How to Access the 1950 US Census Records Free on FamilySearch.org

How to Access the 1950 US Census Records Free on FamilySearch.org

This guide will walk you through the process of finding and viewing the 1950 United States Census records for your ancestors, completely free, on FamilySearch.org.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Log In or Create a Free Account
   First, navigate to FamilySearch.org. If you already have an account, click Sign In in the top right corner and enter your credentials. If not, click Create Free Account and follow the prompts to register. You must be signed in to access the records.

2. Navigate to the Search Records Page
   Once you are logged in, locate the main navigation bar at the top of the page. Click on Search, then select Records from the dropdown menu that appears. This will take you to the main historical records search page.

3. Locate the 1950 US Census Collection
   On the Records search page, you have a few options. You can type "United States Census, 1950" into the "Find a Collection" search box located on the right side of the page. Alternatively, you can click on the map, select United States, and then scroll down the list of collections until you find United States Census, 1950. Click directly on the collection title to proceed.

4. Enter Your Search Criteria
   You are now on the dedicated search page for the 1950 US Census. Enter the First Name and Last Name of the person you are researching. To narrow your search, you can also add optional information such as a Place Lived (state, county, city) or an approximate Birth Year. Once your details are entered, click the blue Search button.

5. Review Search Results
   FamilySearch will display a list of potential matches based on your criteria. Carefully review each entry, looking for details that align with your ancestor, such as the correct name, estimated birth year, and residential location. The "Event" column can be particularly helpful, indicating where the person was enumerated.

6. View the Record Details and Original Image
   When you find a promising match, click on the person's name in the search results. This will open the Record Details page, showing transcribed information. To see the actual census page, look for the camera icon or a link that says View Original Document or View Image next to the record. Click this to open the image viewer.

7. Explore the Census Image
   The census page image will open in FamilySearch's integrated viewer. Use the tools at the bottom or sides of the viewer to zoom in and out, pan across the page, and adjust brightness or contrast to improve readability. Locate your ancestor's entry and examine all the details provided for their household. You can also use the arrow buttons to navigate to adjacent pages within the enumeration district.