Difference between revisions of "1870 U.S. Census"

From Rootsweb
Jump to: navigation, search

(Comparison of Census Information, 1790-1940)
Line 20: Line 20:
  
 
For a state-by-state listing of census schedules, see [http://www.archives.gov/publications/microfilm-catalogs/census/1790-1890/index.html ''The 1790'1890 Federal Population Censuses: Catalog of National Archives Microfilm'']. For boundary changes and identification of missing census schedules, see Thorndale's and Dollarhide's [http://www.amazon.com/Guide-U-S-Federal-Censuses-1790-1920/dp/0806311886/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269277868&sr=1-2 ''Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790'1920''].
 
For a state-by-state listing of census schedules, see [http://www.archives.gov/publications/microfilm-catalogs/census/1790-1890/index.html ''The 1790'1890 Federal Population Censuses: Catalog of National Archives Microfilm'']. For boundary changes and identification of missing census schedules, see Thorndale's and Dollarhide's [http://www.amazon.com/Guide-U-S-Federal-Censuses-1790-1920/dp/0806311886/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269277868&sr=1-2 ''Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790'1920''].
=Comparison of Census Information, 1790-1930=
+
=Comparison of Census Information, 1790-1940=
  
  
Line 39: Line 39:
 
|1920
 
|1920
 
|1930
 
|1930
 +
|1940
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Name of family head only
 
|Name of family head only
Line 46: Line 47:
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
|colspan="8"|x
+
|x
 +
|colspan="9"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Headcount by age, gender, ...
 
|Headcount by age, gender, ...
Line 54: Line 56:
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
|colspan="8"|x
+
|x
 +
|colspan="9"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="4"|Standard census form
 
|colspan="4"|Standard census form
 +
|x
 +
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
Line 68: Line 73:
 
|x
 
|x
 
|-
 
|-
|colspan="7"|Names of all individuals
+
|colspan="8"|Names of all individuals
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
Line 78: Line 83:
 
|x
 
|x
 
|-
 
|-
|colspan="7"|Age
+
|colspan="8"|Age
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
Line 88: Line 93:
 
|x
 
|x
 
|-
 
|-
|colspan="7"|Sex
+
|colspan="8"|Sex
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
Line 98: Line 103:
 
|x
 
|x
 
|-
 
|-
|colspan="7"|Color
+
|colspan="8"|Color
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
Line 108: Line 113:
 
|x
 
|x
 
|-
 
|-
|colspan="7"|Profession or occupation
+
|colspan="8"|Profession or occupation
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
Line 118: Line 123:
 
|x
 
|x
 
|-
 
|-
|colspan="7"|Place of birth
+
|colspan="8"|Place of birth
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
Line 128: Line 133:
 
|x
 
|x
 
|-
 
|-
|colspan="7"|Attended school that year
+
|colspan="8"|Attended school that year
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
Line 136: Line 141:
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 +
|x
 +
|-
 +
|colspan="15"|Highest grade completed
 
|x
 
|x
 
|-
 
|-
Line 143: Line 151:
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
|colspan="4"|x
+
|x
 +
|colspan="4"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="7"|Read or write
 
|colspan="7"|Read or write
Line 154: Line 163:
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 +
|colspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="7"|Deaf, blind, insane, idiotic, ...
 
|colspan="7"|Deaf, blind, insane, idiotic, ...
Line 159: Line 169:
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
|colspan="2"|x
+
|x
|colspan="3"|x
+
|
 +
|x
 +
|colspan="4"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="7"|Real estate value
 
|colspan="7"|Real estate value
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
|colspan="6"|x
+
|x
 +
|colspan="5"|
 +
|x
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="8"|Personal estate value
 
|colspan="8"|Personal estate value
 
|x
 
|x
|colspan="6"|x
+
|x
 +
|colspan="6"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="7"|Separate slave schedule
 
|colspan="7"|Separate slave schedule
 
|x
 
|x
|colspan="7"|x
+
|x
 +
|colspan="7"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="9"|Father of foreign birth
 
|colspan="9"|Father of foreign birth
|colspan="6"|x
+
|x
 +
|colspan="6"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="9"|Mother of foreign birth
 
|colspan="9"|Mother of foreign birth
|colspan="6"|x
+
|x
 +
|colspan="6"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="11"|Month of birth
 
|colspan="11"|Month of birth
|colspan="4"|x
+
|x
 +
|colspan="4"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="9"|Month of birth that year
 
|colspan="9"|Month of birth that year
 
|x
 
|x
|colspan="5"|x
+
|x
 +
|colspan="5"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="9"|Male citizen over 21 years
 
|colspan="9"|Male citizen over 21 years
|colspan="6"|x
+
|x
 +
|colspan="6"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="9"|Male over 21 denied vote
 
|colspan="9"|Male over 21 denied vote
|colspan="6"|x
+
|x
 +
|colspan="6"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="7"|Visitation number of dwelling
 
|colspan="7"|Visitation number of dwelling
 +
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
Line 205: Line 228:
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="7"|Visitation number of family
 
|colspan="7"|Visitation number of family
 +
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
Line 215: Line 239:
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="10"|Street name in city
 
|colspan="10"|Street name in city
 +
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
Line 222: Line 247:
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="10"|House number in city
 
|colspan="10"|House number in city
 +
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
Line 229: Line 255:
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="10"|Relationship to family head
 
|colspan="10"|Relationship to family head
 +
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
Line 236: Line 263:
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="10"|Marital status
 
|colspan="10"|Marital status
 +
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
Line 243: Line 271:
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="9"|Month of marriage that year
 
|colspan="9"|Month of marriage that year
|colspan="6"|x
+
|x
 +
|colspan="6"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="10"|No. of months unemployed
 
|colspan="10"|No. of months unemployed
 
|x
 
|x
|colspan="4"|x
+
|x
 +
|colspan="4"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="10"|Father's birthplace
 
|colspan="10"|Father's birthplace
Line 255: Line 285:
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 +
|sup
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="10"|Mother's birthplace
 
|colspan="10"|Mother's birthplace
Line 262: Line 293:
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 +
|sup
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="10"|Sickness on census day
 
|colspan="10"|Sickness on census day
|colspan="5"|x
+
|x
 +
|colspan="5"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="11"|Year of birth
 
|colspan="11"|Year of birth
|colspan="4"|x
+
|x
 +
|colspan="4"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="11"|No. of years present marriage
 
|colspan="11"|No. of years present marriage
 
|x
 
|x
|colspan="3"|x
+
|x
 +
|colspan="3"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="11"|Mother how many children
 
|colspan="11"|Mother how many children
 
|x
 
|x
|colspan="3"|x
+
|x
 +
|colspan="2"|
 +
|sup
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="11"|Number of children living
 
|colspan="11"|Number of children living
 
|x
 
|x
|colspan="3"|x
+
|x
 +
|colspan="3"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="11"|Year of immigration to US
 
|colspan="11"|Year of immigration to US
Line 286: Line 324:
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="11"|No. of years in US
 
|colspan="11"|No. of years in US
|colspan="4"|x
+
|x
 +
|colspan="4"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="11"|Naturalization status
 
|colspan="11"|Naturalization status
Line 295: Line 335:
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 
|x
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="11"|Months attended school
 
|colspan="11"|Months attended school
 
|x
 
|x
 +
|colspan="4"|
 
|}
 
|}
 +
 
=References=
 
=References=
  

Revision as of 03:05, 1 May 2010

The United States Federal Census
Census-logo.jpg

This article is part of a series.
Overview of the U.S. Census
Finding and Reading U.S. Census Records
1790 U.S. Census
1800 U.S. Census
1810 U.S. Census
1820 U.S. Census
1830 U.S. Census
1840 U.S. Census
1850 U.S. Census
1860 U.S. Census
1870 U.S. Census
1880 U.S. Census
1890 U.S. Census
1900 U.S. Census
1910 U.S. Census
1920 U.S. Census
1930 U.S. Census
1940 U.S. Census
Census Indexes and Finding Aids
Using the Soundex with Census Records
Non-Population Schedules and Special Censuses
State and Local Censuses
Census Substitutes
African American Census Schedules
Reconstructed 1790 Census Schedules
Censuses of Native Americans
List of Useful Census References
Topics

This article originally appeared in "Census Records" by Loretto Dennis Szucs and Matthew Wright in The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy

The 1870 census began on 1 June 1870. The enumeration was completed within five months. The official census population count was 38,558,371.

Questions Asked in the 1870 Census

1870 census schedule for Lamar, Barton County, Missouri, that famed lists lawman Wyatt Earp.

The 1870 census form called for dwelling houses and families to be numbered in order of visitation; and the name of every person whose place of abode on the first day of June 1870 was with the family. The census further asked the age of each individual at his or her last birthday. If a child was one year or less, the age was stated as a fraction of months out of the year, such as 1/12. Additionally, the census asked the sex, color, profession, and occupation or trade of every inhabitant. There were also columns for the disclosure of value of real estate and personal property. The 1870 census asked for the place of birth, specifically the state or territory of the United States, or the country if foreign born (including the province if born in Germany). The schedule provided space to indicate whether or not the father and the mother of the individual was foreign born, and if an individual was born or married within the year, the month in which the event occurred. The census also acknowledged those who had attended school within the year; those who could not read; those who could not write; and the deaf and dumb, blind, insane and the 'idiotic' to be identified. Finally, the schedules had space to identify any male citizen of the United States of age twenty-one and older, and any male citizen of the United States age twenty-one and older whose right to vote was denied or abridged on grounds other than rebellion or other crime. (Also see Non-Population Schedules and Special Censuses.)

Other Significant Facts about the 1870 Census

The 1870 census may identify survivors of the Civil War, suggesting they might have military records to be found. Conversely, if an individual does not appear in the 1870 census as expected, it may be a clue that the person was a casualty of the war. In the absence of so many other records from the South for this era, information from the 1870 census can be especially important. A caveat, however, is found in Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses 1790'1920, which states, 'The 1870 census in the Southern States omits a great many persons.'

Research Tips for the 1870 Census

The 1870 census is the first census in which parents of foreign birth are indicated'a real boon in identifying immigrant ancestors. Immigrants who were naturalized and eligible to vote are identified, suggesting follow-up in court and naturalization sources. Indications of a person's color that were intended to be more precise'white (W), black (B), Chinese (C), Indian (I), mulatto (M)'may be helpful in determining individuals' origins. (Also see 'Non-Population Schedules and Special Censuses,' on page 196.)

For a state-by-state listing of census schedules, see The 1790'1890 Federal Population Censuses: Catalog of National Archives Microfilm. For boundary changes and identification of missing census schedules, see Thorndale's and Dollarhide's Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790'1920.

Comparison of Census Information, 1790-1940

Personal Info on Census 1790 1800 1810 1820 1830 1840 1850 1860 1870 1880 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940
Name of family head only x x x x x x
Headcount by age, gender, ... x x x x x x
Standard census form x x x x x x x x x x x x
Names of all individuals x x x x x x x x
Age x x x x x x x x
Sex x x x x x x x x
Color x x x x x x x x
Profession or occupation x x x x x x x x
Place of birth x x x x x x x x
Attended school that year x x x x x x x x
Highest grade completed x
Married that year x x x x x
Read or write x x x x x x x x
Deaf, blind, insane, idiotic, ... x x x x x
Real estate value x x x x
Personal estate value x x
Separate slave schedule x x
Father of foreign birth x
Mother of foreign birth x
Month of birth x
Month of birth that year x x
Male citizen over 21 years x
Male over 21 denied vote x
Visitation number of dwelling x x x x x x x x x
Visitation number of family x x x x x x x x x
Street name in city x x x x x x
House number in city x x x x x x
Relationship to family head x x x x x x
Marital status x x x x x x
Month of marriage that year x
No. of months unemployed x x
Father's birthplace x x x x x sup
Mother's birthplace x x x x x sup
Sickness on census day x
Year of birth x
No. of years present marriage x x
Mother how many children x x sup
Number of children living x x
Year of immigration to US x x x x
No. of years in US x
Naturalization status x x x x
Months attended school x

References

Coming soon...

External Links