About the United States Census
The United States Census is the most comprehensive source of economic and social data available to scholars.
Article One, Section Two of the United States Constitution states that "Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers. It then goes on to state that these numbers should be determined "every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct."
The first census of the population was taken in 1790. United States Marshals on horseback functioned as census takers. The final figure revealed a population count of 3.9 million.
The 1810 census was the first to include questions about the materials and products generated by American industries. Queries pertaining to agriculture, construction, mining, housing, local governments, commerce, transportation and fishing was gradually included.
By the middle of the 19th century, Americans were increasingly concerned with issues of social reform. The Census reflected these concerns with data gathered on poverty, crime and taxation.
The increasingly complexity of the data gathered coincided with the expansion of the nation's population and boarders. The Census of 1880 took 7 years to tabulate. The resulting data was almost obsolete before it could be put to use. To resolve this untenable situation, the Census Bureau held a competition for technological solutions. The result was the first tabulating system that utilized punched cards. Use of this advanced technology meant that the 1890 Census would be tabulated in under three years and paved the way for increasingly complex and comprehensive data gathering and use.
Today the information contained in the United States Census impacts almost every aspect of American life. Billions of dollars allocated by the federal government for the nations infrastructure, schools and hospitals are distributed using census data. Political representation remains tied to the information about population contained in the census. Businesses rely on census for data concerning economic indicators, local employment figures, industrial data and trade information.
The following links provide a guide to information about obtaining the United States Census materials owned by or accessible to Paley Library users:
The United States Census of 1790
The United States Census of 1800
The United States Census of 1810
The United States Census of 1820
The United States Census of 1830
The United States Census of 1840
The United States Census of 1850
The United States Census of 1860
The United States Census of 1870
The United States Census of 1880
The United States Census of 1890
The United States Census of 1900
The United States Census of 1910
The United States Census of 1920
The United States Census of 1930
Material from 1940 to the present will be added shortly.