Research PaperHave you ever wondered how far back your family history goes? Do you have any idea where to start your research or what information might be needed to properly find family information? Do you have any idea which documents would contain information? The best-known study of family history is genealogy, which is a common hobby for many people around the world. Everyone’s genealogy is different. Some family roots can be traced further back than others, and may take longer. Researching your family roots can be done on many sites like Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, and MyHeriage.com. To use these sites, ancestor names and place of residence are two key pieces of information you need to begin a genealogy search. Many Genealogies citations provide U.S. census records to help find family information. The United States censuses are one of the most commonly used for the study of genealogy. While all records can be useful, using the census as a source of genealogical information raises some questions: Specifically, are earlier censuses less accurate, making tracing family history more difficult than more recent censuses? recent? How has the U.S. Census evolved to better clarify information about its residents? Censuses are used to measure population growth in particular areas. In 1790, George Washington signed a document stating that it was now a law authorizing the government to collect demographic data called a census, also known as a population calendar. These were recovered by the US Marshal. Population tables were also used for demographic analysis (1790 Census Anniversary Act, 2012). Demographic analysis is a method used to understand ages, gender, and race and how they have changed across immigration, birth, and death groups. This is...... middle of paper...... collecting data and information is more difficult for earlier censuses. U.S. censuses are often the best starting point for American genealogical research. Information is available in statewide indexes for almost every census year, making them logical devices for locating individuals whose exact residence is anonymous. Although some inaccuracies in census records are to be expected, particularly in earlier censuses, they nevertheless provide some of the most captivating and valuable personal and family history to be found in any source. At the very least, census records are important sources for placing individuals in specific places and at specific times. Additionally, information found in the census often points to other sources to complete the search, such as court, land, military, immigration, naturalization, and vital records (Finding and Reading U.S. Census Records 2013).