Are you new to U.S. Census Research? If so, you can find below a list of everything that is found on each census!! Basically the more current the census, the more information you can get from it.

1790 FEDERAL CENSUS: Column headings

Name of head of family
Free white males of 16 years and upward, including heads of families.
Free white males under 16 years.
Free white females including heads of families.
All other free persons.
Slaves



1800 FEDERAL CENSUS: Column headings

Name of county, parish, township, town or city, where the family resides.
Names of heads of families.

Free white males:
  Under 10 years of age
  Of 10 and under 16
  Of 16 and under 26, including heads of families
  Of 26 and under 45, including heads of families
  Of 45 and upwards, including heads of families

Free white females:
  Under 10 years of age
  Of 10 and under 16
  Of 16 and under 26, including heads of families
  Of 26 and under 45, including heads of families
  Of 45 and upwards, including heads of families  

All other free persons, except Indians not taxed



1820 FEDERAL CENSUS: Column headings

Name of county, parish, township, town or city, where the family resides.
Names of heads of families.

Free white males:
  Under 10 years of age
  Of 10 and under 16
  Between 16 and 18
  Of 16 and under 26, including heads of families
  Of 26 and under 45, including heads of families
  Of 45 and upwards, including heads of families

Free white females:
  Under 10 years of age
  Of 10 and under 16
  Of 16 and under 26, including heads of families
  Of 26 and under 45, including heads of families
  Of 45 and upwards, including heads of families  

Foreigners not naturalized

Number of persons engaged in:
  Agriculture
  Commerce
  Manufacture

Slaves:
  Males:
    Under 14 years
    Of 14 and under 26
    Of 26 and under 45
    Of 45 and upwards
  Females:
    Of 14 and under 26
    Of 26 and under 45
    Of 45 and upwards

Free colored persons:
  Males:
    Under 14 years
    Of 14 and under 26
    Of 26 and under 45
    Of 45 and upwards
  Females:
    Of 14 and under 26
    Of 26 and under 45
    Of 45 and upwards

All other persons, except Indians not taxed



1830 FEDERAL CENSUS : Column headings

Name of county, city, ward, town, township, parish, precinct, hundred, or district.
Names of heads of families.

FREE WHITE PERSONS, INCLUDING HEADS OF FAMILIES
Males:
  Under 5 years of age
  Of 5 and under 10
  Of 10 and under 15
  Of 15 and under 20
  Of 20 and under 30
  Of 30 and under 40
  Of 40 and under 50
  Of 50 and under 60
  Of 60 and under 70
  Of 70 and under 80
  Of 80 and under 90
  Of 90 and under 100
  Of 100 and upwards

Females:
  Under 5 years of age
  Of 5 and under 10
  Of 10 and under 15
  Of 15 and under 20
  Of 20 and under 30
  Of 30 and under 40
  Of 40 and under 50
  Of 50 and under 60
  Of 60 and under 70
  Of 70 and under 80
  Of 80 and under 90
  Of 90 and under 100
  Of 100 and upwards

SLAVES
Males
  Under 10 years of age
  Of 10 and under 24
  Of 24 and under 36
  Of 36 and under 55
  Of 55 and under 100
  Of 100 and upwards

Females
  Under 10 years of age
  Of 10 and under 24
  Of 24 and under 36
  Of 36 and under 55
  Of 55 and under 100
  Of 100 and upwards

Total

WHITE PERSONS INCLUDED IN THE FOREGOING
Who are deaf and dumb, under 14 years of age
Who are deaf and dumb, of 14 and under 25
Who are deaf and dumb, of 25 and upwards
Who are blind
Aliens -- foreigners not Naturalized



1840 FEDERAL CENSUS : Column headings

Name of county, city, ward, town, township, parish, precinct, hundred, or district.
Names of heads of families.

FREE WHITE PERSONS, INCLUDING HEADS OF FAMILIES
Males:
  Under 5 years of age
  Of 5 and under 10
  Of 10 and under 15
  Of 15 and under 20
  Of 20 and under 30
  Of 30 and under 40
  Of 40 and under 50
  Of 50 and under 60
  Of 60 and under 70
  Of 70 and under 80
  Of 80 and under 90
  Of 90 and under 100
  Of 100 and upwards

Females:
  Under 5 years of age
  Of 5 and under 10
  Of 10 and under 15
  Of 15 and under 20
  Of 20 and under 30
  Of 30 and under 40
  Of 40 and under 50
  Of 50 and under 60
  Of 60 and under 70
  Of 70 and under 80
  Of 80 and under 90
  Of 90 and under 100
  Of 100 and upwards

SLAVES
Males
  Under 10 years of age
  Of 10 and under 24
  Of 24 and under 36
  Of 36 and under 55
  Of 55 and under 100
  Of 100 and upwards

Females
  Under 10 years of age
  Of 10 and under 24
  Of 24 and under 36
  Of 36 and under 55
  Of 55 and under 100
  Of 100 and upwards

Total
Number of persons in each family engaged in Pensioners for Revolutionary or military services, included in the foregoing
  Name
  Age



1850 FEDERAL CENSUS : Column headings

1  Dwelling-houses numbered in the order of visitation.
2  Families numbered in the order of visitation.
3  The name of every person whose usual place of abode on the first day of June, 1850, was in this family.

DESCRIPTION
4  Age
5  Sex
6  Color - White, black or mulatto.

Profession, Occupation, or Trade of each male person over 15 years of age.
Value of Real Estate owned.
Place of Birth, naming the State, Territory, or Country.
Married within the year.
Attended school within the year.
Persons over 20 years of age who cannot read and write.
Whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, pauper or convict.



1860 FEDERAL CENSUS : Column headings

1  Dwelling Houses - numbered in the order of visitation.
2  Families numbered in the order of visitation.
3  The name of every person whose usual place of abode on the first day of June, 1860, was in this family.

DESCRIPTION
4  Age
5  Sex
6  Color.  White, Black, or Mulatto.

7  Profession, Occupation, or Trade of each person, male and female,over 15 years of age.

VALUE OF ESTATE OWNED
8  Value of Real Estate.
9  Value of Personal Estate.

Place of Birth, Naming the State, Territory, or Country.

11  Married within the year.
12  Attended School within the year.
13  Persons over 20 years of age who can not read and write.
14  Whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, pauper, or convict.



1870 FEDERAL CENSUS : Column headings

1  Dwelling-house, numbered in the order of visitation.
2  Families, numbered in the order of visitation.
3  The name of every person whose place of abode on the first day of June, 1870, was in this family.

DESCRIPTION
4  Age at last birth-day.  If under 1 year, give months in fractions, thus 2/12.
5  Sex - Males (M.), Females (F.)
6  Color.- White (W.), Black (B.), Mulatto (M.), Chinese (C.), Indian
(I.)

7  Profession, Occupation, or Trade of each person, male or female.

VALUE OF REAL ESTATE OWNED
8  Value of Real Estate
9  Value of Personal Estate

10  Place of Birth, naming State or Territory of U.S.; or the Country, if of foreign birth.

PARENTAGE
11  Father of foreign birth.
12  Mother of foreign birth.

13  If born within the year, state month (Jan., Feb., etc.)
14  If married within the year, state month  (Jan., Feb., etc.)
15  Attended school within the year.

EDUCATION
16  Cannot read.
17  Cannot write.

18  Whether deaf and dumb. blind, insane, or idiotic.

CONSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS
19  Male Citizens of U.S. of 21 years of age and upwards.
20  Male Citizens of U.S. of 21 years of age and upwards, whose right to vote is denied or abridged on other grounds than rebellion or other crime.



1880 FEDERAL CENSUS : Column headings

Note A.- The Census Year begins June 1, 1879, and ends May 31, 1880.
Note B.-All persons will be included in the Enumeration who were living on the 1st day of June, 1880.  No others will.  Children BORN SINCE June 1, 1880 will be OMITTED. 
Note C.- Questions Nos. 13, 14, 22 and 23 are not to be asked in respect to persons under 10 years of age.

1a Cities
======
  Name of Street
  House Number

1  Dwelling houses numbered in order of visitation
2  Families numbered in order of visitation
3  The Name of each Person whose place of abode, on 1st day of June,1880, was in this family.

Personal Description
===============
4  Color--White W; Black, B; Mulatto, Mu; Chinese, C; Indian, I.
5  Sex--Male, M; Female, F.
6  Age at last birthday prior to June 1, 1880.  If under 1 year, give months in fractions, thus: 1/12
7  If born within the Census year, give the month.
8  Relationship of each person to the head of this family--whether wife, son, daughter, servant, boarder, or other.

Civil Condition
=========
9  Single. /
10  Married. /
11  Widowed. /  Divorced, D.
12  Married during Census year. /

Occupation
========
13  Profession, Occupation or Trade of each person, male or female.
14  Number of months this person has been unemployed during the Census year.

Health
=====
15  Is the person (on the day of the Enumerator's visit) sick or
temporarily disabled, so as to be unable to attend to ordinary business or duties?  If so, what is the sickness or disability?
16  Blind. /
17  Deaf and Dumb. /
18  Idiotic. /
19  Insane. /
20  Maimed, Crippled, Bedridden, or otherwise disabled. /

Education
=======
21  Attended school within the Census year. /
22  Cannot read. /
23  Cannot write. /

Nativity
======
24  Place of Birth of this person, naming State or Territory of United States, or the Country, if of foreign birth.
25  Place of Birth of the FATHER of this person, naming the State or Territory of United States, or the Country, if of foreign birth.
26  Place of Birth of the MOTHER of this person, naming the State or Territory of United States, or the Country, if of foreign birth.



1890 FEDERAL CENSUS

The information below is paraphrased from "The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy", by Val D. Greenwood, 2nd Edition, published by the GPC Baltimore, 1990. 
 
Most of the 1890 Census does not exist, due to a fire in the Commerce Department building on 21 January 1921.  Though not all the schedules were burned, most were so badly damaged that Congress authorized their disposal.  Those that are left are parts of Perry County, AL; a small area of Washington, DC; Muscogee Co., GA (Columbus);McDonough Co., IL (Mount Twp); Wright Co., MN (Rockford); Hudson Co. NJ (Jersey City); Westchester Co. NY (Eastchester) and Suffolk Co. NY (Brookhaven Twp); Gaston
Co. NC (South Point and River Bend Twps) and Cleveland Co. NC (Township No. 2); Hamilton Co. OH (Cincinnati) and Clinton Co. OH (Wayne Twp); Union Co. SD (Jefferson Twp); Ellis Co. TX (JP No. 6, Mountain Peak and Ovilla Precinct); Hood Co. TX (Precinct No. 5); Rusk Co. TX (No. 6 and JP No. 7); Trinity Co. TX (Trinity Town and Precinct No. 2); and Kaufman Co. TX (Kaufman).  I see that the Index to this collection is on microfilm M496, two rolls.

This Census used a 'family schedule': a separate sheet for each family.   There was space for 5 family members on each side of one schedule; two schedules to be used if more than 10 family members.

Part one:
  A.- Number of Dwelling-house in the order of visitation.
  B.- Number of families in this dwelling-house.
  C.- Number of persons in this dwelling-house.
  D.- Number of Family in the order of visitation.
  E.- No. of Persons in this family.

INQUIRIES
1  Christian name in full, and initial of middle name.
    Surname.
2  Whether a soldier, sailor, or marine during the civil war (U.S. or Conf.) or widow of such person.
3  Relationship to head of family.
4  Whether white, black, mulatto, quadroon, octoroon, Chinese, Japanese, or Indian.
5  Sex.
6  Age at nearest birthday.  If under one year, give age in months.
7  Whether single, married, widowed, or divorced.
8  Whether married during the census year (June 1, 1889 to May 31, 1890).  
9  Mother of how many children, and number of these children living.
10  Place of birth.
11  Place of birth of Father.
12  Place of birth of Mother.
13  Number of years in the United States.
14  Whether naturalized.
15  Whether naturalization papers have been taken out.
16  Profession, trade, or occupation.
17  Months unemployed during the census year (June 1, 1889 to May 31, 1890)
18  Attendance at school (in months) during the census year  (June 1, 1889 to May 31, 1890)
19  Able to Read.
20  Able to Write.
21  Able to speak English.  If not, the language or dialect spoken.
22  Whether suffering from [CANNOT read it] or chronic disease, with name of disease and length of time afflicted.
23  Whether defective in mind, sight, hearing, or speech, or whether crippled, maimed, or deformed, with name of defect.
24  Whether a prisoner, convict, homeless child, or pauper.
25  Supplemental schedule and page.



1900 FEDERAL CENSUS : Column headings

LOCATION
=========
In cities
      Street
      House number
1  Number of dwelling house in the order of visitation.
2  Number of family in the order of visitation.

3  NAME of each person whose place of abode on June 1, 1900 was in this family. Enter surname first, then the given name and middle initial, if any. Include every person living on June 1, 1900. Omit children born since June 1, 1900.

RELATION
4  Relationship of each person to the head of the family.

PERSONAL DESCRIPTION
5   Color or race
6   Sex
7   DATE OF BIRTH
      Month
      Year
8   Age at last birthday.
9   Whether Single, Married, Widowed or Divorced.
10  Number of years married.
11  Mother of how many children.
12  Number of these children living.

NATIVITY
Place of birth of each person and parents of each person enumerated.  If born in the United States give the State or Territory; if of foreign birth give the Country only.
13  Place of birth of this person.
14  Place of birth of Father of this person.
15  Place of birth of Mother of this person.

CITIZENSHIP
16  Year of immigration to the United States.
17  Number of years in the United States.
18  Naturalization.

OCCUPATION, TRADE OR PROFESSION
of each person TEN YEARS of age and over.
19  Occupation.
20  Months not employed.

EDUCATION
21  Attended school (in months).
22  Can read.
23  Can write.
24  Can speak English.

OWNERSHIP OF HOME
25  Owned or rented.
26  Owned free or mortgaged.
27  Farm or house
28  Number of farm schedule



1920-Fourteenth Census of the United States.

1.  Street,Avenue, Road, etc...
2.  House number
3.  Number of dwelling houe in order of visitation
4.  Number of family in order of visitation
5.  Name of each person whose place of abode on January 1, 1920 was in this family.  
6.  Relation to head of household
7.  Home, owned or rented
8.  If owned, free or martgaged
9.  Sex
10. color or race
11. Age at last birthday
12. Single, married, widowed, or divorced
13. Year of immigration to the United States 
14. Naturalized or alien
15. If Naturalized, year of naturalization
16. Attened since anytime since Sept 1, 1919
17. Whether able to read.
18. Whether able to write.
19. Place of birth for the person listed
20. mother tongue of the person
21. place of birth of their father
22. mother tongue for the father
23. place of birth of their mother.
24. mother tongue of the mother
25. Whether able to speak English
26. Trade, profession
27. Industry, business, or establishment in which at work, as cotton mill, dry goods store, farm, etc...
28. Employer. salary or wage worker or working on own account
29. number of farm schedule

Census film can be found at the Family History Centers, some larger libraries and can be ordered through Heritage Quest. Some older censuses schedules are in book form at larger libraries.

Hope this somebody helps!!