A Little History
The first census of the United States was conducted in 1790 and had an official enumeration date of August 2, 1790. The area now called Indiana was then a part of the Northwest Territory, which also contained what are now Michigan and Illinois. The Northwest Territory was not included in the 1790 census.
 
On July 4, 1800 the Indiana Territory was established and was included in the 1800 census taken officially on August 4, 1800. Three Indiana counties were formed before 1808: Knox County in 1790, Clark County in 1801 and Dearborn County in 1803. Dearborn included an area from Fort Recovery, Ohio, Southwest to Madison, Indiana. All or part of today's Franklin, Union, Fayette, Wayne, Dearborn, Rush, Ohio and Switzerland counties were in Dearborn County in 1803.
 
The 1810 census was taken officially on August 6, 1810 and included the Indiana Territory, but the 1800 and 1810 schedules have been lost or destroyed. Luckily for us, the General Assembly of the Indiana Territory had ordered a census of free males 21 years of age and older to be taken in 1806-7 so they could ensure equal representation, and this enumeration does survive. It is presented below.
 
On February 1, 1811, Franklin County was formed from parts of Dearborn and Clark counties. It was Indiana's 6th county. Then in 1816, Indiana became the nineteenth state admitted into the Union and was included in the fourth US census, with the official numeration date of August 7, 1820.
 
Censuses available to the public for Franklin County are for the years 1820 through 1940, with the exception of the 1890 census which was destroyed in a warehouse fire. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, census records remain confidential for seventy-two years, making the 1940 census newly available to the public in 2012. The 1950 census will not become available until 2022.
 

Census Records on this Site
(For individual township tax lists, see Township Records.)
 
1807 Indiana Territory Census Name Index
 
1812 Franklin County Sheriff's Sale "A true copy from the original March the 14 1812. I do certify that the within described lands was offered for sale as the law directs on Monday the 2d day of March 1812 for the taxes due theron but for want of bidders -------------together with seven dollars for advertising six times in the publick papers. March the 13th 1812"...Robert Hanna, sheriff of Franklin County.
1813 Franklin County Tax List
1820 Franklin County Census Name Index NOTE: These census index files were transcribed by several different contributors (THANKS!) and contain some variations in content. Most contain only name and census page number.

The 1850 census was the first to include names of other household members besides Head of Household, but our transcriptions are HOH only.
1830 Franklin County Census Name Index
1840 Franklin County Census Name Index
1850 Franklin County Census Head of Household Index
1860 Franklin County Census Head of Household Index
1870 Franklin County Census Head of Household Index
1880 Franklin County Census Every Name Index
 
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Online
Census Resources

(Most require payment)
 
FamilySearch -(free)
Has the 1850, 1900, & 1940 census images on their site, as well as their transcription of the 1880 census. Links to Ancestry.com and Fold3.com for other years.
Ancestry - FEE
This site has images of all available census records. Subscription is required for viewing census images except the 1940 census.
Fold3 - FEE
Has 1860 and 1930 census images, as well as a large collection of military records. Basic searches are included with their free membership, but some images require a paid subscription.
Census-Online - (free)
Contains many links to other census sites, as well as some search tools and links to available CDs and books. Nice clickable map of Indiana.
WorldVitalRecords - FEE
Has most census records, plus other useful databases (some free.) Requires paid subscription to see details on individual people.