Appication for Search of Census Records

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

FORM BC-600

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

APPLICATION FOR SEARCH OF CENSUS RECORDS
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW CAREFULLY

This application is for use in requesting a search of census records.* Copies of these
census records often are accepted as evidence of age, citizenship, and place of birth
for employment, social security benefits, insurance, and other purposes.
If the applicant is located, an official transcript will be provided including the following
information:
Personal Census Information

Available for census year(s)

• Census year

1910–2020

• County where taken

1910–1980

• State where taken
• Name
• Relationship to head of
household
• Name of person in whose
household person was counted

1910–2020

• Age at the time of the census

1910–1950, 1970–2020

• Date of birth
Month and year
Year
Month/day/year

1960–1980
1990
2000–2020

• Place of birth
• Citizenship if requested
or if foreign born
• Occupation (if requested)

1910–2000**
**These subjects may not be available for all
people from the 1960-2000 Censuses.

The U.S. Census Bureau’s records are arranged according to the address at the time of
the census. Censuses are taken primarily for statistical, not legal, purposes. Attention
is called to the possibility that the information shown in the census record may not
agree with that given in your application. The record must be copied exactly as it
appears on the census form. The U.S. Census Bureau CANNOT make changes even
though it realizes that enumerators may have been misinformed or made mistakes in
writing down the data they collected. Those agencies that accept census transcripts
as evidence of age, relationship, or place of birth usually overlook minor spelling
differences but would be reluctant to consider a record that was changed years later
at an applicant’s request.
If you authorize the U.S. Census Bureau to send your record to someone other than
yourself, you must provide the name and address, including ZIP Code, of the other
person/agency.
Birth certificates, including delayed birth certificates, are not issued by the U.S. Census
Bureau. You can obtain the birth certificate from the Health Department or the
Department of Vital Statistics of the state in which the applicant was born.

The average time it should take you to fill out the BC-600, “Application for Search of
Census Records,” including the time spent reading instructions is 12 minutes.
This collection of information has been approved by the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB). The eight-digit OMB approval number that appears in the top
right corner of page 3 confirms this approval. If this number were not displayed,
respondents would not be required to respond. Send any comments concerning this
collection by email to <[email protected]>. Use
“Paperwork Reduction Project XXXX-XXXX” as the subject.

* Information from 1950 and earlier censuses is public information and is available from
the National Archives.
IF YOU NEED HELP FILLING OUT THIS APPLICATION, Call 812–218–3046, Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time
The completed application should be mailed to the U.S. Census Bureau, P.O. Box 1545, Jeffersonville, IN 47131, together with a money order or check
payable to “Commerce–Census.”
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2. Signature
Each application requires a signature. The signature should
be the same as that shown on the line captioned “full name
of person whose census record is requested.” When the
application is for a census record concerning another person,
the requester must sign the application, and the authority
of the requester must be furnished as stated in instruction 3
below. If signed by marking (X), please indicate the name of the
person whose mark it is and have witnesses sign as instructed.
IF SIGNATURE IS PRINTED, please indicate that is the usual
signature.
3. Confidential information given to other than person to whom
it relates
a. Census information is confidential and ordinarily will not
be furnished to another person unless the person to whom
it relates authorizes this in the space provided or if there
is other proper authorization as indicated in 3(b), 3(c), and
3(d).
b. Minor children – Information regarding a child who has at
this time not reached the legal age of 18 may be obtained
upon the written request of either parent or guardian.
c. Mentally incompetent persons – Information regarding
persons who are mentally incompetent may be obtained
upon the written request of the legal representative,
supported by a certified copy of the court order naming
such legal representative.
d. Deceased persons – If the record requested relates to a
deceased person, the application MUST be signed by (1)
a blood relative in the immediate family (parent, brother,
sister, or child), (2) the surviving wife or husband, (3) the
administrator or executor of the estate, or (4) a beneficiary
by will, or insurance.
IN ALL CASES INVOLVING DECEASED PERSONS, a certified
copy of the death certificate MUST be furnished, and
the relationship to the deceased MUST be stated on the
application. Legal representatives MUST also furnish
a certified copy of the court order naming such legal
representatives; and beneficiaries MUST furnish legal
evidence of such beneficiary interest.
4. Fee required
The $155.00 fee is for a search of one census for one person
only. The time required to complete a search depends upon
the number of cases on hand at the particular time and the
difficulty encountered in searching a particular case.
No more than one census will be searched and the results
furnished for one fee. Should it be necessary to search more
than one census to find the record, you will be notified to send
another fee before another search is made.
FORM BC-600

•
•
•

For an additional fee of $50.00 the search can be
completed in one business day after we receive it.
If you want extra copies, please include $2.00 for each
additional copy.
If you want your search results returned to you by
express mail you must include a self-addressed, prepaid
express mail envelope with your application. You may
also submit your application by express mail for faster
service.

DO NOT RETURN WITH APPLICATION		

The purpose for which the information is desired must be
shown so that a determination may be made under Title 13
U.S.C. 8(a) that the record is required for proper use. For proof
of age, most agencies require documents closest to date of
birth; therefore we suggest you complete information for the
EARLIEST CENSUS AFTER DATE OF BIRTH.

The normal processing time is 3 to 4 weeks. The fee covers
return postage of your search results by regular mail. You do
not need to include a return envelope for normal processing.

Tax monies are not available to furnish the information. If a
search has been made, the efee cannot be returned even if
the information is not found.
5. Full schedules
The full schedule is the complete one-line entry of personal
data recorded for the indivual named in this section. If the
applicant requests a “full schedule” the Census Bureau will
furnish, in addition to the regular transcript, whatever other
information appears on the named person’s record in the
original schedule, but only for THAT PERSON. In this case
the information is typed on a facsimile of the original census
schedule and verified as a true copy. There is an additional
charge of $10.00 for EACH full schedule requested.
The Census Bureau also will provide “full schedule”
information for those other members of the same household
for whom authorizations are furnished. (See Instruction 3
for authorization requirements). A fee of $10.00 is required
for each person listed on the full schedule. LIMITATIONS –
Certain information, such as place of birth, citizenship, and
occupation, is available only for census years 1910 through
1950. Full schedule information is not available for census
years 1960 through 2020.
6. Census years 1910–2020
To make it possible to locate an individual’s census record
the applicant must provide thorough and accurate address
information FOR THE DAY THESE CENSUSES WERE TAKEN. If
residing in a city AT THE TIME THESE CENSUSES WERE TAKEN,
it is necessary to furnish the house number, the name of
the street, city, county, state, and the name of the parent or
other head of household with whom residing at the time of
the census.
1970-2020 Request – It is VERY IMPORTANT to provide
a house number and street name or rural route and box
number. Always include a ZIP Code.
If the person lived in a rural area, it is VERY IMPORTANT to
furnish the township, district, precinct or beat, AND the
direction and number of miles from the nearest town. You
may also include a map of where the person lived to aid in
locating the applicant for the census year requested. The
map may be hand-drawn, or an existing printed map on
which the applicant clearly marks where the person lived.
The map should include physical features like landmarks,
intersecting roads, closest towns, etc.

DETACH HERE

1. Purpose

DETACH HERE

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THIS FORM PRINT OR
TYPE INFORMATION EXCEPT SIGNATURE
PLEASE FOLLOW NUMBERED INSTRUCTIONS

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OMB No. XXXX-XXXX
FORM

APPLICATION FOR SEARCH OF CENSUS RECORDS

BC-600

PERSON WHOSE CENSUS RECORD IS REQUESTED

Purpose for which record is to be used (See Instruction 1)

□ Passport (date required)

□ Proof of age

_______________________

□ Genealogy

First name

Middle name

Last name (current)

Last name (at time of the census, if different)

□ Other – Please specify
____________________________

I certify that information furnished about anyone other than the applicant will not be used
to the detriment of such person or persons by me or by anyone else with my permission.
2.

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

NOTICE – Intentionally falsifying this application may result in a fine of up to $250,000 or up to 5
years of imprisonment, or both (Title 18, U.S. Code, section 1001).

NAME OF
APPLICANT

1.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Nicknames
Date of birth (if unknown, estimate)
Month

Day

Place of birth (State)
Year

Signature – Do not print (Read instruction 2 carefully before signing)

PRESENT
MAILING
ADDRESS

Father’s name (including nicknames)

Number and street
City

State

ZIP Code
What is this person’s sex?

Telephone number (Include area code)

□ Male

Email address

□ Female

First marriage (Name of husband or wife of applicant)

IF SIGNED BY MARK (X), TWO WITNESSES MUST SIGN HERE
Signature

Mother’s name (include maiden name and/or
nicknames)

ate)

Signature
Second marriage (Name of husband or wife of applicant)

3.

4.

Year married (approximate)

If the census information is to be sent to someone other than the person whose record is
requested, give the name and address, including ZIP Code, of the other person or agency.
This authorizes the U.S. Census Bureau to send the record to: (See instruction 3)

Year married (approximate)

Name of other persons living in household (include siblings, other relatives, lodgers, etc.)

FEE REQUIRED: (See instructions 4 and 5) A check or money order (DO NOT SEND CASH)
payable to “Commerce-Census” must be sent with the application. Checks will be processed
by electronic fund transfer.
Fee required...........................................
extra copies

@

$

$

2.00

$

full schedules @

$ 10.00

$

expedited fee @

$ 50.00

$

TOTAL amount enclosed

155.00

$

PLEASE COMPLETE REVERSE SIDE

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PLACE OF RESIDENCE FOR APPROPRIATE CENSUS DATE

6.

Provide detailed address information for the requested census date. This information is critical for locating the person’s census record. Read instruction 6 for more information.
Census date
(Read instruction 6)

Number and street
(Read instruction 6)

City, town, township
(Read instruction 6)

County and State

Name of person with whom
living (Head of household)

Relationship of person to
head of household

April 15, 1910
January 1, 1920
April 1, 1930
April 1, 1940
April 1, 1950
April 1, 1960
April 1, 1970
April 1, 1980
April 1, 1990
April 1, 2000
April 1, 2010
April 1, 2020

ZIP Code
ZIP Code
ZIP Code
ZIP Code
ZIP Code
ZIP Code

7. LOCATOR MAP (Optional)

DO NOT USE THIS SPACE – OFFICIAL USE ONLY

You may include a map of where the person lived to aid in locating the
$ ___________ (Fee)
applicant for the census year requested. The map may be hand-drawn, or an
□ Money Order
existing printed map on which you clearly mark where the person lived. The
map should include physical features like landmarks, intersecting roads, closest
□ Check
towns, etc.

□ Check if locator map included
HAVE YOU SIGNED THE APPLICATION AND ENCLOSED THE CORRECT FEES?

□

Other

Case number
Received by

Date

Received by

Date

Papers received (itemize)

Returned

RETURN TO:
U.S. Census Bureau
Personal Census Search Unit
P.O. Box 1545
Jeffersonville, IN 47131-0001

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