Following the federal census of 1890, officials of the newly consolidated New York City thought federal enumerators had failed to give a true account of city residents. As a result, between September 19th and October 14th of that year, an enumeration of the 24 assembly districts of New York County (Manhattan) was taken by city police.
The police census volumes recorded the name, age, gender, and address of residents of the city. Due to the destruction of nearly all of the 1890 federal census, the police census is uniquely valuable in bridging the crucial gap between 1880 and 1900.
The census produced 1,008 books and counted 13 percent more residents than the federal enumeration. Of those 1,008 books, only 894 are still available.
These have been digitized by the NYC Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS) and can be accessed via their website and also at Ancestry.com
On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, the NYC Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS) will host a free virtual event beginning at 1 pm ET about the 1890 New York City Police Census.
Learn more about genealogy in New York State.
Illustration: Colorized image of Mulberry Street, on the Lower East Side, circa 1900 (Library of Congress).
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