Agricultural Census 1850-1880

AGRICULTURAL CENSUS (1850-1880): An Alphabetical Index
Preface
According to information prepared by the National Archives, from 1850-1880, census enumerators gathered data about farms that met certain dollar value production thresholds as noted below:
1850 & 1860—every farm with an annual produce worth $100 or more was enumerated, giving the name of the owner, agent or tenant, and the kind and value of acreage and machinery and amounts of livestock and produce.
1870—every farm of three acres or more with an annual produce worth $500 or more was enumerated, giving the name of the owner, agent or tenant, the value of acreage and machinery and amounts of livestock and produce.
1880--every farm of three acres or more with an annual produce worth $500 or more was enumerated, giving the name of the owner, agent or tenant, the quantity and value of acreage and machinery and amounts of livestock and produce.
The information pertaining to Monroe County agricultural census is not readily available but may be found in whole or in part at the Monroe County History Center in Bloomington, Indiana, the Wells Library at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, the Indiana State Archives and the Indiana State Library. In compiling the records for this particular census index, some irregularities were noted including missing records for given township and records not where they were expected to be.
If the record sought is not where it is expected to be, diligence in searching is recommended. Additionally, keep in mind that handwriting was difficult to read which may result in transcription errors.