Bc-600 Application For Search Of Census Records

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

FORM BC-600
(2-20-2019)

DC

Economics and Statistics Administration
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

•
•
•
•
•

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

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 U.S. Census Bureau is required by law to protect your information. The Census
Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify
you or your household. Title 13, United States Code, Section 8(a) permits release to
the person whom the information pertains or to their legal representative. Several
federal laws protect your privacy and keeps your answers confidential (5 U.S.C. §
552a and Title 13, United States Code, Section 9). Per the Federal Cybersecurity
Enhancement Act of 2015, your data are protected from cybersecurity risks through
screening of the systems that transmit your data.
The information provided to us may be shared with other Census Bureau staff for the
work-related purposes per the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act
System of Records Notice COMMERCE/Census-6, Population Census Records for
1910 and All Subsequent Decennial Censuses.
Furnishing this information is voluntary. Failure to do so may affect the Census
Bureau’s ability to provide the information requested.
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: Deborah Johnson, U.S. Census Bureau, NPC, 1201
E. 10th St., Jeffersonville, IN 47132. You may e-mail comments to Deborah.Johnson@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 1940 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 (2-20-2019)

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
(2-20-2019)

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

Case number
$ ________ (Fee)
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)

Other – Please specify

Returned

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
Signature

5. Fee required . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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)

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

Middle name

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

Present last name
Race

Sex
Nicknames

Full maiden name of mother (Stepmother, etc.)

Nicknames
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

$

Nicknames

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

First marriage (Name of husband or wife of applicant)

$ 65.00

Year married (Approximate)

FORM BC-600 (2-20-2019)

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
ZIP Code
(See instruction 6)
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