United States of America Census
1790
The first offical census of the United States was taken in 1790, just 14 years after it obtained independence from the British Empire.
Native Americans were not included in this report.
It included the following information:-
- Name of the head of the family
- Number of free white males under age 16 and over age 16
- Number of free white females, including head of family
- Number of other free persons
- Number of slaves
1800 and 1810
The information gathered at these times were very similar to that taken in 1790.
However, the ages of white males and females were recorded in age categories:-
- under 10
- 10 - 15
- 16 - 25
- 26 - 44
- over 45
1820
The 1820 census was more comprehensive than the previous three:-
- Number of free white males in age categories (under 10, 10-15, 16-18, 16-25, 26-44 and over 45)
- Number of free white females in age categories (same as for males)
- Number of free persons except Native Americans
- Number of foreign persons not naturalized
- Number of persons engaged in agriculture, commercial or manufacture
- Number of male slaves (4 age categories - under 14, 15 - 24, 25 - 44, 45 +)
- Number of female slaves in the same age categories
- Number of free colored persons
1830
The 1830 record was similar to the 1820 record but with the addition of some new categories and the age groups in each category were borken down even further.
The 1830 information included
- names of head of families
- number of free white males - 13 age categories
- number of free white females - 13 age categories
- number of male slaves - 7 age categories
- number of female slaves - 7 age categories
- number of free colored males - 7 age categories
- number of free colored females - 7 age categories
- number of persons who are deaf and dumb white persons
- number of persons who are blind white persons
- number of Aliens - foreigners not naturalized
- number of deaf and dumb slaves and colored persons
- number of blind slaves and colored persons
1840
The 1840 records asks the same questions as in 1830, with the same age divisions but also add questions about people on military pensions. It also asks questions about schooling and employment in certain industries.
The 1840 information included:-
- names of head of families
- number of free white males - 13 age categories
- number of free white females - 13 age categories
- number of male slaves - 7 age categories
- number of female slaves - 7 age categories
- number of free colored males - 7 age categories
- number of free colored females - 7 age categories
- number of persons in each family that are employed in mining, agriculture, commerce, manufacture and trade, navigating the oceans, navigation of canals, lakes and rivers, learned professional engineers
- number of persons included in the foregoing who are pensioners for revolutionary or military services (name and age)
- number of persons who are deaf and dumb white persons (3 age categories)
- number of persons who are blind white persons
- number of insane and idiotic white person at public charge
- number of insane and idiotic persons at private charge
- number of Aliens - foreigners not naturalized
- number of deaf and dumb slaves and colored persons (3 age categories)
- number of blind slaves and colored persons
- number of students in university or college
- number of scholars in academies and grammar schools
- number of scholars at public charge in primary and common schools
- number of white persons over 20 yearsof age that cannot read or write
Go to information on US census 1850 onwards
Where to find US Census records?
If you want to find more information regarding your family in the census, you have several options:-
- You can try a 14 day trial membership with ancestry.com before you decide to purchase a monthly, 6 monthly or yearly subscription. Ancestry.com have census records from 1790 to 1940.
- You can go to any National Archives facility, you can search the databases for free.
- Archives.com also has all the records from 1790 to 1940 and have a 7 day free trial membership.
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