Q. What government information is helpful in genealogy research?

There are several sources.

1- Decennial Census of Population and Housing: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html

The decennial census is a federal government source of information that is often helpful to genealogists.  However, the census does not release records pertaining to individuals for seventy years due to privacy issues. 

2- Free Family Trees and Genealogy Archives • FamilySearch: https://www.familysearch.org/en/

This family history centers operated by the Church of Latter Day Saints allows for a search of individual records. 

3- The New York Public Library: https://www.nypl.org/about/divisions/milstein/genealogy

The Milstein Division of United States History, Local History & Genealogy houses an extensive genealogical collection that is freely accessible to the public. It is one of the largest collections of its kind. The collection is open to the public.

4-  Ancestry.com: https://www.ancestry.com/

Ancestry.com provides census and other records for genealogical research. This service is available for fee and Hofstra does not subscribe to Ancestry.com.

5- The National Archives Genealogist and Family Historian: https://www.archives.gov/research/genealogy

This website can be helpful for answering basic questions about genealogical research, such as what online genealogical records are available and how to obtain copies of records.