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US Demographic/Socio-Economic data: Census Bureau: 1850 Census

The Census Bureau's publications are changing, but their mission is the same - gather and disseminate demographic data on the population of the U.S.

1820 Census Data

         

Total U.S. Population Count:  Get from    http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h980.html

Add some fact about the count

As set out in the Constitution, the Congress wrote the law directing that the census be taken, and took the steps necessary to enact that law, including specifying what information was to be gathered. Create link to enabling legislation. Get link from here http://www.census.gov/history/www/reference/legislation/legislation_1789_-_1820.html  

Information gathered: enumerate

  • Name of Head of household
  • count of  free white males age 16 and over
  • count of  free white males under the age of 16
  • count of   free white females
  • count of all other free people 
  • count of slaves



1820 Census Records

In 1850, the Census was taken of the existing states (Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island), the three districts (Kentucky, Maine, and Vermont) and the Southwest Territory (Tennessee.) 

Get map from: http://libguides.ucsd.edu/content.php?pid=155164&sid=1317454

The census schedules (the actual written records of information from each household) were, by legal mandate, posted in "two of the most public places within [each jurisdiction] there to remain for the inspection of all concerned..." There were no forms for this Census. Each Census taker created his own schedule format.

A complete set of the schedules, along with summary data for the counties, and, in some areas, for the towns, was filed with the State Department. In 1812, when the British burned the Capitol during the war, the schedules from many of the states were destroyed. Copies had also been filed with District Courts, but many of those had been lost over the years. The records are not complete.

Remaining records are in the United States National Archives. To view microfilm of released census schedules (all schedules more than 72 years old) contact the regional NARA center at Laguna Niguel. Digitized versions can be accessed through Ancestry.com.

Get Ancestry.com link from http://search.ancestry.com/search/grouplist.aspx?group=usfedcen#databases


Further information on the first census can be found in Heads of Families at the First Census 1790: Records of the State Enumerations: 1782-1785.