About Franklin County Census Records
Franklin County was created in 1875, so the first federal census for the county was taken in 1880. For earlier residents, check records in Titus County.
Copies of census records and searchable indexes are available at FamilySearch.org.
When researching Franklin County before 1880, be sure to search Titus County and nearby counties as well. Boundary changes and migration patterns may affect where a family appears.
Federal Census Notes by Year
1880
This was the first census to ask for marital status and relationships within a household.
1890
The 1890 Federal Population Schedule burned before it could be copied, so there are no surviving population schedules for this county. However, copies of the Veterans Schedule are available here: page 1, page 2, page 3.
1900
The 1900 Federal Census is the first census to ask for years married and asks women how many children they had borne and how many were still living. It also asked for the month and year each person was born, the year they immigrated, and whether they owned or rented their homes. There are also columns for street addresses, though they were not generally used in rural areas. The index to this census is available to everyone with a free account at the LDS online library.
1910
This is the second census that asked for number of years married, number of children borne by females, and number of living children. The index to this census is available to everyone with a free account at the LDS online library.
1920
The 1920 census was enumerated in January and many families were missed, likely due to weather. It offers very little extra information except for the names of the roads on which people lived. The index to this census is available to everyone with a free account at the LDS online library.
1930
This census offers addresses for people in town, age at first marriage, and veteran status. The index to this census is available to everyone with a free account at the LDS online library.
1940
The 1940 census offers addresses for people in town, education level, residence in 1935, employment status, and total income for 1939. The index to this census is available to everyone with a free account at the LDS online library.
1950
The 1950 Federal Census does not offer as much information as some previous years, but it is still worth investigating. The index to this census is available to everyone with a free account at the LDS online library.