CITY DIRECTORIES
City Directories were first published in 1799/  The publications were usually produced  yearly.
The Directories listed information that does not show up in census records and included:
  • Name
  • Address
  • Occupation
  • Home owner or renter
  • Separate address section
With City Directories it is possibe to chart a persons occupation history from year to year.
The biggest problem with City Diretories is the difficulty in locating them.  Hard copies can be found in most County Historical Societies and State Historical Societies.  Most local libraries are
also likely to have a copy.  The City Directory is one of the best sources for finding  a family member.
 The City Directories were generally more accurate than Census Records for the following reasons:
  • They were produced for profit. and derived their income from advertisers and individuals and companies that bought  the book.  Poor accuracy  meant  poor sales.
  • Enumerators were hired locally and would go into a city prior to the sales teams being sent in.  Directory companies would  check enumerator entries for errors during the enumeration campaign.
  • When the sales team arrived they would check all advertisor and non advertisor  listings for accuracy.
  • The RL Polk Co is the largest publisher of directories and is still in business today.


ALABAMA

Directory, village of Birmingham and Eco City

Directory, village of Birmingham and Eco City
Directory, village of Birmingham and Eco City
ARIZONA

Phoenix city and Salt River Valley directory, 1913 : containing an alphabetical list of business firms and private citizens of

Phoenix city and Salt River Valley directory, 1913 : containing an alphabetical list of business firms and private citizens of
Phoenix city and Salt River Valley directory, 1913 : containing an alphabetical list of business firms and private citizens of

Phoenix city and Salt River Valley directory, 1914

Phoenix city and Salt River Valley directory, 1914
Phoenix city and Salt River Valley directory, 1914

Phoenix city and Salt River Valley directory, 1915

Phoenix city and Salt River Valley directory, 1915
Phoenix city and Salt River Valley directory, 1915

Phoenix city and Salt River Valley directory, 1928 : containing an alphabetical list of business firms and private citizens of

Phoenix city and Salt River Valley directory, 1928 : containing an alphabetical list of business firms and private citizens of
Phoenix city and Salt River Valley directory, 1928 : containing an alphabetical list of business firms and private citizens of

Phoenix city directory, 1936 : containing an alphabetical directory of business concerns and private citizens, a street and ave

Phoenix city directory, 1936 : containing an alphabetical directory of business concerns and private citizens, a street and ave
Phoenix city directory, 1936 : containing an alphabetical directory of business concerns and private citizens, a street and ave

City of Tucson general and business directory for 1897-98

City of Tucson general and business directory for 1897-98
City of Tucson general and business directory for 1897-98

City of Tucson general and business directory, 1901 : containing 4000 names of citizens, with their occupations and places of r

City of Tucson general and business directory, 1901 : containing 4000 names of citizens, with their occupations and places of r
City of Tucson general and business directory, 1901 : containing 4000 names of citizens, with their occupations and places of r


CALIFORNIA

Bay City directory, 1873-74

Bay City directory, 1873-74
Bay City directory, 1873-74

West Bay City directory for 1896

West Bay City directory for 1896
West Bay City directory for 1896

West Bay City directory for 1902-1903

West Bay City directory for 1902-1903
West Bay City directory for 1902-1903

Bay City directory, 1877-8 : embracing a complete alphabetical list of business firms and private citizens, a directory of city

Bay City directory, 1877-8 : embracing a complete alphabetical list of business firms and private citizens, a directory of city
Bay City directory, 1877-8 : embracing a complete alphabetical list of business firms and private citizens, a directory of city

COLORADO

R.L. Polk Directory Co. Colorado Springs, Colorado City, and Manitou city directory, 1911 : containing a complete alphabetical

R.L. Polk Directory Co. Colorado Springs, Colorado City, and Manitou city directory, 1911 : containing a complete alphabetical
R.L. Polk Directory Co. Colorado Springs, Colorado City, and Manitou city directory, 1911 : containing a complete alphabetical

R.L. Polk & Co.'s Colorado Springs, Colorado City, and Manitou city directory, 1905-1906

R.L. Polk & Co.'s Colorado Springs, Colorado City, and Manitou city directory, 1905-1906
R.L. Polk & Co.'s Colorado Springs, Colorado City, and Manitou city directory, 1905-1906

The R.L. Polk Directory Co.'s Colorado Springs, Colorado City, and Manitou city directory, 1914 : containing a complete alphab

The R.L. Polk Directory Co.'s Colorado Springs, Colorado City, and Manitou city directory, 1914 : containing a complete alphab
The R.L. Polk Directory Co.'s Colorado Springs, Colorado City, and Manitou city directory, 1914 : containing a complete alphab

The R.L. Polk Directory Co.'s Colorado Springs, Colorado City, and Manitou city directory, 1916

The R.L. Polk Directory Co.'s Colorado Springs, Colorado City, and Manitou city directory, 1916
The R.L. Polk Directory Co.'s Colorado Springs, Colorado City, and Manitou city directory, 1916

The R.L. Polk Directory Co.'s Colorado Springs, Colorado City, and Manitou city directory, 1915

The R.L. Polk Directory Co.'s Colorado Springs, Colorado City, and Manitou city directory, 1915
The R.L. Polk Directory Co.'s Colorado Springs, Colorado City, and Manitou city directory, 1915

R.L. Polk Directory Co. Colorado Springs, Colorado City, and Manitou city directory, 1912 : containing a complete alphabetical

R.L. Polk Directory Co. Colorado Springs, Colorado City, and Manitou city directory, 1912 : containing a complete alphabetical
R.L. Polk Directory Co. Colorado Springs, Colorado City, and Manitou city directory, 1912 : containing a complete alphabetical


Corbett, Hoye & Co.'s sixth annual city directory of the City of Denver, 1880.

Corbett, Hoye & Co.'s sixth annual city directory of the City of Denver, 1880.
Corbett, Hoye & Co.'s sixth annual city directory of the City of Denver, 1880.

Denver, Colorado City Directory, 1890

Directory listing of some residents of Denver, Colorado in 1890
Denver, Colorado City Directory, 1890

R.L. Polk & Co.'s Pueblo city directory, 1899-1900

R.L. Polk & Co.'s Pueblo city directory, 1899-1900
R.L. Polk & Co.'s Pueblo city directory, 1899-1900

ILLINOIS

Kankakee City, Illinois Directory, 1876

Listing of over 2700 residents of Kankakee, Illinois in 1876
Kankakee City, Illinois Directory, 1876

Springfield, Illinois City Directory, 1855

Listing of about 1500 Springfield, Illinois residents in 1855
Springfield, Illinois City Directory, 1855

INDIANA

Boyd's Lockport city directory : with a business directory of Niagara County and an appendix, 1866-7

Boyd's Lockport city directory : with a business directory of Niagara County and an appendix, 1866-7
Boyd's Lockport city directory : with a business directory of Niagara County and an appendix, 1866-7

Kirwin's directory of the city of Lockport and county of Niagara for the year 1878.

Kirwin's directory of the city of Lockport and county of Niagara for the year 1878.
Kirwin's directory of the city of Lockport and county of Niagara for the year 1878.

KANSAS

Kansas City, Kansas Directory, 1890

Directory listing of some Kansas City, Kansas residents in 1890.
Kansas City, Kansas Directory, 1890

KENTUCKY

Polk's Lexington (Kentucky) city directory, 1927 : embracing a complete alphabetical list of business firms and private citize

Polk's Lexington (Kentucky) city directory, 1927 : embracing a complete alphabetical list of business firms and private citize
Polk's Lexington (Kentucky) city directory, 1927 : embracing a complete alphabetical list of business firms and private citize

MARYLAND

Baltimore city directory for the year commencing April 1st, 1913 : containing an alphabetical list of business firms and privat

Baltimore city directory for the year commencing April 1st, 1913 : containing an alphabetical list of business firms and privat
Baltimore city directory for the year commencing April 1st, 1913 : containing an alphabetical list of business firms and privat


MICHIGAN


Ann Arbor city and Washtenaw County directory for 1886-7

Ann Arbor city and Washtenaw County directory for 1886-7
Ann Arbor city and Washtenaw County directory for 1886-7

The Glen V. Mills Directory Co.'s directory of the city of Ann Arbor, 1903

The Glen V. Mills Directory Co.'s directory of the city of Ann Arbor, 1903
The Glen V. Mills Directory Co.'s directory of the city of Ann Arbor, 1903

Burch & Polk's Detroit city business directory, 1872-73 : comprising a complete alphabetical and classified list of all busine

Burch & Polk's Detroit city business directory, 1872-73 : comprising a complete alphabetical and classified list of all busine
Burch & Polk's Detroit city business directory, 1872-73 : comprising a complete alphabetical and classified list of all busine

Detroit city directory for 1882 : embracing an alphabetical list of business firms and private citizens, a directory of the cit

Detroit city directory for 1882 : embracing an alphabetical list of business firms and private citizens, a directory of the cit
Detroit city directory for 1882 : embracing an alphabetical list of business firms and private citizens, a directory of the cit

Detroit city and Wayne County directory for 1886 : containing an alphabetical list of business firms and private citizens, a di

Detroit city and Wayne County directory for 1886 : containing an alphabetical list of business firms and private citizens, a di


J.W. Weeks & Co.'s Detroit city directory for 1885 : containing an alphabetical list of business firms and private citizens, a

J.W. Weeks & Co.'s Detroit city directory for 1885 : containing an alphabetical list of business firms and private citizens, a
J.W. Weeks & Co.'s Detroit city directory for 1885 : containing an alphabetical list of business firms and private citizens, a

Charles F. Clark & Co.'s annual city directory of the inhabitants, business firms, etc., of the city of Detroit, 1866-67.

Charles F. Clark & Co.'s annual city directory of the inhabitants, business firms, etc., of the city of Detroit, 1866-67.
Charles F. Clark & Co.'s annual city directory of the inhabitants, business firms, etc., of the city of Detroit, 1866-67.

Charles F. Clark & Co.'s annual city directory of the inhabitants, business firms, etc., of the city of Detroit, 1868-69.

Charles F. Clark & Co.'s annual city directory of the inhabitants, business firms, etc., of the city of Detroit, 1868-69.
Charles F. Clark & Co.'s annual city directory of the inhabitants, business firms, etc., of the city of Detroit, 1868-69.

Charles F. Clark & Co.'s annual city directory of the inhabitants, business firms, etc., of the city of Detroit, 1869-70.

Charles F. Clark & Co.'s annual city directory of the inhabitants, business firms, etc., of the city of Detroit, 1869-70.
Charles F. Clark & Co.'s annual city directory of the inhabitants, business firms, etc., of the city of Detroit, 1869-70.

Ionia, Michigan City Directory, 1891

Directory listing for residents of the central Michigan town of Ionia in 1891
Ionia, Michigan City Directory, 1891

West Bay City, Michigan Directory, 1889-90

Directory containing more than 4,400 names for west Bay City, Michigan between 1889 and 1890.
West Bay City, Michigan Directory, 1889-90

Ypsilanti, Michigan City Directory, 1910

This is an extraction of the Ypsilanti, Michigan 1910 city directory
Ypsilanti, Michigan City Directory, 1910

MASSACHUSETTS

Boston, Massachusetts City Directory, 1789

Directory listing of residents of Boston in 1789
Boston, Massachusetts City Directory, 1789

Brockton, Massachusetts City Directory, 1887-90

Directory listings for over 30,000 residents of Brockton, Massachusetts between 1887 and 1890
Brockton, Massachusetts City Directory, 1887-90

Suffolk County, Boston City Massachusetts 1810 City Directory

This is an extraction of the Boston City Suffolk County, Massachusetts 1810 City Directory.
Suffolk County, Boston City Massachusetts 1810 City Directory

MINNESOTA

R.L. Polk & Co.'s St. Paul city directory, 1904 : comprising an alphabetically arranged list of business firms and private ci

R.L. Polk & Co.'s St. Paul city directory, 1904 : comprising an alphabetically arranged list of business firms and private ci
R.L. Polk & Co.'s St. Paul city directory, 1904 : comprising an alphabetically arranged list of business firms and private ci



MISSOURI

St. Joseph, Missouri City Directory, 1890

Directory listing of over 20,000 residents of St. Joseph, Missouri in 1890
St. Joseph, Missouri City Directory, 1890

MONTANA

Flathead County, MT, 1905 - 1906 Kalispell City Directory and Flathead County Directory

This is an extraction of the 1905 - 1906 Kalispell City Directory and Flathead County Directory.
Flathead County, MT, 1905 - 1906 Kalispell City Directory and Flathead County Directory

Missoula, Montana City Directory, 1890

Directory listing of over 3,300 individuals who lived in the Missoula, Montana area in 1890
Missoula, Montana City Directory, 1890

NEW JERSEY

Belisle's Atlantic City directory for the year 1874 containing the names of the inhabitants, places of business, hotels, &c.

Belisle's Atlantic City directory for the year 1874 containing the names of the inhabitants, places of business, hotels, &c.
Belisle's Atlantic City directory for the year 1874 containing the names of the inhabitants, places of business, hotels, &c.

Cook & Hall's Elizabeth City directory for 1883-84

Cook & Hall's Elizabeth City directory for 1883-84
Cook & Hall's Elizabeth City directory for 1883-84

Elizabeth, New Jersey, City directory, 1897

Elizabeth, New Jersey, City directory, 1897
Elizabeth, New Jersey, City directory, 1897

Jersey City, New Jersey Directory, 1889-90

City directory for Jersey, New Jersey in 1889 and 1890
Jersey City, New Jersey Directory, 1889-90

Kratzer's business directory of Newark, Paterson, Jersey City, 1894

Kratzer's business directory of Newark, Paterson, Jersey City, 1894
Kratzer's business directory of Newark, Paterson, Jersey City, 1894

Directory of the city of Plainfield, Union County and borough of North Plainfield, Somerset County, N.J. : 1887-88 : containing

Directory of the city of Plainfield, Union County and borough of North Plainfield, Somerset County, N.J. : 1887-88 : containing
Directory of the city of Plainfield, Union County and borough of North Plainfield, Somerset County, N.J. : 1887-88 : containing



NEW YORK

Manhattan, New York City, New York Directory: 1839-1840

This is an extraction of the Manhattan, New York City, New York Directory: 1839-1840
Manhattan, New York City, New York Directory: 1839-1840

New York City Directory, 1786

Male, heads of households living in New York in 1786
New York City Directory, 1786

New York City Directory, 1869

This database contains an 1869 directory of city residents for New York City, New York, U.S.A. and includes the names of over 188,000 persons. Along with the name of resident (which is displayed surname first) is their occupation, business address and home address (preceded by a lowercase h).
New York City Directory, 1869

New York City Directory, 1890

This database is a directory of New York City, New York, U.S.A. residents for 1890 and includes the names of over 384,000 persons. Along with the name of resident (which is displayed surname first) is their occupation, business address and home address (preceded by a lowercase h).
New York City Directory, 1890



OHIO

Fremont City, Ohio Directory, 1889-90

City directory for Fremont, Ohio in 1890
Fremont City, Ohio Directory, 1889-90

Mansfield, Ohio City Directory, 1883-84

Transcription of a city directory for Mansfield, Ohio originally published in 1884
Mansfield, Ohio City Directory, 1883-84



PENNSYLVANIA

Directory of the city of Allentown and Lehigh County for 1895

Directory of the city of Allentown and Lehigh County for 1895
Directory of the city of Allentown and Lehigh County for 1895

Chester City, Pennsylvania Directory, 1888-89

Directory listing more than 9,100 names for Chester City, Pennsylvania from 1888 to 1889.
Chester City, Pennsylvania Directory, 1888-89

The Lancaster City directory : containing the names of the citizens, a business directory, state and city record, and an append

The Lancaster City directory : containing the names of the citizens, a business directory, state and city record, and an append
The Lancaster City directory : containing the names of the citizens, a business directory, state and city record, and an append

Philadelphia City Directory, 1890

This database contains an 1891 city directory for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. It records nearly a quarter of a million individuals and
Philadelphia City Directory, 1890

TEXAS

Houston, Texas City Directory, 1917

Directory listing of Houston, Texas in 1917
Houston, Texas City Directory, 1917

Washington, D.C. City Directory, 1890

This database is a transcription of a city directory for Washington, D.C. (U.S.A.) originally published in 1890. In addition to providing the resident's name, it provides information regarding their address and occupation. This collection includes the names of nearly 198,900 people, mostly heads of households.
Washington, D.C. City Directory, 1890