You may be looking at the census just to get the names, ages, and birthplaces of your ancestors, and this is good. You should do this, as it is a basic research task in genealogy. Looking up these things on the census records can tell you a lot about your ancestors you never knew, such as children, parents, and other relatives who are living with them who you never knew existed. You can also get important information on their origins and the origins of their parents. There is more to most census records than just this basic information, however, Some census records, like 1850 through 1870 censuses, only give you the basic information. Others, however, have a treasure trove of other information you can use. Depending on the census, you may find things of important genealogical significance, such as:  Whether or not an ancestor served in the Revolution or Civil War If they were a slave owner (and how many slaves they owned, sometimes even by gender and age range) Their level of schooling Their occupation The number of children a woman has given birth to and how many were still living The year of marriage The number of marriages a person has had The month and year of birth, the year they immigrated to the United States Whether they were a naturalized citizen or not Their address Their native language Whether they could speak English Whether they could read or write Whether they had any disability Whether they rented or owned their home And more To learn more genealogy tips, visit http://www.GenealogyGold.com  Listen via: https://ancestralfindings.com/itunes   https://ancestralfindings.com/youtube  Weekly Giveaways: https://ancestralfindings.com/drawing  Free eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks  Hard To Find Surnames: https://ancestralfindings.com/surnames