Seneca County New York was established in 1804, prior to that date researchers would need to access census information within the parent counties, Montgomery County for 1790 and Cayuga County for 1800. The availability of free indexes for each of the census is dependent on volunteers. The primary source for free Seneca county indexes are at FamilySearch, however, they link their search to the images to be found on Ancestry, which you must pay for. You can use the roll and page number from their index and access the records via the free census images below. In this way you are able to search and view every census record in Seneca County New York for free.
A census is an official enumeration of the population in a particular area. In addition to counting the inhabitants of an area, the census generally collects other vital information, such as names, ages, citizenship status, and ethnic background. Each census can prove to be invaluable in painting a portrait of a family at a particular place and time. For genealogists, census records have become the go-to tool when conducting research in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In theory, census enumerate every person in every household, in ever district, in every town, in the state or country the census was taken in. In reality, they did miss people, for various reasons, and quite often misspelled names. To add further confusion, most census indices have been extracted by foreigners not familiar with the handwriting of the enumerator, or the local names. This requires the researcher to be diligent in searching for an individual, and don’t always take a “no results” in a search as the definitive word.
Unless otherwise indicated, all census records listed on this page should be accessible for free. When cost may be involved those listings will include the $$$ symbols. As a general rule we do not provide subscription listings when a free website location contains both the index and the images except for Ancestry. FamilySearch currently provides this method for the 1850, 1860, 1870, 1890, 1900 and 1940 census. As a result we limit those census to only the listings from FamilySearch and Ancestry (for users of FTM and subscribers).
State censuses were created by the state of New York and were taken about every ten years beginning in 1795. Unfortunately, Seneca county struck out from 1855-1875 and all three census years their records have been lost.
- These census forms will help you keep track of the census information you find online: Free Census Forms
1790 Seneca County New York Census Records
- Free U. S. 1790 Census Form
- 1790 Census Guide
- Family Search 1790 Census Index
Name index to the population schedules listing the inhabitants of the United States in 1790. This was the first national census conducted in the United States. No schedules are known to exist for Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Virginia. - 1790 New York Census Images – Reel 0006
These are free images of the 1790 census as they appear on the microfilm rolls. The quality of them is dependent on the actual film being scanned and in some cases may be difficult to read. Remember that Seneca County in 1790 was a part of Montgomery County, so you will need to search that county when looking for your ancestor. Reel 006 covers the entire state of New York as it was in 1790. - Ancestry 1790 Census Index and Images – $$$
1800 Seneca County New York Census Records
- Free U. S. 1800 Census Form
- 1800 Census Guide
- Family Search 1800 Census Index
Name index to the population schedules listing the inhabitants of the United States in 1800. - 1800 New York Census Images – Reel 0028
These are free images of the 1800 census as they appear on the microfilm rolls. The quality of them is dependent on the actual film being scanned and in some cases may be difficult to read. Reel 0028 contains the census images for Ontario, Cayuga, and Chenango Counties in New York. In 1800 the land that became Seneca County was part of Cayuga County so search through that county. - Ancestry 1800 Census Index and Images – $$$
1810 Seneca County New York Census Records
- Free U. S. 1810 Census Form
- 1810 Census Guide
- 1810 Census Index for Junius Township
This 1810 census index covers Junius Township in Seneca County NY for the year 1810. It is part of the New York GenWeb Archives. - Family Search 1810 Census Index
Name index to the population schedules listing the inhabitants of the United States in 1810. This was the third national census conducted since 1790. No schedules are known to exist for District of Columbia, Georgia, New Jersey, Ohio, and Tennessee. - 1810 New York Census Images -Reel 0036
These are free images of the 1810 census as they appear on the microfilm rolls. The quality of them is dependent on the actual film being scanned and in some cases may be difficult to read. Reel 0036 contains St. Lawrence, Schoharie, Seneca, and Suffolk Counties in New York. - Ancestry 1810 Census Index and Images – $$$
1820 Seneca County New York Census Records
- Free U. S. 1820 Census Form
- 1820 Census Guide
- Family Search 1820 Census Index
Name index to the population schedules listing the inhabitants of the United States in 1820. This was the fourth national census conducted since 1790. No schedules are known to exist for New Jersey. - 1820 New York Census Images – Reel 0075
These are free images of the 1820 census as they appear on the microfilm rolls. The quality of them is dependent on the actual film being scanned and in some cases may be difficult to read. Reel 0075 contains Lewis, Seneca, and Westchester Counties in New York. - Ancestry 1820 Census Index and Images – $$$
1830 Seneca County New York Census Records
- Free U. S. 1830 Census Form
- 1830 Census Guide
- Family Search 1830 Census Index
Name index to the population schedules listing the inhabitants of the United States in 1830. - 1830 New York Census Images – Reel 0109
These are free images of the 1830 census as they appear on the microfilm rolls. The quality of them is dependent on the actual film being scanned and in some cases may be difficult to read. Reel 0109 contains Seneca, Tioga, and Tompkins Counties in New York. - Ancestry 1830 Census Index and Images – $$$
1840 Seneca County New York Census Records
- Free U. S. 1840 Census Form
- 1840 Census Guide
- Family Search 1840 Census Index
Name index to the population schedules listing the inhabitants of the United States in 1840. - 1840 New York Census Images – Reel 0339
These are free images of the 1840 census as they appear on the microfilm rolls. The quality of them is dependent on the actual film being scanned and in some cases may be difficult to read. - Ancestry 1840 Census Index and Images – $$$
1850 Seneca County New York Census Records
- Free U. S. 1850 Census Form
- 1850 Census Guide
- Family Search 1850 Census Index and Images
Name index and images of population schedules listing inhabitants of the United States in 1850. - Ancestry 1850 Census Index and Images – $$$
1855 Seneca County New York State Census
- There was a state census taken in New York in 1855, however the records from it for Seneca County have been lost.
1860 Seneca County New York Census Records
- Free U. S. 1860 Census Form
- 1860 Census Guide
- Family Search 1860 Census Index and Images
Name index and images of population schedules listing inhabitants of the United States in 1860. Currently, data is available for Alabama (96%), Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Dakota Territory, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania (99%), Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. - Ancestry 1860 Census Index and Images – $$$
1865 Seneca County New York Census Records
- There was a state census taken in New York in 1865, however the records from it for Seneca County have been lost.
1870 Seneca County New York Census Records
- Free U. S. 1870 Census Form
- 1870 Census Guide
- Family Search 1870 Census Index and Images
Name index and images of population schedules listing inhabitants of the United States in 1870. - Ancestry 1870 Census Index and Images – $$$
1875 Seneca County New York State Census Records
- There was a state census taken in New York in 1875, however the records from it for Seneca County have been lost.
1880 Seneca County New York Census Records
- Free U. S. 1880 Census Form
- 1880 Census Guide
- Family Search 1880 Census Index
Names index to population schedules listing inhabitants of the United States in 1880. - 1880 New York Census Images
These are free images of the 1800 census as they appear on the microfilm rolls. The quality of them is dependent on the actual film being scanned and in some cases may be difficult to read. Either browse through them or for quicker results, use the Family Search index first. - Ancestry 1880 Census Index and Images – $$$
1890 Seneca County New York Census Records
- Free U. S. 1890 Census Form
- 1890 Census Guide
- Family Search 1890 Census Index and Images
Fragments of the US census population schedule exist only for the states of Alabama, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas. - Ancestry 1890 Census Fragment Index and Images – $$$
1892 Seneca County New York State Census Records
- New York, State Census, 1892 – $$$
Name index and images of the 1892 New York State Census. Hosted at Ancestry. Subscribers of Ancestry and users of FTM should use this link. This is a great census replacement for the Federal 1890 census, most of which was lost in a fire.
1900 Seneca County New York Census Records
- Free U. S. 1900 Census Form
- 1900 Census Guide
- Family Search 1900 Census Index and Images
Name index and images of population schedules listing inhabitants of the United States in 1900. This was the twelfth census conducted since 1790. The searchable index covers all states including the Armed Forces (foreign country where census occurred) and the Indian Territory. Images can also be viewed using the browse option and includes all states including the Armed Forces (foreign country where census occurred) and the Indian Territory. - Ancestry 1900 Census Index and Images – $$$
1905 Seneca County New York State Census Records
- New York, State Census, 1905
Images of the population schedule of the census of New York taken in 1905. This census is an every-name index to the state’s inhabitants as of June 1, 1905.
1910 Seneca County New York Census Records
- Free U. S. 1910 Census Form
- 1910 Census Guide
- Family Search 1910 Census Index
Name index to the 1910 population census schedules. Indexing is currently in progress and will include the entire census comprising 48 states, two territories (Arizona and New Mexico), Puerto Rico, and Military and Naval (in Philippines, Hospitals, Ships, and Stations). - 1910 New York Census Images – Reel 1081
These are free images of the 1910 census as they appear on the microfilm rolls. The quality of them is dependent on the actual film being scanned and in some cases may be difficult to read. Reel 1081 contains Seneca and Suffolk Counties. (ED’s 1338-1356). - Ancestry 1910 Census Index and Images – $$$
1915 Seneca County New York State Census Records
- New York, State Census, 1915 – free/$$$
Name index of the 1925 New York State Census at FamilySearch. To access the images you will need to be a member of Ancestry, however, the index as presented by FamilySearch includes more information in it then what you can find for free at Ancestry. - New York, State Census, 1915 – $$$
Name index and images of the 1915 New York State Census. Hosted at Ancestry. Subscribers of Ancestry and users of FTM should use this link.
1920 Seneca County New York Census Records
- Free U. S. 1920 Census Form
- 1920 Census Guide
- Family Search 1920 Census Index
Name index of population schedules listing inhabitants of the United States in 1920. This was the fourteenth census conducted since 1790. There were 107.5 million individuals enumerated this census year. - 1920 New York Census Images – Reel 1266
These are free images of the 1920 census as they appear on the microfilm rolls. The quality of them is dependent on the actual film being scanned and in some cases may be difficult to read. Reel 1266 contains Seneca Co. (EDs 107-128) and Steuben Co. (EDs 74-93, 205, 94, 141-148). - Ancestry 1920 Census Index and Images – $$$
1925 Seneca County New York State Census Records
- New York, State Census, 1925 – free/$$$
Name index of the 1925 New York State Census at FamilySearch. To access the images you will need to be a member of Ancestry, however, the index as presented by FamilySearch includes more information in it then what you can find for free at Ancestry. - New York, State Census, 1925 – $$$
Name index and images of the 1925 New York State Census. Hosted at Ancestry. Subscribers of Ancestry and users of FTM should use this link.
1930 Seneca County New York Census Records
- Free U. S. 1930 Census Form
- 1930 Census Guide
- Family Search 1930 United States Census Index
The 1930 United States Census Population Schedules. This includes the 48 states as well as Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Consular Services, Panama Canal Zone, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. - 1930 New York Census Images – Reel 1647
These are free images of the 1930 census as they appear on the microfilm rolls. The quality of them is dependent on the actual film being scanned and in some cases may be difficult to read. Reel 1647 Schoharie (EDs 48-9 to 48-11,48-27, 48-12 to 48-26), Schuyler (EDs 49-1 to 49-4, 49-12, 49-5, 49-16, 49-6 to 49-11, 49-13 to 49-15, 49-17 to 49-18) and Seneca (EDs 50-1 to 50-26). - Ancestry 1930 Census Index and Images – $$$
1940 Seneca County New York Census Records
- Free U. S. 1940 Census Form
- 1940 Census Guide
- Family Search 1940 Census Index and Images
Name index of population schedules listing inhabitants of the United States in 1940. This was the sixteenth census conducted since 1790. There were 134 million individuals enumerated this census year. The schedules cover the 48 states as well as Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Panama Canal Zone, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. - Official 1940 Census Website Images – Seneca County
This is the first census year in which the National Archives chose to release the images to the public by releasing them on their website for free. Unfortunately, they provide no index. This requires you to browse the specific locality for your ancestor. The above link takes you directly to the search result match for Seneca County, saving you a few steps. - Ancestry 1940 Census Index and Images – $$$