It has been 72 years of waiting, but the 1950 US Census has finally been released. I still have to wait another 12 years for the 1960 US Census to be released to be able to find my parents. But I have been able to locate all of my grandparents, my great grandmother, and most of my aunts and uncles.

The 1950 US Census records were released by the National Archives on April 1, 2022. According to the 72 Year Rule, the National Archives releases US Census records to the general public 72 years after the census day. The last census released was the 1940 US Census in 2012. That was two years after I started my research journey. I remember the genealogy world being so excited about the 1940 Census release a year before it happened. I didn’t understand it then, but I understand it now because you have to wait 10 years for the next one to be released. At the moment the 1950 US Census in only available on the National Archives website (click HERE to search the 1950 US Census).

I was able to find my grandmother, Nona Wright, living in Woodruff county, Arkansas with her children and grandchildren. I also was able to find my grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Booker Mays, living in Jackson county, Arkansas with their two children. I’m sure this census will help me make some discoveries in my research that will lead to breaking down some brick walls. I’m going to enjoy this time of genealogy history. But with the 1950 US census being released, that means the countdown to 2032 and the release of the 1960 US census has started.

https://1950census.archives.gov