Basic Census Info

The following information was passed on through a mail list. I hope you find it informative and of benefit for those of you needing a ready reference telling what kinds of information is available in the various population schedules in the US Census. This would be a good item to print and keep handy. This information originated with the National Archives.

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Contents of the U.S. Census Population Schedules - 1790 - 1920

1790 - Name of head of family; address; number of free white males of 16 years and up, including heads; free white males under 16; free white females including heads; all other free persons; number of slaves.

1800 - Name of head of family; address; number of free white males and females under 10 years of age, 10 and under 16, 16 and under 26, 26 and under 45, and 45 years and upward; all other free persons, except Indians not taxed; number of slaves.

1810 - Name of head of family; address; number of free white males and females under 10 years of age, 10 and under 16, 16 and under 26, 26 and under 45, and 45 years and upwards; all other free persons, except Indians not taxed; number of slaves.

1820 - Name of head of family; address; number of free white males and females under 10 years of age, 10 and under 16, 16 and under 26, 26 and under 45, and 45 years and upward; number of free white males between 16 and 18 years; foreigners not naturalized; male and female slaves and free colored persons under 14 years, 14 and under 26, 26 and under 45, and 45 and upward; all other free persons, except Indians not taxed; number of persons (including slaves) engaged in agriculture, commerce, and manufactures.

1830 - Name of head of family; address; number of free white males and females in 5- year age groups to 20, 10 year age groups from 20 to 100, and 100 years old and over; number of slaves and free colored persons in six broad age groups; number of deaf and dumb under 14, 14 to 24, and 25 years and upward; number of blind; foreigners not naturalized.

1840 - Name of head of family; address; number of free white males and females in 5 years age groups to 20, 10 year age groups from 20 to 100, and 100 years old and over; number of slave and free colored persons in six broad age groups; number of deaf and dumb; number of blind; number of insane and idiotic in public or private charge; number of persons in each family employed in each of seven classes of occupations; number of schools and number of scholars; number of white persons over 20 who could not read and write; number of pensioners for Revolutionary or military service.

1850 - Name; address; age; sex; color (white black or mulatto) for each person; whether deaf and dumb; blind, insane or idiotic; all free persons required to give value of real estate owned; profession, occupation, or trade for each male person over 16; place of birth whether married within the year; whether attended school within the year; whether unable to read and write for persons over 20; whether a pauper or convict.

1860 - Name; address age; sex; color (white, black, or mulatto) for each person; whether deaf and dumb; blind, insane or idiotic; all free persons required to give value of real estate and of personal estate owned, profession. occupation, or trade for each male and female over 15; place of birth (State, Territory, or country); whether married within the year, whether attended school within the year; whether unable to read and write for persons over 20; whether a pauper or convict.

1870 - Address; name; age; sex; color (including Chinese and Indian); citizenship for males over 21; professions, occupation, or trade; value of real estate; value of personal estate; place of birth; whether father and mother were foreign born; born within the year; married within the year; attended school within the year; for persons 10 years old and over whether able to read and write; whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, or idiotic.

1880 - Address; name; relationship to head of family; sex; race; age; marital status; born within the year; married within the year; professions, occupation, or trade; number of months unemployed during census year; whether person is sick or temporarily disabled so as to be unable to attend to ordinary business or duties; if so, what is the sickness or disability; where blind, deaf and dumb, idiotic, insane, maimed, crippled or bedridden; attended school within the year, ability to read and write, place of birth of person, father, and mother.

1890 - (Where Available) Address; number of families in house; number of persons in house; number of persons in family; name; whether a soldier, sailor, or marine during Civil War (Union or Confederate) or widow of such person; relationship to head of family; white, black, mulatto, quadroon, octoroon, Chinese, Japanese, or Indian; sex; age; marital status; whether married during year; mother of how many children, and number now living; place of birth of person, father, and mother; if person is foreign born, number of years in the U.S. whether naturalized; whether papers have been taken out; profession, trade or occupation; months unemployed during census year; ability to read and write; ability to speak English; if not, language or dialect spoken; whether suffering from acute or chronic disease, with name of disease and length of time afflicted; whether defective in mind, sight, hearing, or speech, or whether crippled, maimed, or deformed, with name of defect; whether a prisoner, convict, homeless child, or pauper; home rented, or owned by head or member of family; if owned by head or members, is it free from mortgage; if head of family is a farmer, is farm rented or owned by him or member of his family; if owned, is it free of mortgage; if mortgaged, give post office address of owner.

1900, 1910, 1920 - Address; name; relationship to family head; sex; race; age; marital status; number of years married; for women, number of children born and number now living; birthplace of person and parents; If foreign born, year of immigration, and whether naturalized; occupation; months not employed; school attendance; literacy, ability to speak English; whether on a farm; home owned or rented; if owned, whether mortgaged. Supplemental schedules for the blind and for the deaf.