The census and census substitute records for the Hilton Head Island area are available online for our Premier members (see links below), or in our special collections at the library.

What are Census Substitutes? When there have never been any census, or when census records have been destroyed, almost any data base listing persons and families can be used as a substitute. A famous case is the 1790 census for Virginia which was lost and recreated from tax lists. This substitute has such credence that it is often accepted as a matter of course without caveat. This acceptance is in spite of it being data from six or eight years before 1790.

The 1940 Federal Census was longer than previous censuses, with more detailed questions about employment status and education, and questions directed specifically to women who are or have been married. Supplemental questions regarding the birthplaces of the mother and father and veteran status are asked only of the individuals who fall on specific lines within the census page.

An 1890 Census Substitute was created from the cemetery records of Beaufort County transcribed by members of the Emily Geiger and Captain William Hilton Chapters, NSDAR, compiled by Sunni Bond. These records are available, with DAR permission, on paper at the library.

St. Luke's Parish/Beaufort District/Beaufort County/hilton head island Census Records

• 1839 Census Beaufort District

• 1850 Federal Mortality Census, St. Lukes Parish

• 1860 Federal Census St. Lukes Parish - Sorted by Dwelling

• 1860 Federal Census St. Lukes Parish - sorted by Surname

• 1860 Federal Mortality Census St. Lukes Parish

• 1868 Federal Agricultural Census Hilton Head Island

• 1868 Voter Registration Bluffton, Hilton Head Island

• 1869 South Carolina State Census, Beaufort County

• 1869 Militia Enrollments Hilton Head Island

• 1870 Federal Census St. Luke's Parish sorted by Surname

• 1870 Federal Census St. Luke's Parish sorted by Dwelling

• 1875 Federal Agricultural Census, Bluffton Township

• 1880 Federal Census, Hilton Head Township sorted by Surname

• 1880 Federal Census, Hilton Head Twp sorted by Dwelling

• 1880 Federal Mortality Census, Bluffton Township

• 1890 Veterans Schedule, Hilton Head Island

• 1900 Federal Census, Hilton Head Township, sorted by Surname

• 1900 Federal Census, Hilton Head Township, sorted by Dwelling

• 1910 Federal Census, Hilton Head Township sorted by Surname

• 1910 Federal Census, Hilton Head Island sorted by Dwelling

• 1920 Federal Census, Hilton Head Island sorted by Surname

• 1920 Federal Census, Hilton Head Island sorted by Dwelling

• 1930 Federal Census, Hilton Head Township sorted by Surname

• 1930 Federal Census, Hilton Head Township sorted by Dwelling

• 1940 Federal Census, Hilton Head Sorted by Surname

• 1940 Federal Census, Hilton Head Sorted by Dwelling

Daufuskie, Pinckney, AND Bull Islands

• 1910 Federal Census, Daufuskie Island, sorted by Surname

• 1910 Federal Census, Daufuskie Island, sorted by Dwelling

• 1940 Federal Census, Daufuskie Island, sorted by Surname

• 1940 Federal Census, Daufuskie Island, sorted by Dwelling

• 1910 Federal Census, Pinckney Island, sorted by Surname

• 1910 Federal Census, Pinckney Island, sorted by Dwelling

• 1940 Federal Census, Pinckney Island

• 1910 Federal Census, Bull Island

• 1940 Federal Census, Bull Island

Selected census records:
Prince William, St. Helena's and St. Peter's Parishes

• 1839 South Carolina Census, Prince William Parish

• 1839 South Carolina Census, St. Helena Parish

• 1839 South Carolina Census, St. Peter's Parish

• 1860 Federal Mortality Table, Prince William Parish

• 1860 Federal Mortality Table, St. Helena Parish

• 1860 Federal Mortality Table, St. Peter's Parish