census.html

CENSUS

The U.S. Government took a Census of its citizens every 10 years. The first Census of this area was taken in 1860, when the area was still part of the Washington Territory.

Each State also took its own Census every 10 years, but a State Census was usually taken mid-decade (1895, 1905, etc.). Many times both Censuses need to be referenced to obtain information about a family.

Territorial Census Information

Territorial Census records are available for what is now Klickitat County for the following years: 1883, 1885, 1887, and 1889.

Federal Census Information

Federal Census records are available for what is now Klickitat County for the following years: 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930. The following publication is available at many librairies and can be very useful -- 1860-1870-1880 Census of Klickitat County, Washington, Jean Allyn Smeltzer, 1972
The 1890 Federal Census was all-but destroyed in a fire during the 1920s. Very little of it remains, and none of which that does is for this area. This is where a State Census can come in useful.
The 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 Federal Census is available at many locations, including public libraries, Family History Center's, Genealogical/Historical Society's library's, and the branches of the National Archives.
Besides the Census, an index, called the Soundex, was created for many Censuses. The Soundex is an alphabetical index based on the phonetic sound of the surname. Press here for more information on Soundex. The Soundex can be very useful especially if you're not sure of exactly where a family lived. In the Soundex all similar-sounding names will be grouped together, allowing you see all of a particular surname that lived in the State at the time that Census was taken. For Washington State a Soundex was created for the 1900 and 1920 Census, and several groups are working on Indexing the 1910 Washington Federal Census.