Step 1: Are you ready to
find your relatives?
Are you waiting patiently to view the 1940 census? Do you know the questions that were
asked? Print
out a 1940 Census template to get the low down on what you will be able find
out about your relative.
Step 2: Do you know the
address of your ancestor? 
In order to search the 1940 census, you need to know the
address and Enumeration District (ED) # of your ancestor. If you are not sure of this information, try
using these documents to get the person’s address: WWII
Draft, naturalization petitions, city directories, old letters and envelopes,
government documents, and 1930 census records.
![]() |
|
Look at the left hand side and
many pages from 1930 census did list the Street and address. |
Step 3: Do you know the
Enumeration District?
The enumeration district is an
assigned number that signifies the county and city of a state. From the 1930
census, it can be found in the upper right hand side of a census.
Step 4: Convert the
1930 ED to 1940 ED
If you know the address and or ED # from a 1930 census, you
can convert it to the 1940 ED#. In some
cases it will stay the same, but it may change, so convert
the 1930 to 1940 ED using Steve Morse’s tool.
Step 5: Start your
search on April 2, 2012
Search the 1940 Census records for free
- Steve Morse has a great tool that will help walk you through the steps to find and locate the information you need to view people in 1940 census and will direct you to the census image.
- National Archives Holder of the 1940 census records

