A 1940 U.S. Census worker asked a farmer questions about his family and business.
On April 2, 2012, the United States National Archives released the detailed information from the 1940 Census to the public. This is the first time that all the information from a census has been released directly to a website. People now have access to more than 100 million census records through just a few computer mouse clicks.
Starting in 1790, the United States government has taken a census every 10 years. A census is an official count of a population. The Constitution requires a census to determine how many seats in the U.S. House of Representatives each state should have. The government also collects census data to get a clearer picture of the nation’s population.
Today, census forms are mailed to every household. The head of each household is required to fill out the form and return it. In the past, workers went door-to-door to complete each census form. Some of the information census taker asked for in the 1940 Census included:
- The value of the home, or the monthly rent
- Name of each person who lived there
- Relationship of each person to the head of the household
- Each person’s gender and race
- Each person’s age
- Highest grade of school each person completed
- Birthplace of each person (state, territory, or foreign country)
- Occupation of each person, if working
The response to the release of the 1940 Census has been huge. More than 60 million people have accessed the data so far. Many people are using the 1940 Census to find information about their family’s history. Historians are using the data to find out more about what life was like in the United States when the country was still recovering from the Great Depression. The 1940 Census online provides people with a wealth of information right at their fingertips.
Image credit: National Archives at College Park, Still Pictures Division
Related Link
- Official 1940 Census Website
Learn more about the information available from the 1940 Census.
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