New York State Censuses  
        State censuses were taken about every ten years beginning in 1795. All of the state census schedules in the custody of the State Library were destroyed in the 1911 fire. An Albany County 1790 census exists and is published as Kenneth Scott, comp., New York State Census of Albany County Towns in 1790 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing 1975; FHL book 974.742 X2s; computer number 254368).
        State censuses have survived for some counties for 1825, 1835, 1845, and 1855 and for most counties for 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, and 1925. Most censuses are in the possession of county clerks and are on microfilm at the Family History Library. There are few indexes, but some 1855 schedules are being indexed. The state archives has a name index to the 1925 census schedules for Albany County. Indexes for the 1892 census have been transferred to the Albany County Hall of Records, 250 South Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12207.
 
The records for some counties are missing as indicated below:
 
1855. Missing Clinton, Dutchess, Genesee. Hamilton, Putnam, Queens, St. Lawrence. Seneca, Suffolk, Tompkins, Westchester. and Wyoming counties.
1865. Missing Clinton, Franklin, Genesee. Hamilton, New York, Putnam, Queens. Seneca. Westchester, and Wyoming counties.
1875. Missing Chenango, Clinton, Hamilton, New York, Putnam, Queens, Seneca, St. Lawrence, Suffolk, and Westchester counties.
1892. Missing Chenango, Columbia, Franklin, Fulton, Jefferson, Livingston, New York, Oneida, Putnam, Richmond, St. Lawrence, Seneca, Schuyler, Sullivan, Westchester, and Wyoming counties.
1905. Missing Livingston, Oneida, Ontario, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, and Wyoming counties.
 
        State censuses are a little more informative than federal censuses. The 1845 census lists the birthplace in one of several categories, such as born in New York, New England, Latin America, British Empire, France, or Germany. Censuses beginning in 1855 give the names of all people in the household and their age and state of birth. The 1855 through 1875 censuses list the New York county where a person was born, relationship to the head of household, age, years of residency in the city or town (1855 only), and many other items.
        The 1865 census tells how many children each parent had and the number of times each parent was married. Both the 1865 and 1875 censuses have schedules for marriages and deaths within the year. The 1892 census only lists name, sex, color, age, country of birth, whether or not a U.S. citizen, and occupation.
        The 1915 and 1925 censuses give detailed information about each member of the household, including street address, name, relation to the head of family, color, sex, age, birthplace, number of years in United States, whether citizen or alien, when and where naturalized (1925), and occupation.
        Microfilm copies of all surviving New York state censuses are at the state library and the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. Manuscript copies for 1915 and 1925 are at the state archives. The staff will not search these unindexed records for you. All state censuses, except those for 1865 Suffolk county are available on microfilm at the Family History Library. You can find the film numbers in the Family History Library Catalog.