United States Federal Census
1790
The first census taken in 1790 included the following states:
Connecticut, Maine (part of Massachusetts), Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Vermont.
The census was burned for the following states during the War of 1812:
Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, Tennessee and Virginia.
Information found in the 1790 census is as follows:
Columns - left to right
1. Head of Family.
2. Free White Males 16 & Up including heads of families.
3. Free White Males Under 16.
4. Free White Females including heads of family.
5. All other free persons except Indians not taxed..
6. Slaves.
1800
The 1800 census included the new city of the District of Columbia. The census for the following states was destroyed:
Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, Tennessee and Virginia.
The 1800 census contains the following information:
Columns - left to right
1. Head of Family.
2. Free White Males Under age 10.
3. Free White Males age 10 – 16.
4. Free White Males age 16 – 26.
5. Free White Males age 26 – 45.
6. Free White Males 45 and over.
7. Free White Females under 10.
8. Free White Females 10 – 16.
9. Free White Females 16 – 26.
10. Free White Females 26 – 45.
11. Free White Females 45 and over.
12. All others free persons.
13. Slaves.
1810
The census taken in 1810 included one new state: Louisiana
States with no 1810 census (lost or destroyed): District of Columbia, Georgia, New Jersey.
The information in the 1810 and 1800 census are the same.
1820
The census taken in 1820 included these new states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi and Ohio.
The 1820 Census contains the following information:
Columns – left to right
1. Head of Family.
2. Free White Males under 10.
3. Free White Males 10 – 16.
4. Free White Males 16 – 18.
5. Free White Males 16 – 26.
6. Free White Males 26 – 45.
7. Free White Males 45 and up.
8. Free White Females under 10.
9. Free White Females 10 – 16.
10. Free White Females 16 – 26.
11. Free White Females 26 – 45.
12. Free White Females 45 and over.
13. Foreigners not naturalized.
14. Number of persons engaged in agriculture.
15. Number of persons engaged in commerce.
16. Number of persons engaged in manufactures.
17. Slaves – males under 14.
18. Slaves – males over 14 - 26.
19. Slaves – males over 26 - 45.
21. Slaves – females 45 and upwards.
22. Free colored persons – males under 14.
23. Free colored person – males 14 – 26.
24. Free colored persons – males 26 – 45.
25. Free colored persons – males 45 and upwards.
26. Free colored persons – females under 14.
27. Free colored persons – females 14 – 26.
28. Free colored persons – females 26 – 45.
29. Free colored persons – females 45 and upwards.
30. All other persons except Indians not taxed.
1830
The 1830 census included four new states: Alabama, Arkansas Territory, Florida and Missouri.
The 1830 census contains the following information:
Columns - left to right
1. Head of Family.
2. Free White Males under age 5.
3. Free White Males 5 – 10.
4. Free White Males 10 – 15.
5. Free White Males 15 – 20.
6. Free White Males 20 – 30.
7. Free White Males 30 – 40.
8. Free White Males 40 – 50.
9. Free White Males 50 – 60.
10. Free White Males 60 – 70.
11. Free White Males 70—80.
12. Free White Males 80 – 90.
13. Free White Males 90 – 100.
14. Free White Males 100 and over.
15. Free White Females under age 5.
16. Free White Females 5 – 10.
17. Free White Females 10 – 15.
18. Free White Females 15 – 20.
19. Free White Females 20 – 30.
20. Free White Females 30 – 40.
21. Free White Females 40 – 50.
22. Free White Females 50 – 60.
23. Free White Females 60 – 70.
24. Free White Females 70 – 80.
25. Free White Females 80 – 90.
26. Free White Females 90 – 100.
27. Free White Females 100 and over.
There is a slave schedule and information on persons who are handicapped. Not
every state used this information.
1840
The 1840 census included two new states: Iowa Territory and Wisconsin Territory.
Information contained in the 1840 census is the same as the 1830 census until column 28.
Column - left to right
28. Free Colored Males under 10.
29. Free Colored Males 10 – 24.
30. Free Colored Males 24 – 36.
31. Free Colored Males 36 – 55.
32. Free Colored Males 55 – 100.
33. Free Colored Males 100 and over.
34. Free Colored Females under 10.
35. Free Colored Females 10 – 24.
36. Free Colored Females 24 – 36.
37. Free Colored Females 36 – 55.
38. Free Colored Females 55 – 100.
39. Free Colored Females 100 and over.
1850
The 1850 census included these new states: California, Minnesota Territory, New Mexico Territory, Oregon Territory, Texas Territory, and Utah Territory.
The 1850 census contains the following information:
Columns - left to right
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.
4. Age.
5. Sex.
6. Color – White, Black or Mulatto.
7. Profession, occupation or trade of each male person over 15 years of age.
8. Value of real estate owned.
9. Place of birth, naming state, territory or country.
10. Married within the year.
11. Attended school within the year.
12. Persons over 20 years of age who cannot read or write.
13. Whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane or idiotic, or convict.
1860
The 1860 census included these new states: Dakota Territory, Kansas, Nebraska Territory, Washington.
The information in the 1860 census is the same as the 1850 census, except for the
real estate section which is divided 2 parts:
8. Value of real estate.
9. Value of personal estate.
1870
The 1870 census included these new states: Arizona Territory, Colorado Territory, Idaho Territory, Montana Territory, Nevada, West Virginia, and Wyoming Territory.
The 1870 census contains the following information:
Columns - left to right
1. Dwelling houses 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.
4. Age.
5. Sex.
6. Color – White, Black, Mulatto.
7. Profession, occupation or trade of each person, male or female.
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.
11. Father of foreign birth.
12. Mother of foreign birth.
13. If born within the year, state the month.
14. If married within the year, state the month.
15. Attended school within the year.
16. Cannot read.
17. Cannot write.
18. Whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane or idiotic.
19. Male citizens of 21 years of age and upwards.
20. Male citizens of 21 years of age and upwards who’s right to vote is denied or
abridged on other grounds than rebellion or other crime.
1880
No new states added.
The 1880 census contains the following information:
Columns left – right
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 first day of June 1880, was
in this family.
4. Color, White – W, Black – B, Mulatto – M, Chinese – C, Indian – I.
5. Sex, Male – M, Female – F.
6. Age at last birthday prior to June 1, 1880. If under one year, give months in
fractions, thus 4/12.
7. If born within the census year, give the month.
8. Relationship of this person to the head of this family, whether wife, son,
daughter, servant, boarder, or other.
9. Single.
10. Married.
11. Widowed – W, Divorced – D.
12. Married during census year.
13. Profession, occupation or trade of each person male or female.
14. Number of months this person has been unemployed during the census year.
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.
21. Attended school within the census year.
22. Cannot read.
23. Cannot write.
24. Place of birth of this person naming State or Territory of the United States or
the country if foreign born.
25. Place of birth of father of this person naming State or Territory of the United
States or the Country if foreign born.
26. Place of birth of mother of this person naming State or Territory of the
United States or Country if foreign born.
1890
During 1921, there was a fire in the Commerce Department where the 1890 census was held. The fire was brought under control, but the sprinkler system went off and the census got wet. Rather than trying to salvage and dry what they could, the census was left to sit overnight in the water. It was destroyed and thrown away! Only bits and pieces of it remain:
Alabama – Perry County; District of Columbia – various streets; Georgia – Muscogee County; Illinois – McDonough County, Mound Township; Minnesota – Wright County, Rockford; New Jersey – Hudson County, Jersey City; New York – Westchester County, Eastchester and Suffolk County, Brookhaven Township; North Carolina – Gaston County, South Point and Rice Bend Township, Cleveland County, Township No. 2;
Ohio – Hamilton County, Cincinnati, Clinton County, Wayne Township; South Dakota – Union County, Jefferson Township; Texas – Ellis County, S.P. No. 6, Mountain Peak, Ovila Precinct, Hood County, Precinct No. 5, Rusk County, Precinct No. 6 and J.P. No. 7, Trinity County, Trinity Town and Precinct No. 2, Kaufman County, Kaufman.
1900
A few more states and territories were added: Alaska, Hawaii Territory, Indian Territory, Military and Naval Forces, Oklahoma.
The 1900 census contains the following information:
Columns - left to right
1. Number of dwelling house in 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.
4. Relationship of each person to the head of the family.
5. Color of race.
6. Sex.
7. Month and year of birth.
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.
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.
16. Year of immigration to the United States.
17. Number of years in the United States.
18. Naturalization.
19. Occupation.
20. Months not employed.
21. Attended school (in months)
22. Can read
23. Can write
24. Can speak English
25. Owned or rented
26. Owned free or mortgaged
27. Farm or house
28. Number of farm schedule (?)
1910
Only one new state was added to the census – Puerto Rico.
The1910 census contains the following information:
Columns – left to right
1. Number of dwelling house in order of visitation.
2. Number of family in order of visitation.
3. Name of each person whose place of abode on April 15,1910, was in this
family.
4. Relationship of this person to the head of the family.
5. Sex.
6. Color or Race.
7. Age at last birthday.
8. Whether single, married, widowed or divorced.
9. Number of years of present marriage.
10. Number of children born.
11. Number now living.
12. Place of birth of this person.
13. Place of birth of father of this person.
14. Place of birth of mother of this person.
15. Year of immigration to the United States.
16. Whether naturalized or alien.
17. Whether able to speak English; or if not, give language spoken.
18. Trade or profession or particular kind of work done by this person.
19. Industry, business or establishment in which this person works.
20. Whether an employer, employee or working on own account.
21. Whether out of work on April 15, 1910.
22. Number of weeks out of work during the year 1909.
23. Whether able to read.
24. Whether able to write.
25. Attended school any time since September 1, 1909.
26. Owned or rented.
27. Owned free or mortgaged.
28. Farm or house.
29. Number of farm schedule.
30. Whether a survivor of the Union or Confederate Army or Navy.
31. Whether blind (both eyes).
32. Whether deaf and dumb.
1920
New states and territories added: American Samoa, Guam, Panama Canal Zone, Virgin Islands.
The 1920 census contains the following Information:
Columns left – to right
1. Street, Avenue, Road etc.
2. House number or farm etc.
3. Number of dwelling house 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. Enter surname first, then the given name and middle initial, if any.
Include every person living on January 1, 1920. Omit children born since
January 1, 1920.
6. Relationship of this person to head of family.
7. Home owned or rented.
8. If owned, free or mortgaged.
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. Attended school at any time since September 1, 1919.
17. Whether able to read.
18. Whether able to write.
19. Place of birth.
20. Mother tongue.
21. Place of birth of father.
22. Mother tongue.
23. Place of birth of mother.
24. Mother tongue.
25. Whether able to speak English.
26. Trade, profession or particular type of work done.
27. Industry, business or establishment in which at work.
28. Employer, salary or wage worker, or working on own account.
29. Number of farm schedule.
1930
Consular Service was added to census.
The 1930 census contains the following Information:
Columns - left to right
1. Street, avenue, road etc.
2. House number (in cities and towns)
3. Number of dwelling house in order of visitation
4. Number of family in order if visitation
5. Name of each person whose place of abode on April 1, 1930 was in this family.
Enter surname first, then the given name and middle initial if any. Include every
person living on April 1, 1930. Omit children born since April 1, 1930
6. Relationship of this person to head of family.
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.
11. Sex.
12. Color or race.
13. Age at last birthday.
14. Marital condition.
15. Age at first marriage.
16. Attended school or college any time since September 1, 1929.
17. Whether able to read and write.
18. Place of birth of person.
19. Place of birth of father.
20. Place of birth of mother.
21. Language spoken at home before coming to the United States.
22. Year of immigration to the United States.
23. Naturalization.
24. Whether able to speak English.
Code A,B,C, for office use only
25. Trade, profession or particular kind of work.
26. Industry or business.
Code D
27. Class of worker.
28. Whether actually at work yesterday or the last regular working day.
29. If not, line number of Unemployment Schedule.
30. Whether veteran of U. S. military or naval forces.
31. What war or expedition.
32. Number of farm schedule.
