Form BC-600 Application for Search of Census Records

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

APPLICATION FOR SEARCH OF CENSUS RECORDS

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION
PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW CAREFULLY

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Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

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FORM BC-600
(4-10-2013)

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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
• Census year
• County where taken
• State where taken
• Name
• Relationship to head of
household
• Name of person in whose
household you were counted
• Age at the time of the census
• Date of birth
Year and quarter
Month and year
Year
Month/day/year
• Place of birth
• Citizenship if requested
or if foreign born
• Occupation (if requested)

Available for census year(s)
1910–2010
1910–1980
1910–2010
1910–2010

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.

1910–2010
1910–2010
1910–1950, 1970–2010
1960
1970–1980
1990
2000–2010
1910–1950
1910–1950
1910–1950

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.
Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of
information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: Paperwork Project
0607--0117, U.S. Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Road, AMSD-3K138, Washington, D.C.
20233-1500. You may e-mail comments to Paperwork@census.gov; use "Paperwork Project
0607-0117" as the subject.
Respondents are not required to respond to any information collection unless it displays a
valid approval number from the Office of Management and Budget. This 8-digit number
appears in the top right corner of page 3 of this form.

* Information from 1930 and earlier censuses is public information and is available from the National Archives.
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."

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).

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. Tax monies are
not available to furnish the information. If a search has been
made, the fee 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 that individual ONLY. The names of other
persons will not be listed. If the applicant specifies "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.

(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.

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.

(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.

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 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2010.

(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 $65.00 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. The normal

6. Census years 1910–1920–1930–1940–1950–
1960–1970–1980–1990–2000–2010
The potential of finding an individual’s census record is
increased when the respondent provides 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. If residing 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.
1990, 2000, and 2010 Request – It is VERY IMPORTANT
to provide a house number and street name or
rural route and box number. Always include a
ZIP Code.
7. Locator Map (optional)
Box 7 is provided for a sketch of the area where the applicant
lived at the time of the requested census.

IF YOU NEED HELP FILLING OUT THIS APPLICATION,
PLEASE CALL 812–218–3046, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
7:00 A.M. THROUGH 4:30 P.M. EASTERN TIME
FORM BC-600 (4-10-2013)

DO NOT RETURN WITH APPLICATION

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.

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. For an
additional fee of $20 the search can be completed in one
business day after we receive it. 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.

DETACH HERE

1. Purpose
The purpose for which the information is desired must be
shown so that a determination may be made under 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.

DETACH HERE

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

OMB No. 0607-0117
FORM BC-600
(4-10-2013)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

DO NOT USE THIS SPACE – OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

APPLICATION FOR SEARCH OF CENSUS RECORDS

Case number
$ ________ (Fee)

RETURN TO: U.S. Census Bureau, P.O. Box 1545, Jeffersonville, IN 47131
Money Order

NAME OF
APPLICANT

Check

1. Purpose for which record is to be used (See Instruction 1)
Passport
(date required)

Other

Proof of age

Papers received (itemize)

Returned

Other – Please specify
Genealogy

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

Received by

Date

Returned by

Date

Number and street
PRESENT
MAILING
ADDRESS

City

State

3. 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.

ZIP Code

Telephone number (Include area code)

This authorizes the U.S. Census Bureau
to send the record to: (See instruction 3)

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

5. Fee required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 65.00

Signature

Signature

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).
FULL NAME OF
PERSON WHOSE
CENSUS RECORD
IS REQUESTED

First name
Date of birth (If unknown, estimate)

Middle name

FEE REQUIRED: (See instructions 4 and 5)
4. 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. This fee
covers the cost of a search of no more than
one census year for one person only.

____ extra copies @

$2.00

$

____ full schedules @

$10.00

$

____ expedited fee @

$20.00

$

TOTAL amount enclosed
Maiden name (If any)
Place of birth (City, county, State)

Present last name
Race

$

Nicknames
Sex

Full name of father (Stepfather, guardian, etc.)

Nicknames

Full maiden name of mother (Stepmother, etc.)

Nicknames

First marriage (Name of husband or wife of applicant)

Year married (Approximate) Second marriage (Name of husband or wife of applicant)

Names of brothers and sisters
Name and relationship of all other persons living in household (Aunts, uncles, grandparents, lodgers, etc.)
PLEASE COMPLETE REVERSE SIDE

Year married (Approximate)

FORM BC-600 (4-10-2013)

GIVE PLACE OF RESIDENCE FOR APPROPRIATE CENSUS DATE (SEE INSTRUCTIONS 1 AND 6)

6.
Census date

Number and street
(Read instruction 6 first)

City, town, township
(Read instruction 6 first)

County and State

Name of person with whom living
(Head of household)

April 15, 1910
(See instruction 6)
Jan. 1, 1920
(See instruction 6)
April 1, 1930
(See instruction 6)
April 1, 1940
(See instruction 6)
April 1, 1950
(See instruction 6)
April 1, 1960
(See instruction 6)
April 1, 1970
(See instruction 6)
April 1, 1980
(See instruction 6)
April 1, 1990
(See instruction 6)

ZIP Code

April 1, 2000
(See instruction 6)

ZIP Code

April 1, 2010
(See instruction 6)

ZIP Code

7. LOCATOR MAP (Optional)
PLEASE DRAW A MAP OF WHERE THE APPLICANT LIVED, SHOWING ANY PHYSICAL FEATURES, LANDMARKS, INTERSECTING ROADS,
CLOSEST TOWNS, ETC., THAT MAY AID IN LOCATING THE APPLICANT FOR THE CENSUS YEAR REQUESTED.

HAVE YOU SIGNED THE APPLICATION AND ENCLOSED THE CORRECT FEES?

Relationship of
head of household