Objective: To locate a specific person who lived in Pennsylvania in 1930. In this example we are tracking George Johnson, who lived in Grant Township in Indiana County and should have been counted during the Federal Population Census for Pennsylvania in 1930 Census. We want to confirm this information and determine any other information about his family collected by the census enumerator in 1930.
The Internet can be a valuable tool to aid in your Census search. There are many sites that provide information. Census Online contains over 44,000 links to US census records, census calculators, and census forms from 1790-1930. A 1930 US Census form is attached at the end of this document. The microfilm information and the internet information can be used together to complete a search for an individual. Links to Internet sources have been inserted throughout this document that complement and, in some cases, replace the print indexes or the census microfilm. Please note that the microfilm constitutes the primary source and should be consulted for errors in transcription.
Please ASK the staff at the News and Microforms Library Reference Desk at any time for additional help or clarification about how to locate the sources or information.
Step 1: Visit the National Archives and conduct a Geographic Search of the individual.
For 1930, the records are organized geographically. There is no name index for Pennsylvania for 1930. To locate an individual in 1930, it is essential to have as much information about the location of the individual as possible. However, some organizations have created their own name indices for 1930, including the Centre County Genealogical Society. Additionally, Schlow Library & Centre County Library subscriptions to Ancestry.com which includes digital scans of the Census microfilm for all of the states from 1790-1930 which can be accessed with a Schlow or Centre County Library card.
By conducting a geographic search for Indiana County in 1930, the following information is determined:
There are 55 enumeration districts in Indiana County contained on two rolls of microfilm.
Step 2: Determine the Enumeration District. Review the Enumeration District (ED) list within the county that the individual is located.
For this example, we are looking for Grant Township within Indiana County.
From the National Archives, Grant Township is enumeration district 32-27 and the original census schedule is located on microfilm reel 2046.
The rest of the state information has been transcribed into a chart at the end of this document.
At this point you will need to use a microfilm reader/printer/scanner in the News and Microforms Library to locate and read the census schedule for George Johnson. Please ASK the staff at the Reference Desk for help if you are unfamiliar with the machines.
Step 4: Scroll through the microfilm until you locate the enumeration district on the top right hand corner.
For this example, locate ED 32-17. See example 1.
Example 1: Showing the Enumeration District 32-27
Step 5: Then review the entries until you locate George Johnson. See example 2.
Names of individuals are not in alphabetical order on the ledger page. The script and the microfilm quality can sometimes present interesting challenges for the researcher!
Example 2: Entry for George Johnson.
Step 6: Review the information collection for George Johnson in the 1930 census. See example 2. A blank 1930 census form can be viewed and printed to assist your collection of data from the microfilm. A blank form has been provided for you at the end of this document. /alt50.jpg)
In 1930, the following 32 columns of information were collected:
George H Johnson was 58 years old in 1930. There were 4 members in his household: Sylvia, his wife who was 48 years old, and two daughters, Martha (13 years old) and Catherine (9 years old.) George owned his home which was valued at $1,600. He also possessed a radio set. All of the members of this household were born in PA, as were their parents. Martha and Catherine had attended school within the past year and everyone in the household was able to read/write/speak English with the exception of Catherine. George was a mechanic at a garage.
| Reel No. | Names of Counties (Pennsylvania) | Note |
|---|---|---|
Reel 1959 |
Adams, Allegheny |
Adams County EDs 1-38, 489-496, 505-507 Allegheny County EDs 489-496, 505-507 |
Reel 1960 |
Allegheny |
EDs 497-504, 508-510, 511-525, 889 |
Reel 1961 |
Allegheny |
EDs 526-541, 543-552, 890-894 |
Reel 1962 |
Allegheny |
EDs 542, 553-568, 579-586, 895-598 |
Reel 1963 |
Allegheny |
EDs 569-578, 587-600, 600, 602, 899-902 |
Reel 1964 |
Allegheny |
EDs 601, 603-624, 636-639 |
Reel 1965 |
Allegheny |
EDs 625-635, 640-654, 694-696, 698-701, 708, 903, 916 |
Reel 1966 |
Allegheny |
EDs 655-667, 671-673, 677-684, 716-718 |
Reel 1967 |
Allegheny |
EDs 668-670, 674-676, 685-693, 702-707, 724-731 |
Reel 1968 |
Allegheny |
EDs 697, 709-715, 719-723, 732-747, 904-908 |
Reel 1969 |
Allegheny-Pittsburgh City |
EDs 751-775, 879-881 |
Reel 1970 |
Allegheny-Pittsburgh City |
EDs 19-51, 882, 883 |
Reel 1971 |
Allegheny-Pittsburgh City |
EDs 52-82 |
Reel 1972 |
Allegheny-Pittsburgh City |
EDs 83-116 |
Reel 1973 |
Allegheny-Pittsburgh City |
EDs 117-134, 149-156 |
Reel 1974 |
Allegheny-Pittsburgh City |
EDs 135-148, 157-165 |
Reel 1975 |
Allegheny-Pittsburgh City |
EDs 166-187, 884, 885 |
Reel 1976 |
Allegheny-Pittsburgh City |
EDs 188-211, 886 |
Reel 1977 |
Allegheny-Pittsburgh City |
EDs 212-230 |
Reel 1978 |
Allegheny-Pittsburgh City |
EDs 231-248 |
Reel 1979 |
Allegheny-Pittsburgh City |
EDs 249-271 |
Reel 1980 |
Allegheny-Pittsburgh City |
EDs 272-297, 887 |
Reel 1981 |
Allegheny-Pittsburgh City |
EDs 298-317 |
Reel 1982 |
Allegheny-Pittsburgh City |
EDs 318-332 |
Reel 1983 |
Allegheny-Pittsburgh City |
EDs 333-345, 451-456 |
Reel 1984 |
Allegheny-Pittsburgh City |
EDs 375-388, 457-468 |
Reel 1985 |
Allegheny-Pittsburgh City |
EDs 389-406, 424-436 |
Reel 1986 |
Allegheny-Pittsburgh City |
EDs 407-415, 417, 418, 420-423, 437-449 |
Reel 1987 |
Allegheny-Pittsburgh City |
EDs 356, 357, 416, 469-488 |
Reel 1988 |
Allegheny-Pittsburgh City |
EDs 346-355, 358-366 |
Reel 1989 |
Allegheny-Pittsburgh City and Allegheny |
Pittsburgh City EDs 367-374, 748-750, 763-775, 780 Allegheny County 763-775, 780 |
Reel 1990 |
Allegheny |
419, 776-779, 781-806, 910 |
Reel 1991 |
Allegheny |
EDs 807-834, 840-842, 911-915 |
Reel 1992 |
Allegheny |
EDs 835-839, 843-866 |
Reel 1993 |
Allegheny, Armstrong |
Allegheny County EDs 867-878 Armstrong County EDs 1-18 |
Reel 1994 |
Armstrong |
EDs 19-56 |
Reel 1995 |
Beaver |
1-24, 26-28 |
Reel 1996 |
Beaver |
25, 29-66 |
Reel 1997 |
Beaver |
EDs 67-101 |
Reel 1998 |
Bedford, Berks |
Bedford County EDs 1-43 Berks County EDs 1-43, 72-84 |
Reel 1999 |
Berks |
EDs 85-126 |
Reel 2000 |
Berks-Reading |
Reading EDs 1-8, 14-21, 127-140 |
Reel 2001 |
Berks-Reading |
EDs 9-13, 22-337, 43-51 |
Reel 2002 |
Berks-Reading |
EDs 38-42, 52-71 |
Reel 2003 |
Berks, Blair |
Berks County ED 146 Blair County EDs 1-3, 42-58, 84 |
Reel 2004 |
Blair-Altoona |
EDs 4-27, 33, 34 |
Reel 2005 |
Blair |
EDs 28-32, 35-41, 59-80, 85 |
Reel 2006 |
Blair, Bradford |
Blair County ED 81-83 Bradford County EDs 1-63 |
Reel 2007 |
Bucks |
EDs 1-38, 67 |
Reel 2008 |
Bucks, Butler |
Bucks County EDs 39-66, 68-82 Butler County EDs 1-5 |
Reel 2009 |
Butler |
EDs 6-42, 72 |
Reel 2010 |
Butler, Cambria |
Butler County 43-71, 73 Cambria County EDs 1-18 |
Reel 2011 |
Cambria |
EDs 19-48, 85-89, 94, 95, 126 |
Reel 2012 |
Cambria |
EDs 49-74, 80, 82, 83 |
Reel 2013 |
Cambria |
EDs 75-79, 81, 84, 90-93, 96-110, 113, 114 |
Reel 2014 |
Cambria, Carbon |
Cambria County EDs 111, 112, 115-125 Carbon County EDs 1-17, 23 |
Reel 2015 |
Carbon, Centre |
Carbon County EDs 18-22, 24-43 Centre County EDs 1-11 |
Reel 2016 |
Centre, Clarion |
Centre County EDs 12-47 Clarion County EDs 1-19, 37 |
Reel 2017 |
Clarion, Clearfield |
Clarion County EDs 20-36 Clearfield County EDs 1-23 |
Reel 2018 |
Clearfield |
EDs 24-70 |
Reel 2019 |
Chester |
EDs 1-46 |
Reel 2020 |
Chester |
EDs 47-87 |
Reel 2021 |
Chester, Clinton |
Chester County EDs 88-110 Clinton County EDs 1-25, 35, 36 |
Reel 2022 |
Clinton, Crawford |
Clinton County EDs 26-34 Crawford County EDs 1-38 |
Reel 2023 |
Crawford, Columbia |
Crawford County EDs 39-69 Columbia County EDs 1-17 |
Reel 2024 |
Columbia, Cumberland |
Columbia County EDs 18-43 Cumberland County EDs 1-17, 20, 21, 36 |
Reel 2025 |
Cumberland, Dauphin |
Cumberland County EDs 22-35, 37-54 Dauphin County EDs 1-8 |
Reel 2026 |
Dauphin |
EDs 9-38, 49-56 |
Reel 2027 |
Dauphin |
EDs 39-48, 55-78, 83-85, 119 |
Reel 2028 |
Dauphin |
EDs 79-82, 86-118 |
Reel 2029 |
Delaware |
EDs 1-28, 38-41 |
Reel 2030 |
Delaware |
EDs 29-37, 42-64 |
Reel 2031 |
Delaware |
EDs 65-85, 95-104, 180 |
Reel 2032 |
Delaware |
EDs 86-94, 105-121, 124-129, 140 |
Reel 2033 |
Delaware |
EDs 122, 123, 130-139, 141-152, 177-179 |
Reel 2034 |
Delaware, Elk |
Delaware County EDs 153-176 Elk County EDs 1-20, 26 |
Reel 2035 |
Elk, Erie |
Elk County EDs 21-25 Erie County EDs 1-37, 107-109, 126 |
Reel 2036 |
Erie |
EDs 38-56, 69-89 |
Reel 2037 |
Erie |
EDs 57-68, 90-106, 110-120, 125-128 |
Reel 2038 |
Erie, Fayette |
Erie County EDs 121-124, 129-147 Fayette County EDs 1-15 |
Reel 2039 |
Fayette |
EDs 16-40, 45-50 |
Reel 2040 |
Fayette |
EDs 41-44, 51-73, 83-87 |
Reel 2041 |
Fayette |
EDs 74-82, 88-108 |
Reel 2042 |
Fayette, Forest, Franklin |
Fayette County EDs 109-113 Forest County EDs 1-9 Franklin County EDs 1-21, 23-25 |
Reel 2043 |
Franklin, Fulton, Greene |
Franklin County EDs 26-43 Fulton County EDs 1-12 Greene County EDs 1-10 |
Reel 2044 |
Greene, Huntingdon |
Greene County EDs 11-35 Huntingdon County EDs 1-35 |
Reel 2045 |
Huntingdon, Indiana |
Huntingdon County EDs 36-55 Indiana County EDs 1-23, 28, 29 |
Reel 2046 |
Indiana, Juniata |
Indiana County EDs 24-27, 30-55 Juniata County EDs 1-17 |
Reel 2047 |
Jefferson |
EDs 1-49 |
Reel 2048 |
Lackawanna |
EDs 96-123 |
Reel 2049 |
Lackawanna |
EDs 124-162 |
Reel 2050 |
Lackawanna |
EDs 163-191, 194-199, 203 |
Reel 2051 |
Lackawanna-Scranton City |
EDs 1-22 |
Reel 2052 |
Lackawanna-Scranton City |
EDs 23-40, 57-59, 69-72 |
Reel 2053 |
Lackawanna-Scranton City |
EDs 41-54, 60-68 |
Reel 2054 |
Lackawanna-Scranton City |
EDs 55, 56, 73-86 |
Reel 2055 |
Lackawanna-Scranton City, Lackawanna, Lancaster |
Lackawanna-Scranton City EDs 87-95 Lackawanna County EDs 192, 193, 200-202, 204-210 Lancaster County EDs 1-6 |
Reel 2056 |
Lancaster |
EDs 7-46 |
Reel 2057 |
Lancaster |
EDs 47-71 |
Reel 2058 |
Lancaster |
EDs 72-105 |
Reel 2059 |
Lancaster, Lawrence |
Lancaster County EDs 106-131 Lawrence County EDs 1-14 |
Reel 2060 |
Lawrence |
EDs 15-42, 65-72 |
Reel 2061 |
Lawrence, Lebanon |
Lawrence County EDs 43-64, 73 Lebanon County EDs 1-13, 27-36, 48 |
Reel 2062 |
Lebanon, Lehigh |
Lebanon County EDs 14-26, 37-47 Lehigh County EDs 1-5, 8, 9 |
Reel 2063 |
Lehigh |
EDs 6, 7, 10-26, 31-36, 43 |
Reel 2064 |
Lehigh |
EDs 27-30, 37-42, 44-62, 98 |
Reel 2065 |
Lehigh |
EDs 63-97 |
Reel 2066 |
Luzerne |
EDs 1-37, 42-44, 94 |
Reel 2067 |
Luzerne |
EDs 38-41, 45-65, 95-100 |
Reel 2068 |
Luzerne |
EDs 66-93 |
Reel 2069 |
Luzerne |
EDs 101-121, 180-192 |
Reel 2070 |
Luzerne |
EDs 122-156, 195 |
Reel 2071 |
Luzerne |
EDs 157-179, 196-198, 203-208 |
Reel 2072 |
Luzerne |
EDs 193, 194, 199-202, 209-231, 233, 234 |
Reel 2073 |
Luzerne |
EDs 232, 235-263, 270, 271 |
Reel 2074 |
Luzerne, Lycoming |
Luzerne County EDs 264-269, 272-281 Lycoming County EDs 1-33, 36, 85 |
Reel 2075 |
Lycoming |
EDs 34, 35, 37-70, 73-75, 86 |
Reel 2076 |
Lycoming, Mercer |
Lycoming County EDs 71, 72, 76-84 Mercer County EDs 1-31, 35 |
Reel 2077 |
Mercer |
EDs 32-34, 36-75 |
Reel 2078 |
Mercer, Mifflin |
Mercer EDs 76-87 Mifflin County EDs 1-25 |
Reel 2079 |
McKean |
EDs 1-34 |
Reel 2080 |
Monroe, Montgomery |
Monroe County EDs 1-26 Montgomery County EDs 1-15, 19 |
Reel 2081 |
Montgomery |
EDs 16-18, 20-43, 45, 46, 111, 160 |
Reel 2082 |
Montgomery |
EDs 44, 51-57, 59-82, 168-170, 175 |
Reel 2083 |
Montgomery |
EDs 47-50, 58, 83-110, 171-173, 176 |
Reel 2084 |
Montgomery |
EDs 112-141, 145, 174 |
Reel 2085 |
Montgomery, Montour |
Montgomery County EDs 142-144, 146-167 Montour County EDs 1-17 |
Reel 2086 |
Northampton |
EDs 1-31, 112 |
Reel 2087 |
Northampton |
EDs 32-66, 68, 107, 108 |
Reel 2088 |
Northampton |
EDs 67, 69-97, 101-105, 109-111 |
Reel 2089 |
Northampton, Northumberland, Perry |
Northampton County EDs 98-100, 106 Northumberland County EDs 1-17 Perry County EDs 1-30 |
Reel 2090 |
Northumberland |
EDs 18-48 |
Reel 2091 |
Northumberland |
EDs 49-85 |
Reel 2092 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 1-20 |
Reel 2093 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 21-43 |
Reel 2094 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 44-59, 262-264, 1142 |
Reel 2095 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 265-270, 272-285, 1153, 1154 |
Reel 2096 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 286-304, 1155 |
Reel 2097 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 305-332 |
Reel 2098 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 333-357 |
Reel 2099 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 359, 360, 362-368, 539-554, 826, 827, 1156 |
Reel 2100 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 828-853 |
Reel 2101 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 555-564, 854-870 |
Reel 2102 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 565-589, 1161-1169 |
Reel 2103 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 361, 590-611, 1170 |
Reel 2104 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 612-630, 1171-1178 |
Reel 2105 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 631-659 |
Reel 2106 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 660-672, 1182 |
Reel 2107 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 369-376, 878-893 |
Reel 2108 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 377-397 |
Reel 2109 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 398-406, 894-909 |
Reel 2110 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 60-75, 910-919 |
Reel 2111 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 76-95, 407-413 |
Reel 2112 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 414-422, 673-684 |
Reel 2113 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 685-708, 1179 |
Reel 2114 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 96-109, 709-718 |
Reel 2115 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 110-115, 920-936 |
Reel 2116 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 719-741 |
Reel 2117 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 742-744, 937-954, 1180, 1183 |
Reel 2118 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 955-977 |
Reel 2119 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 423-439, 1158 |
Reel 2120 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 440-459, 1159 |
Reel 2121 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 460-469, 978-989, 1184-1201 |
Reel 2122 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 990-1000, 1203-1215 |
Reel 2123 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 116-132, 1001, 1002, 1216-1219 |
Reel 2124 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 133-145, 745-756 |
Reel 2125 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 757-779, 1181 |
Reel 2126 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 146-149, 271, 780-801 |
Reel 2127 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 150-174 |
Reel 2128 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 175-199, 1143, 1144 |
Reel 2129 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 200-220, 1145 |
Reel 2130 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 221-237, 1146-1148 |
Reel 2131 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 238-247, 1003-1010, 1220-1227, 1149, 1150 |
Reel 2132 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 1011-1028, 1228 |
Reel 2133 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 1029-1038, 1229-1235 |
Reel 2134 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 1039-1058 |
Reel 2135 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 1059-1074, 1236 |
Reel 2136 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 1075-1097 |
Reel 2137 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 470-480, 1098-1112 |
Reel 2138 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 481-495, 1113-1120 |
Reel 2139 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 496-499, 1121-1141 |
Reel 2140 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 500-519, 1160 |
Reel 2141 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 520-538, 802-804 |
Reel 2142 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City |
EDs 248-253, 805-825 |
Reel 2143 |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City, Pike, Potter |
Philadelphia-Philadelphia City EDs 254-261, 1151, 1152 Pike County EDs 1-13 Potter County EDs 1-32 |
Reel 2144 |
Schuylkill |
EDs 1-32, 39, 152, 155 |
Reel 2145 |
Schuylkill |
EDs 33-38, 40-60, 71-76 |
Reel 2146 |
Schuylkill |
EDs 61-70, 77, 79-98 |
Reel 2147 |
Schuylkill |
EDs 78, 99-125, 16-139, 151, 153, 154 |
Reel 2148 |
Schuylkill, Snyder |
Schuylkill County EDs 126-135, 140-150, 156 Snyder County EDs 1-20 |
Reel 2149 |
Somerset |
EDs 1-43, 49-51 |
Reel 2150 |
Somerset, Sullivan, Union |
Somerset County EDs 44-48, 52-67 Sullivan County EDs 1-14 Union County EDs 1-18 |
Reel 2151 |
Susquehanna, Tioga |
Susquehanna County EDs 1-47 Tioga County EDs 1-24, 26 |
Reel 2152 |
Tioga, Venango |
Tioga County EDs 25, 27-44 Venango County EDs 1-20, 33-40, 45, 46, 49, 50 |
Reel 2153 |
Venango, Warren |
Venango County EDs 21-32, 41-44, 47, 48 Warren County EDs 1-29, 42 |
Reel 2154 |
Warren, Wayne, Westmoreland |
Warren County EDs 30-41 Wayne County EDs 1-33 Westmoreland County EDs 1-3, 8-11 |
Reel 2155 |
Westmoreland |
EDs4-7, 12-321, 57-61, 81 |
Reel 2156 |
Westmoreland |
EDs 32-56, 82-90, 122, 123, 129 |
Reel 2157 |
Westmoreland |
EDs 62-80, 91-106, 113 |
Reel 2158 |
Westmoreland |
EDs 107-112, 114-121, 124-128, 130-135, 141, 185, 186 |
Reel 2159 |
Westmoreland |
EDs 136-140, 142-162, 166-172 |
Reel 2160 |
Westmoreland, Washington |
Westmoreland County EDs 163-165, 173-184, 187 Washington County EDs 1-17 |
Reel 2161 |
Washington |
EDs 18-48, 76, 77 |
Reel 2162 |
Washington |
EDs 49-75, 80-84 |
Reel 2163 |
Washington |
EDs 78, 79, 85-105, 108-110, 124-131 |
Reel 2164 |
Washington, Wyoming, York |
Washington County EDs 106, 107, 111-123 Wyoming County EDs 1-24 York County EDs 1-8, 129 |
Reel 2165 |
York |
EDs 9-56, 131 |
Reel 2166 |
York |
EDs 57-92, 125-128, 130 |
Reel 2167 |
York |
EDs 93-124 |
1930 United States Federal Census worksheet from Ancestry.com
