Because genealogical research is cumulative, it is best to start with your most recent ancestor and work back. These records consist of typed abstracts of the names listed in the census with the location roughly defined by the nearest trading post. The record includes the age of each person, occupation if over 15, and place of birth by country or state. You need to know the full name of the person.
Spelling varies for many names.
Microfilmed copies of the original records are arranged by county or by military posts in unorganized areas, and record the age, occupation and place of birth of each family member. The 1870 census indicates if a person is of foreign birth and the 1880 census adds the relationship of each individual to the head of the family. You need to know the full name of the person. The location of the person at the time of each census is helpful in case of duplication or similarity of names in the index. The Dakota Territory 1885 Census database was developed by the Institute for Regional Studies in cooperation with NDSU Libraries, the State Historical Society, and volunteer indexers.