The US censuses have been taken since 1790 and are available to the public up to 1930. Tennessee was not a state in 1790 and Lincoln County was Indian Territory. The 1800 and 1810 censuses of the US were destroyed by the British in the War of 1812. The 1890 census of the US was accidentally burned in 1923 at the Commerce Dept.

1820

Original manuscript at the National Archives (Washington DC)
Microfilm of original (copies of which are at many locations)
Book format by Jane Warren Waller in 1973
Online text format at Text Version
Online annotated database at Annotated Database
Readme for online annotated database at Annotated Database Readme

1830

Original manuscript at the National Archives (Washington DC)
Microfilm of original (copies of which are at many locations)
Book format by Byron Sistler in 1971.

1840

Original manuscript at the National Archives (Washington DC)
Microfilm of original (copies of which are at many locations)
Book format by Jane Warren Waller in 1970.
Online text format at Text Version

1850

Original manuscript at the National Archives (Washington DC)
Microfilm of original (copies of which are at many locations)
Book format by Miss Deane Porch in 1970 (surname index)
Book format by Shirley Cato in 1991 (full name index)
Book copy of microfilm (2 v.) by John Schunk (surname index)
Online surname index by John Schunk Schunk index
Online annotated database at Annotated Database
Online index and images at FamilySearch

1860

Original manuscript at the National Archives (Washington DC)
Microfilm of original (copies of which are at many locations)
No books published for this census.
Online copy of microfilm by John Schunk
Online “read me” file by John Schunk Schunk “read me”
Additional “read me” file by George Waller Read me
Online index and images at FamilySearch

1870

Original manuscript at the National Archives (Washington DC)
Microfilm of original (copies of which are at many locations)
Currently being published by the Lincoln County Genealogical Society in its “Lincoln Lineages”
Online index and images at FamilySearch

1880

Original manuscript at the National Archives (Washington DC)
Microfilm of original (copies of which are at many locations)
Book by Byron Sistler: 1880 Census of Lincoln Co.
Online 3rd Civil District (600 names) transcribed by Dwight Winsett Full transcription
Online 3rd Civil District (600 names) transcribed by Dwight Winsett Partial transcription
Online index at FamilySearch

1890

BURNED

1900

Original manuscript at the National Archives (Washington DC)
Microfilm of original (copies of which are at many locations)
Table of Contents for online microfilm of 1900 census S-K Publications
Online microfilm of 1900 census Donated by Christine Zopfi and S-K Publications
Online Index to 1st Civil District transcribed by George Waller CD01 Index
Online Index to 2nd Civil District transcribed by George Waller CD02 Index
Online 3rd Civil District (700 names) transcribed by Dwight Winsett Full transcription
Online 3rd Civil District (700 names) transcribed by Dwight Winsett Partial transcription
Online Index to 18th Civil District transcribed by George Waller CD18 Index
Online Index to 1st & 19th Civil District transcribed by George Waller CD01&19 Index
Online Index to 20th Civil District transcribed by George Waller CD20 Index
Online Index to 21st Civil District transcribed by George Waller CD21 Index
Online Index to 23rd Civil District transcribed by George Waller CD23 Index
Online index and images at FamilySearch

1910

Original manuscript at the National Archives (Washington DC)
Microfilm of original (copies of which are at many locations)
Online 3rd Civil District (700 names) transcribed by Dwight Winsett Full transcription
Online 3rd Civil District (700 names) transcribed by Dwight Winsett Partial transcription
Online index at FamilySearch

1920

Original manuscript at the National Archives (Washington DC)
Microfilm of original (copies of which are at many locations)
Online 1920 Civil District map donated by Dwight Winsett 1920 CD map
Online 3rd Civil District (900 names) transcribed by Dwight Winsett Full transcription
Online 3rd Civil District (900 names) transcribed by Dwight Winsett Partial transcription
Online index at FamilySearch

1930

US Archives description of the census 1930 census
*NO* Original manuscript exists
Microfilm of original (copies of which are at many locations)