Here is some census information that someone might find helpful.
dale
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information and Questions asked on 1840-1920 Census.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
*1840 (Enumeration Date: June 1)
This is the sixth federal census taken for the United States. Fence
post tallies are used in each category except Head of Household.
No other names given.
Note: 1840 is the only census that lists Revolutionary War or
military service pensioners.
Questions Asked:
1. Name of head of household
2. Address
3. Free white males:
under 5
5 and under 10
10 and under 15
15 and under 20
20 and under 30
30 and under 40
40 and under 50
50 and under 60
60 and under 70
70 and under 80
80 and under 90
90 and under 100
over 100
4. Free white females, including head of family:
under 5
5 and under 10
10 and under 15
15 and under 20
20 and under 30
30 and under 40
40 and under 50
50 and under 60
60 and under 70
70 and under 80
80 and under 90
90 and under 100
over 100
5. Slaves in six age groups
6. Free colored in six age groups
7. Number of deaf and dumb
8. Number of blind
9. Number of insane and idiotic in public or private charge
10. Number employed in 7 separate classes of occupation
11. Attended school
12. White people over 20 unable to read or write
13. Number of pensioners for Revolutionary War or military service
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
*1850 (Enumeration Date: June 1)
This is the seventh federal census taken for the United States.
For the first time since the census began, all persons in each
household are listed by name. And that's not the only good
news. The birthplace for each person is listed. HOORAY!!
All dwellings in each census district were given a number.
Each family was also assigned an identification number. Each
census sheet listed the county as well as town or township.
Questions Asked:
1. Dwelling number
2. Family number
3. Name
4. Age
5. Sex
6. Color
7. Occupation, etc.
8. Value of real estate
9. Birthplace
10. Married within the year
11. School within the year
12. Cannot read or write
13. Enumeration date
14. Whether a pauper or convict
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
*1860 (Enumeration Date: June 1)
This is the eighth federal census taken for the United States.
All persons in each household are listed by name.
All dwellings in each census district were given a number.
Each family was also assigned an identification number. Each
census sheet listed the county as well as town or township and
the post office name.
Questions Asked:
1. Dwelling number
2. Family number
3. Name
4. Age
5. Sex
6. Color
7. Occupation, etc.
8. Value of real estate
9. Value of personal property
10. Birthplace
11. Married within the year
12. School within the year
13. Cannot read or write
14. Enumeration date
15. Whether a pauper or a convict
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
*1870 (Enumeration Date: June 1)
This is the ninth federal census taken for the United States.
All persons in each household are listed by name.
All dwellings in each census district were given a number. Each
family was also assigned an identification number. Each census
sheet listed the county as well as town or township and the post
office name.
For the first time, the census asked about the birthplace
of parents.
Questions Asked:
1. Dwelling number
2. Family number
3. Name
4. Age
5. Sex
6. Color
7. Occupation, etc.
8. Value of real estate
9. Value of personal property
10. Birthplace
11. Father foreign born?
12. Mother foreign born?
13. Month born in census year (under 1 year of age)
14. Month married within the census year
12. School in census year?
13. Cannot read or write
14. Eligible to vote?
15. Enumeration date
16. Whether a pauper or a convict
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
*1880 (Enumeration Date: June 1)
This is the tenth federal census taken for the United States.
All persons in each household are listed by name.
All dwellings in each census district were given a number.
Each family was also assigned an identification number. Each
census sheet listed the county as well as town or township.
Several new and wonderful questions were added for this
census. Everyone listed their relationship to the Head of the
Household, their marital status, their actual place of birth
and the place of birth for each parent. What wonderful
additional treasures of information for genealogists!
Questions Asked:
1. Dwelling number
2. Family number
3. Name
4. Color
5. Sex
6. Age prior to June 1
7. Month of birth in census year
8. Relationship to Head of Household
9. Single
10. Married
11. Widowed
12. Divorced
13. Married in census year
14. Occupation
12. Other information
13. Cannot read or write
14. Place of birth
15. Father's place of birth
16. Mother's place of birth
17. Enumeration date
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
*1890 (Enumeration Date: First Monday in June)
This is the eleventh federal census taken for the United States.
It was totally destroyed by fire. In the absence of census
records, try tax lists or any other local listings for areas of interest.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
*1900 (Enumeration Date: June 1)
This is the twelfth federal census taken for the United States.
It is available in Soundex as well as copies of original records.
All persons in each household are listed by name. All dwellings in
each census district were given a number. Each family was also
assigned an identification number. Each census sheet lists the
county as well as town or township. Many new questions
were asked this census year!
Questions Asked:
1. Street
2. House number
3.. Dwelling number
4. Family number
5. Name of each person whose place of abode on June 1 was
in this family
6. Relation to Head of Household
7. Color
8. Sex
9. Month of birth
10. Year of birth
11. Age
12. Marital status
13. Number of years married
14. Mother of how many children
15 Number of these children living
16. Place of birth
17. Father's place of birth
18. Mother's place of birth
19. Year of immigration to U.S.
20. Number of years in U.S.
21. Naturalization
22. Occupation
23. Number of months employed
24. Attended school (months)
25. Can read
26. Can write
27. Can speak English
28. Home owned or rented?
29. Home owned free of mortgage?
30. Farm or house?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
*1910 (Enumeration Date: April 15)
This is the thirteenth federal census taken for the United States.
It is available in the Soundex as well as copies of original records.
All persons in each household are listed by name. All dwellings
in each census district were given a number. Each family was also
assigned an identification number. Each census sheet lists the
county as well as town or township. Living Civil War veterans
are identified.
Questions Asked:
1. Street
2. House number
3.. Dwelling number
4. Family visit number
5. Name of each person whose place of abode on April 15, 1910
was in this family
6. Relation to Head of Household
7. Sex
8. Race
9. Age
10. Marital status
11. Number of years married
12. Mother of how many children
13 Number of these children living
14. Place of birth
15. Father's place of birth
16. Mother's place of birth
17. Year of immigration to U.S.
18. Naturalized or alien?
19. Language spoken
20. Occupation
21. Nature of trade
22. Employer, worker or own account
23. Number of months not employed
24. Can read and write
25. Attending school
26. Home owned or rented?
29. Home owned free or mortgage?
30. Farm or house?
31. Veteran of Civil War?
32. Blind or deaf-mute?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
*1920 (Enumeration Date: January 1)
This is the fourteenth federal census taken for the United States.
All persons in each household are listed by name. All dwellings
in each census district were given a number. Each family was
also assigned an identification number. Each census sheet lists
the county as well as town or township.
Questions Asked:
1. Street
2. House number
3.. Dwelling number
4. Family visit number
5. Name of each person whose place of abode on January 1, 1920
was in this family
6. Relationship to Head of Household
7. Home owned or rented
8. Owned free or mortgaged
9. Sex
10. Color or race
11. Age
12. Marital status
13. Year of immigration to U.S.
14. Naturalized or alien?
15. Year of naturalization
16. Attending school?
17. Can read and write
20. Place of birth
21. Mother tongue
22. Father's place of birth
23. Father's mother tongue
24. Mother's place of birth
25. Mother's mother tongue
26. Can speak English
27. Occupation
28. Employer, salary worker, or working on own account
U.S. FEDERAL CENSUS: GLITCHES
-There was no Federal census taken before 1790.
-The earlier the census, the fewer questions were asked. The first
one only asked 7 questions.
-Parts of the census were lost or destroyed.
-Many census takers were poorly trained or didn't take their
responsibility seriously.
-Families were sometimes left off the census because they were
away visiting relatives or they lived in multi-family dwellings and
were overlooked.
-Some census takers didn't follow directions and left off answers
for some of the questions.
-If adults were not home, sometimes answers were requested
of small children or neighbors or the enumerator guessed the
answers himself.
-Incorrect answers were given due to poor memory or lack of
understanding the question.
-Poor quality of paper and/or ink, as well as handwriting.
-The quality of microfilm can be poor, making copy too dark
or too small or otherwise unreadable.
-If the person lived in a large city, you must know which part of
the city or the ward in which he lived in order to perform a search.