Dick Halsey maintains a page containing information about the contents of each New York State Census. Information on the contents of each U.S. Federal Census can be found at this site by Treasure Maps.

Map of Buffalo with ward boundaries for the 1855-1890 censuses - This map is large and will take a few minutes to download.

• 1790 U.S. Census, Ontario County, New York
  The area covered by the present Erie County was part of Ontario County in 1790. The Niagara Frontier was under British control until 1796 and census takers apparently did not travel further west than Canandaigua. An index for Ontario County is available on-line. There is a published index to the entire 1790 census for New York State.

• 1800 U.S. Census, Northampton Township, Ontario County, New York
  In 1800, the present Erie County was still part of Ontario County. An index for the Ontario County Township of Northampton, which included all the land west of the Genesee River, is now available on-line. There is a published index to the 1800 census for all of New York State.

• 1810 U.S. Census, Niagara County, New York
  By 1810, the present Erie County was part of Niagara County. There is a published index to the 1810 census for all of New York State. Transcriptions of the 1810 census for Buffalo and Clarence, the only two areas enumerated from the future Erie County, are now available on-line.

• 1820 U.S. Census, Niagara County, New York
  In 1820, the area currently covered by Erie County was still in Niagara County. There is a published index to the 1820 census for all of New York State.

• 1825 New York State Census, Erie County
  Availability not known.

• 1830 U.S. Census, Erie County, New York
  There is a published index to the 1830 census for all of New York State.

• 1835 New York State Census, Erie County
  Availability not known.

• 1840 U.S. Census, Erie County, New York
  There is a published index to the 1840 census for all of New York State.

• 1845 New York State Census, Erie County
  Availability not known.

• Index to the 1850 Census of Black Rock, Erie County, New York by June P. Zintz and Glenn R.P. Atwell. 

• 1850 U.S. Census, Erie County, New York
  There is a published index to the 1850 census for all of New York State. The is the first Erie County census, state or federal, to list all free persons. Censuses prior to 1850 only listed free heads of families.

• 1855 New York State Census, Erie County
  There is an index to the 1855 New York State census for Erie County excluding the City of Buffalo in the Special Collections Room at the main branch of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library.

• 1860 U.S. Census, Erie County, New York
  There is a published index to the 1860 census for all of New York State.

• 1865 New York State Census, Erie County
  The 1865 New York State census for Erie County is not indexed.

• 1870 U.S. Census, Erie County, New York
  The 1870 U.S. census for Erie County is not indexed.

• 1875 New York State Census, Erie County
  The 1875 New York State census for Erie County is not indexed.

• 1880 U.S. Census, Erie County, New York
  There is a partial Soundex index to the entire 1880 U.S. census that only includes households with a child age 10 or under.

• 1890 U.S. Census, Erie County, New York
  Most of the 1890 population census was destroyed by fire in 1921.

• 1890 Special Census of Union Veterans and Widows
  This census exists for New York State but is not indexed. It includes the name and address of each living veteran and veteran's widow and information about the veteran's service.

• 1892 New York State Census, Erie County
  The 1892 New York State census for Erie County is not indexed.

• 1900 U.S. Census, Erie County, New York
  There is a Soundex index to all households on the 1900 U.S. census.

• 1905 New York State Census, Erie County
  The 1905 New York State census for Erie County is not indexed.

• 1910 U.S. Census, Erie County, New York
  There is a Soundex index to the 1910 U.S. census for twenty-one states not including New York.

• 1915 New York State Census, Erie County
  The 1915 New York State census for Erie County is not indexed.

• 1920 U.S. Census, Erie County, New York
  There is a Soundex index to all households on the 1920 U.S. census and here is a listing of over 16,000 individuals from the 1920 census for the City of Buffalo who are of Polish descent or are related to those families. There is also a 1920 Erie County Enumeration District Page here.

• 1925 New York State Census, Erie County
  The 1925 New York State census for Erie County is not indexed. This was the last census taken by New York State.

• 1930 U.S. Census, Erie County, New York
  The 1930 U.S. census will not become available until the year 2001.