Buchanan County Census Records:Missouri did not become a state until 1821 and the geographic area where Buchanan County, Missouri is located did not become part of the state until the Platte Purchase which occurred in 1837. Census records for Buchanan County are available from 1840 to 1930.
The area where Buchanan County is located was not part of Missouri at this time; therefore there was no census enumeration for Buchanan County recorded in 1810. At this time period, Buchanan County was part of unsettled Indian Lands. Also, all Federal census records for the other districts were lost.
This area was still not part of Missouri; therefore there was no census record in 1820 for Buchanan County. It was still part of the Indian Lands. Census records for all existing counties were lost.
This area was still not part of Missouri; therefore, no 1830 census records exist for Buchanan County. The 6 most northwest counties were part of the unorganized territories. The Platte Purchase of 1837 added this region to the state at that time and opened up the area to settlers. The census records for the counties that had been created by 1830 are available. Clay County was the western most county and ran from the Missouri River north to the Iowa border.
This was the first federal census enumeration which included Buchanan County, Missouri. The county was established in 10 ebruary 1839. The 1840 census has been transcribed and may be accessed by clicking on the link in this sentence. Only the head of the household is listed by name. The other members of the household are categorized by gender and age.
Images of the 1840 census are available on online through a pay site, Ancestry.com or you may order the microfilms from the Family History Library. See the link below.
By 1850 Buchanan County was a bustling stopping off place for those heading west. The census records have been transcribed and are also available at the link shown here --1850 census transcriptions. The microfilms for this census are available through your Family History center. See the links below.
1860, 1870, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930:
I am not aware of transcriptions or free images for the 1860 census. The microfilms are available through your local Family History Center.
The 1880 census record images are available online through the Family Search website.