of Columbia court, land, wills & financial | Sort by Count |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia, U.S., Slave Emancipation Records, 1851-1863Free | 7,336 |
| District of Columbia, U.S., Slave Owner Petitions, 1862Free | 4,250 |
| Washington D.C., Pension Correspondence and Case Files of Formerly Enslaved People, 1892-1922Free | 2,939 |
| Washington D.C., U.S., Habeas Corpus Case Records, 1820-1863 | 1,004 |
| Web: U.S., Slave Era Insurance Policies Index, 1640-1865Free | 682 |
| View all District of Columbia court, land, wills & financial (6) |
| Sorted by District of Columbia dictionaries, encyclopedias & reference | Sort by Count |
|---|---|
| U.S., Select Family History and Bible Records Index | 14,871 |
| The Book of Washington | 486 |
| Your Washington and mine | 384 |
| Walks about Washington | 350 |
| Prominent personages of the nation's capital : a work for newspaper and library reference. | 341 |
| View all District of Columbia dictionaries, encyclopedias & reference (11) |
| Sorted by District of Columbia maps, atlases & gazetteers | Sort by Count |
|---|---|
| There are no maps, atlases & gazetteers collections unique to District of Columbia | |
| View other maps, atlases & gazetteers collections related to District of Columbia (7) |
| Sorted by District of Columbia stories, memories & histories | Sort by Count |
|---|---|
| Washington, past and present : a history | 2,721 |
| A history of the national capital : from its foundation through the period of the adoption of the Organic Act | 1,418 |
| Washington, city and capital | 1,156 |
| The Monumental City : its past history and present resources | 871 |
| Washington : the capital city and its part in the history of the nation | 839 |
| View all District of Columbia stories, memories & histories (75) |
A genealogical history
U.S. Capital: Since 1800
Population: estimated at 599,657 in 2009
Motto: Justia Omnibus (Justice to All)
Nickname: The Nation’s Capitol
Neighboring states: Maryland, Virginia
U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.
Interesting facts
- In 1790, northern states were still facing debt from the Revolutionary War, while southern states had paid off most of their debt. The question of the federal government assuming Revolutionary War debts, didn't sit well in the South. To gain support for the legislation, a compromise was reached that put the capital of the young nation on the banks of the Potomac, surrounded by slave states, in exchange for support of the funding of Revolutionary debt.
- The site of the future District of Columbia was surveyed by Andrew Ellicott and Benjamin Banneker. Banneker was a free black and self-taught mathematician, and astronomer.
- The District of Columbia is home to 715 libraries in its 68 square miles and the population exceeds that of Wyoming, the tenth largest state in terms of area.
Featured District of Columbia collections
Famous people
Help and advice
Resources
District of Columbia Census Research
When the first federal census was taken in 1790, residents of Washington D.C. were enumerated in two separate states. Those living north of the Potomac River were enumerated with Prince George’s and Montgomery counties in Maryland. Those south of the river were listed with Virginians; however, Virginia’s census for 1790 was destroyed.
Although the 1800 census has survived, no federal census returns exist for the District of Columbia for 1810. Beginning in 1820, enumerations exist for each decennial except for the mostly destroyed 1890 census. All of the population schedules are available at the National Archives in the Microfilm Reading Room, and through the Family History Library and its centers.
District of Columbia Vital Records
- District of Columbia Department of Health – Vital Records Division: Holds records of births and deaths from August 1874 to the present. See the FAQ for information on how to request records.
- District of Columbia Archives: Holds certificates of birth (1874-1928), death (1874-1932), and marriage (1870-1991).
- Superior Court of the District of Columbia – Marriage Bureau: Holds marriage records from the District from 1811.
District of Columbia Research Resources
The organizations listed below provide information about District of Columbia history and genealogy. In addition to these state-level resources, many counties and towns maintain important genealogical collections in local libraries, genealogical societies, or historical societies, so check for a local resource when researching.
- District of Columbia Public Library – Special Collections: The Washingtonia Collection holds genealogy resources, including birth, marriage, and death indexes and selected vital records; obituaries; newspapers; census records; directories; and other resources.
- District of Columbia Archives: In addition to early birth, marriage, and death records, the Archives holds records of wills, probate, administration cases, guardianship, and other records for Washington, D.C.
- Historical Society of Washington, D.C.: The Library holds photographs, maps, manuscripts, vertical files, and more. See the helpful family history research guide for detailed information.
- District of Columbia GenWeb
- District of Columbia RootsWeb page
- National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) - Washington, D.C.: This facility maintains records from Federal agencies and courts in District of Columbia, including census, military, court, naturalization, and immigration records.