The Bureau of the Census used two separate Soundex cards, the "family" card and the "individual" card. Both types of cards are arranged numerically by the Soundex code and alphabetically by the first name of the head of the household. The individual card gives the names of people other than those in the immediate household (husband, wife, son, daughter) that are enumerated with a family. These include grandparents, the head of the single person household, or the institution name where the person is living. The information on the Soundex card includes the surname, first name, state and county of residence, city (if appropriate), age, place of birth, and whether a U.S. citizen. Each card also lists the volume, enumeration district, sheet number, and line number where the person can be found on the population schedule. Some Soundex cards are interfiled with other Soundex coded cards.
The Soundex index for the 1880 census is limited in that it only indexes those households that have children who are ten years of age or younger. This limitation does not affect those who would be indexed as single person households or those of a different surname than the head of household. 34 rolls.