Census Information

Submitted by HOST GFS Nance@aol.com
From PACLARIO-L@rootsweb.com and used with the permission of the author, eileenirwin@netzero.net (Eileen Irwin)

The first United States census was taken in 1790. It asked for the name of the head of household; the number of free white males 16 & up including the head of the family; the number of free white males under 16; the number of free white females including the head of the family; all other persons; slaves.

The 1800 and 1810 census asked for this information, the name of the head of family; the number of free white males-under 10; 10-16; 16-26; 26-45; 45 & over; free white females-under 10; 10-16; 16-26; 26-45; 45 & over; all others; slaves.

The 1820 census asked for this information, the name of the head of the family; the number of free white males- under 10; 10-16; 16-18; 16-26; 26-45; 45 and over; free white females- under 10; 10-16; 16-26; 26-45; 45 and over; Foreigners not naturalized; agriculture; commerce; manufacturers; free colored; slaves. Note that there is a redundancy in the free white males of 16-18 and 16-26.

The 1830 and the 1840 census asked for this information, the name of the head of family; the number of free white males- under 5; 5-10; 10-15; 15-20; 20-30; 30-40; 40-50; 50-60; 60-70; 70-80; 80-90; 90-100; over 100; free white females- under 5; 5-10; 10-15; 15-20; 20-30; 30-40; 40-50; 50-60; 60-70; 70-80; 80-90; 90-100; over 100; Slaves; Free colored; Foreigners not naturalized.

The 1850 census asked for this information, the name; age; sex; color; occupation; value of real estate; birthplace; married within the year; attended school within the year; cannot read or write of each member of the household.

The 1860 census asked for this information, the name; age; sex; color; occupation; value of real estate; value of personal property; birthplace; married in the year; attended school in the year; can't read or write of each member of the household.

The 1870 census asked for this information for each member of the household, the name; age; sex; color; occupation; value of real estate; value of personal property; birthplace; Father foreign born; Mother foreign born; Month if born in the year; month if married in the year; attended school in the year; can't read or write; eligible to vote.

The 1880 census asked for this information for each member of the household, the name; color; sex; age prior to June 1st; month of birth if born in the census year; relationship to head of household; single; married; widowed; divorced; married in the year; occupation; cannot read or write; place of birth; place of birth of father; place of birth of mother.

Most of the 1890 census was destroyed in a fire, so very little information is available. From http://www.nara.gov/publications/microfilm/census/1790-1890/part8.html

Part 8: 1890 Census Schedules

Eleventh Census of the United States, 1890. M407. 3 rolls.

Most of the 1890 population schedules were badly damaged by fire in the Commerce Department Building in January 1921. The extant schedules are numbered and noted at the end of rolls 1-3 below.

1. ALABAMA, Perry County (Perryville Beat No.11 and Severe Beat No. 8) [fragments 1-455]

 

2. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Q, 13th, 14th, R, Q, Corcoran, 15th, S, R, and Riggs Streets, Johnson Avenue, and S Street [fragments 456-781]

 

3. GEORGIA, Muscogee County (Columbus); ILLINOIS, McDonough County (Mound Twp.); MINNESOTA, Wright County (Rockford); NEW JERSEY, Hudson County (Jersey City); NEW YORK, Westchester County, (Eastchester); and Suffolk County (Brookhaven Twp.); NORTH CAROLINA, Gaston County (South Point Twp. and River Bend Twp.) and Cleveland County (Twp. No. 2); OHIO, Hamilton County (Cincinnati) and Clinton County (Wayne Twp.); SOUTH DAKOTA, Union County (Jefferson Twp.); TEXAS, Ellis County (J.P. No. 6, Mountain Peak, and Ovilla Precinct), Hood County (Precinct No. 5), Rusk County (No. 6 and J.P. No. 7), Trinity County (Trinity Town and Precinct No. 2) and Kaufman County (Kaufman) [fragments 782-1,233]

Index to the Eleventh Census of the United States, 1890. M496. 2 rolls. 16-mm.

This name index covers the few extant 1890 population schedules. Numbers on the cards match those listed at the end of rolls 1-3 of M407 above.

1. A-J
2. K-Z

The 1900 census asked for this information, the name of each person whose place of abode on June 1, 1900 was in this family, relationship to head of family; color; sex; month of birth; year of birth; age; single, married, widowed, divorced; Number of years married; Mother of how many children; Number of these children living; Place of birth; Place of birth of father; place of birth of mother; Year of immigration to U.S.; Number of years in U.S.; Naturalized; occupation type; number of months not employed; number of months attended school; can read; can write; can speak English; Home owned or rented; Home owned free or mortgaged.

The 1910 census asked for this information, the name of each person whose place of abode on April 15, 1910, was in this family; relationship to head of family; sex; race; age; marital status; number of years married; Mother of how many children; No. of these children living; Place of birth; Place of birth of father; Place of birth of mother; Year of immigration to U.S.; Naturalized or alien; Language spoken; occupation; nature of trade; employer, worker, or own account; no. of months not employed; can read and write; attending school; owned or rented property; owned free or mortgaged property; farm or house; veteran of Civil War; Blind or handicapped.

The 1920 census asked for this information, name of each person whose place of abode on January 1, 1920, was in this family; relationship to head of family; home owned or rented; owned free or mortgaged; sex; color or race; age; marital status; Year of immigration to U.S.; Naturalized or alien; Year of naturalization; attending school; can read and write; Place of birth; mother tongue; Father's place of birth; mother tongue; Mother's place of birth; mother tongue; can speak English.

The 1930 census will be available after April 1, 2002. The privacy act prohibits releasing census data to the public for 72 years.

The 1930 census asked 32 questions about each person:

Place of Abode

1. Street, avenue, road, etc.

2. House number (in cities or towns)

3. Number of dwelling house in order of visitation [this number supplied by census taker].

4. Number of family in order of visitation [this number supplied by census taker].

Name

5. Name of each person whose place of abode on April 1, 1930, was in this family.

Relation

6. Relationship of this person to the head of the family.

Home Data

7. Home owned or rented.

8. Value of home, if owned, or monthly rental, if rented.

9. Radio set.

10. Does this family live on a farm? Personal Description

11. Sex.

12. Color or race [White (W), Negro (Neg), Mexican (Mex), Indian (In), Chinese (Ch), Japanese (Jp), Filipino (Fil), Hindu (Hin), Korean (Kor), other races spelled out in full.]

13. Age at last birthday.

14. Marital condition. [Single (S), married (M), widowed (Wd), divorced (D).]

15. Age at first marriage.

Education

16. Attended school or college any time since Sept. 1, 1929.

17. Whether able to read and write.

Place of birth

18. Place of birth--PERSON.

19. Place of birth--FATHER.

20. Place of birth--MOTHER.

Mother Tongue (or Native Language) of Foreign Born

21. Language spoken in home before coming to the United States.

Here follows 3 columns of "CODE (For office use only. Do not write in these columns)" relating to "State or M.T. [mother tongue]," "Country," and "Nativity." These codes were entered to assist in statistical tabulation and do not provide any information beyond that found in columns 18-21. Citizenship, etc.

22. Year of immigration to the United States.

23. Naturalization.

24. Whether able to speak English.

Occupation & Industry

25. Trade, profession, or particular kind of work done, as spinner, salesman, riveter, teacher, etc.

26. Industry or business, as cotton mill, dry-goods store, shipyard, public school, etc.

27. Class of worker.

Employment

28. Whether actually at work yesterday (or the last regular working day)--Yes or No

29. If not, line number on Unemployment Schedule.

Veterans

30. Whether a veteran of U.S. military or naval force--Yes or No.

31. What war or expedition? [World War (WW), Spanish-American War (Sp), Civil War (Civ), Philippine Insurrection (Phil), Boxer Rebellion (Box), Mexican Expedition (Mex)].

Farm Schedule

32. Number of farm schedule. [Farm schedules no longer exist]. ects for Family History Month" by George G. Morgan

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