The 1920 U.S. Census, the 14th decennial census of the United States, was a survey of the U.S. population at the start of that year. It includes information on more than 106 million residents of the United States and was recorded within one month of Jan. 5, 1920.
The census covered the 48 continental United States, plus Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Panama Canal Zone.
The census found that the U.S. population increased 15% from the previous census in 1910. Notable changes with the 1920 census format included asking for "place of abode" rather than "dwelling house," and there was no separate schedule for Native Americans.[1]
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Historical significanceHistorical significance
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The 1920 U.S. Census took place after the conclusion of World War I. The census "revealed a major and continuing shift of the population of the United States from rural to urban areas," per the U.S. Census Bureau.[2] It was the last federal population survey to be recorded before the Great Depression, which began in 1929.
The census marked the beginning of a decade which included the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, allowing the right for women to vote, regular radio broadcasts, the first trans-Atlantic Flight by Charles Lindbergh, and the first motion picture with sound.[3] It was a time of technological advancements and also a boom for literature with the debut of Reader's Digest and the publishing of The Great Gatsby.[3]
Header informationHeader information
| 1. State | 7. Supervisor's District # |
| 2. County | 8. Enumeration District # |
| 3. Township or Division of County | 9. Sheet # |
| 4. Institution Name, if applicable | 10. Ward of City |
| 5. Name of Incorporated Place | 11. Enumerator |
| 6. Enumeration date |
The header information on the 1920 U.S. Census makes it clear what location you're looking at, right down to Ward and Enumeration District. Before digitalization of records, it was important to locating the right census pages. It also provides the date the sheet was completed and the name of the enumerator.
Column informationColumn information
The 1920 U.S. Census sheet is divided up into 17 broader columns containing a wealth of information.
LocationLocation
Column 1 described the Place of Abode. It is divided into 4 smaller columns:
- Street name (written vertically)
- House number or farm
- Number of dwelling in order of visitation
- Number of family in order of visitation
Vital informationVital information
Columns 2-17 are related to each individual. Some of the columns divided into multiple smaller columns.
- Column 2: Name: Typically recorded as surname followed by given name.
- Column 3: Relationship to head of family
- Column 4: Tenure: Whether they own (O) or rent (R). If owned, freely (F) or mortgaged (M)?
- Column 5: Personal description: Sex (male or female), color or race ("W" for white, "B" for black, "Mu" for mulatto, "Ch" for Chinese, "Jp" for Japanese, "In" for American Indian, "Ot" for other races), age at last birthday, marital status (single, married, widowed, or divorced)
- Column 6: Citizenship: Year of immigration, naturalized or alien, year of naturalization
- Column 7: Education: Did the person attend school at any time since Sept. 1919? Can the person read? Can the person write?
- Column 8: Place of birth
- Column 9: Mother tongue
- Column 10: Father's place of birth
- Column 11: Father's mother tongue
- Column 12: Mother's place of birth
- Column 13: Mother's mother tongue
Work informationWork information
- Column 14: Trade or profession
- Column 15: Industry, business or establishment
- Column 16: Salary or wage worker, or working on own account
- Column 17: If a farmer, farmer identification number
The census also lists whether or not the person speaks English in between columns 13 and 14 in the image above.
Citing the 1920 U.S. CensusCiting the 1920 U.S. Census
Here is an example of a citation for the 1920 U.S. Census:
1920 U.S. census, [County], [State], [Location], Population Schedule, [Enumeration District #], [Page #], [Dwelling #], [Family #], [Name of Person]. National Archives of the United States.
See alsoSee also
Explore more about the 1920 U.S. CensusExplore more about the 1920 U.S. Census
- Search the 1920 United States Federal Census on MyHeritage
- Ask The Expert – How To Work with U.S. Census Records on MyHeritage
References
- ↑ 1920 Census, Index of Questions. U.S. Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/history/www/through_the_decades/index_of_questions/1920_1.html
- ↑ 1920 Overview - History. United States Census Bureau.https://www.census.gov/history/www/through_the_decades/overview/1920.html
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Pop Culture in 1920, Fast Facts. U.S. Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/history/www/through_the_decades/fast_facts/1920_fast_facts.html