Abbreviations in US census citations

By mbcross on Tue, 09/29/2026 - 12:31

Forums

When using US census citations, when can we abbreviate items such as "county" and state names? Only after the first usage? Or can we abbreviate even on the first citation? What about if we have citations for censuses in different states? Would we need to spell out the state on first usage, then provide the abbreviation?

1900 U.S. census, Clarke County, Alabama, population schedule, Precinct 21, Choctaw Corner, enumeration district (ED) 44, sheet 14A, p. 298 (stamped), dwelling 269, family 269, lines 27-33, Harry H. Wilkerson household; digital images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 18 Apr 2023).

1900 U.S. census, Clarke Co., Ala., pop. sch., Precinct 21, Choctaw Corner, ED 44, sheet 14A, p. 298 (stamped), dwell. 269, fam. 269, lines 27-33, Harry H. Wilkerson household.
 

But then not abbreviating here because it's a different state?

1930 U.S. census, Polk County, Texas, population schedule, Justice Precinct 2, enumeration district (ED) 6, sheet 4B, dwelling 79, family 82, Eliga Wilkerson household; digital images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 8 Jan 2018).

Also, because I know you have significant research in Louisiana, what is the accepted abbreviation for "Parish"?
 

Submitted byEEon Wed, 09/30/2026 - 09:09

Hi, mbcross. Good questions! While these might be perceived as "style" issues of the ilk that sends us to Chicago Manual of Style, they do have ramifications for our historical research. (It’s also something that could be beneficially added to the next edition of EE, whenever a new edition is done; so thanks for raising the questions.)

The core issue is clarity.  From that standpoint, if Evidence Explained addresses the issue in a future edition, this would be policy for Evidence Style:

TEXT:

  • Following CMOS and most other guides, don’t abbreviate anything in narrative text—except the standard Mr., Mrs., Ms., Col., Gen., etc. that appear before names.
  • Following long-standing genealogical practice, a narrative genealogy or a compiled genealogy might abbreviate the word “county” and names of states in the reduced-font “children’s lists” that summarize b., m., d. data. 

REFERENCE NOTES:

  • Spell out both the word “County” and names of states at first usage.
  • Abbreviate “County” as "Co." thereafter.
  • (As with CMOS's more-recent editions) use either traditional abbreviations or postal codes for state-name abbreviations, but choose one style and use it consistently.
  • Don’t repeat state name in citations if the accompanying narrative deals with just one locale.
  • Repeat the state name in the citation when the accompanying narrative shifts back and forth from one state to another.

Re, Louisiana: when the word parish is used to designate a civil locale (say, Natchitoches Parish or Rapides Parish, with the word “parish” being equivalent to “county” elsewhere), Ph. and Par. are both widely used. Likely, Par. would be more easily understood by those not familiar with Louisiana’s civil jurisdictions.