1840
About the 1840 census
Highlights
- 6th decennial census
- US population: 17,069,453
- First census to include questions about education
Questions asked
Name of head of family; age; sex; race; slaves; number of deaf and dumb; number of blind; number of insane and idiotic and whether in public or private charge; number of persons in each family employed in each of six classes of industry and one of occupation; literacy; pensioners for Revolutionary or military service.
For more information:
Coverage
For more information:
- Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790 - 1920 (SSHL Ref G 1201 .F7 T5 2005)
Guides & Documentation
Encyclopedia of the U.S. Census. (Ref Desk HA 37 .U55 C66 2000)
See the entry under "decennial census". Includes bibliography for each census.
See: list of all Guides and Documentation
Statistics
Original printed reports (& online equivalents)
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Print Versions in the Library
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Online Versions
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Sixth Census
[C 3.14:840/1/reprint]
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n/a
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Statistics of the United States of America
[C 3.14:840/2/reprint]
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n/a
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Census of Pensioners for revolutionary or military services
[ C 3.14:840/3]
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n/a
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Compendium
[C 3.14:840/2]
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n/a
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Multi-year census compilations (compare across years)
These tend to include statistics for large geographic areas (eg states) but can be very useful when comparing statistics over time.
See: list of all census compilations
Raw Data Files
These are computer files intended to be loaded into statistical sofware for analysis and creating your own tables. In some cases these files can be used with spreadsheet software as well.
See list of raw data sources.
Population Schedules
Census population schedules (or "name schedules" or "manuscript census") are copies of the original questionnaires collected during each decennial census. They list the individual names and family information of the people enumerated. Unlike the statistics published soon after the census, the population schedules remain confidential for 72 years. 1930 is the most recent population schedule available.