Census Questions

Questions asked in the 1900 Census

LOCATION
- Street
- House number
- Number of dwelling in order of visitation
- Number of family in order of visitation
NAME of each person whose place of abode on June 1, 1900, was in this family. Enter surname first, then the given name and middle initial, if any. Include every person living on June 1, 1900. Omit children born since June 1, 1900.
RELATION. Relationship of this person to the head of family
PERSONAL DESCRIPTION
- Color or race
- Sex
- Date of Birth
  - Month
  - Year
- Age at last birthday
- Whether single, married, widowed or divorced
- Number of years married
- Mother of how many children
- Number of children living
NATIVITY. Place of birth of each person and parents of each person enumerated. If born in the United States. give the state or territory. If foreign birth, give the country.
- Place of birth of this person
- Place of birth of Father of this person
- Place of birth of Mother of this person
CITZENSHIP
- Year of immigration to the United States
- Number of years in the United States
- Naturalization
OCCUPATION, TRADE, OR PROFESSION of each person TEN YEARS of age and older
- Occupation
- Employed
EDUCATION
- Attended school
- Can read
- Can write
- Can speak English
OWNERSHIP OF HOME
- Owned or rented
- Owened free or mortgaged
- Farm or house
- Number of farm schedule

Questions asked in the 1910 Census

LOCATION
- Street, Avenue, Road, etc.
- House number or farm
- Dwelling Number
- Number of family in order of visitation
NAME of each person whose place of abode on April 15, 1910 was in this family. Enter surname first, then the given name and middle initial, if any. Include every person living on April 15, 1910. Omit children born since April 15, 1910.
RELATION. Relationship of this person to the head of family
PERSONAL DESCRIPTION
- Sex
- Color or race
- Age at last birthday
- Whether single, married, widowed or divorced
- Number of years of present marriage
- Mother of how many children
  - Number born
  - Number now living
NATIVITY. Place of birth of each person and parents of each person enumerated. If born in the United States. give the state or territory. If foreign birth, give the country.
- Place of birth of this person
- Place of birth of Father of this person
- Place of birth of Mother of this person
CITZENSHIP
- Year of immigration to the U.S.
- Whether naturalized or Alien (Al=Alien; Na=Naturalized)
Whether able to speak English; or, if not, give language spoken
OCCUPATION
- Trade, profession, or particular kind of work done by this person.
- General nature of industry, business, or establishment in which this person works.
- Whether an employer, employee, or working on own account
- If an employee-
  - Whether out of work on April 15, 1910
  - Number of weeks out of work during 1909
EDUCATION
- Whether able to read
- Whether able to write
- Attended school anytime since 1 Sept. 1, 1909
OWNERSHIP OF HOME
- Owned or rented
- Owened free or mortgaged
- Farm or house
- Number of farm schedule
Whether a survivor of the Union or Confederate Army or Navy;
Whether blind (both eyes)
Whether deaf and dumb

Questions asked in the 1920 Census

PLACE OF ABODE
- Street, avenue, road, etc.
- House number or farm
- Dwelling number
- Number of family in order of visitation
NAME of each person whose place of abode on January 1, 1920 was in this family. Enter surname first, then the given name. Include every person living on January 1, 1920. Exclude children born after January 1, 1920.
RELATION. Relationship to the head of family.
HOME
- Home owned or rented
- If owned, free or mortgaged
PERSONAL DESCRIPTION
- Sex
- Color or race
- Age at last birthday
- Whether single, married, widowed or divorced
CITZENSHIP
- Year of immigration to the United States
- Naturalized or alien (Al=Alien; Na=Naturalized)
- IF naturalized, year of naturalization
EDUCATION
- Attended school anytime since 1 Sept. 1, 1919
- Able to read
- Able to write
NATIVITY. Place of birth of each person and parents of each person enumerated. If born in the United States. give the state or territory. If foreign birth, give the place of birth, and, in addition, the mother tongue.
- Person
  - Place of birth
  - Mother tongue
- Father
  - Place of birth
  - Mother tongue
- Mother
  - Place of birth
  - Mother tongue
Whether able to speak English
OCCUPATION
- Trade, profession, or particular kind of work done
- Industry, business, or establishment in which at work
- whether employer, salary or wage worker, or working on own account
number of farm schedule

Questions asked in the 1930 Census

PLACE OF ABODE
- Street, avenue, road, etc.
- House number (in cities or towns)
- Number of dwelling in order of visitation
- Number of family in order of visitation
NAME of each person whose place of abode on April 1, 1930 was in this family. Enter surname first, then the given name. Include every person living on April 1, 1930. Omit children born after April 1, 1930.
RELATION. Relationship of this person to the head of family.
HOME DATA
- Home owned or rented
- Value of home, if owned, or monthly rental, if rented
- Radio set
- Does this family live on a farm?
PERSONAL DESCRIPTION
- Sex
- Color or race
- Age at last birthday
- Marital condition
- Age at first marriage
EDUCATION
- Attended school or college anytime since 1 Sept. 1, 1929
- whether able to read and write
NATIVITY. Place of birth of each person and parents of each person enumerated. If born in the United States. give the State or Territory. If of foreign birth, give the country of birth. See Instructions for additional entries required for certain countries
- Person
- Father
- Mother
MOTHER TONGUE (OR NATIVE LANGUAGE) OF FOREIGN BORN
- Language spoken in home before coming to the United States
- Code (For office use only. Do not write in these columns)
  - State or M.T.
  - Country
  - Nativity
CITZENSHIP
- Year of immigration to the United States
- Naturalized or alien (Al=Alien; Na=Naturalized)
Whether able to speak English
OCCUPATION AND INDUSTRY
- Trade, profession, or particular kind of work, as spinner, salesman, riveter, etc.
- Industry Industry or business, as cottonmill, dry goods store, shipyard, public school, etc.
- CODE (For office use only. Do not write in this column)
- Class of worker
EMPLOYMENT Whether actually at work
- Yes or No
- Line number for unemployed
VETERANS Whether a veteran of the U.S. military or naval forces mobilized for any war or expedition
- Yes or Now
- What war or expedition
No. of farm schedule

Questions asked in the 1940 Census

LOCATION
- Street, avenue, road, etc.
- House number (in cities or towns)
HOUSEHOLD DATA
- Number of household in order of visitation
- Home owned (O) or rented (R)
- Value of home, if owned, or monthly rental, if rented
- Does this household live on a farm? (Yes or No).
NAME
- Name of each person whose usual place of residence on April 1, 1940 was in in this household. Be sure to include:
  - Persons temporarily absent from household. Write "Ab" after names of such persons.
  - Children under 1 year of age. Write "Infant" if child has not been given a first name.
  - Enter X after name of person furnishing information.
RELATION
- Relationship of this person to the head of the household, as wife, daughter, father, mother-in-law, grandson, lodger, lodger's wife, servant, hired hand, etc. ...
- CODE (Leave blank)
PERSONAL DESCRIPTION
- Sex - Male(M), Female(F)
- Color or race
- Age at last birthday
- Marital status - Single(S), Married(M), Widowed(Wd), Divorced(D)
EDUCATION
- Attended school or college anytime since 1 March. 1, 1940 (Yes or No)
- Highest grade of school completed
- CODE (Leave blank)
Place of birth
- If born in the United States. give the State, Territory, or possession. If of foreign birth, give the country in which birthplace was situated on January 1, 1937. Distinguish Canada-French from Canada-English and Irish Free State (Eire) from Northern Ireland.
- CODE (Leave blank)
CITZENSHIP
- Citizenship of the foreign born
RESIDENCE, APRIL 1, 1935
IN WHAT PLACE DID THIS PERSON LIVE ON April 1, 1935? For a person who, on April 1, 1935, was living in the same house as at present, enter in Col. 17 "Same house," and for one living in a different house but in the same city or town, enter "Same place," leaving Cols. 18, 19, and 20 blank, in both instances. For a person who lived in a different place, enter city or town, county, and State, as directed in the Instructions. (Enter actual place of residence, which may differ from mail address.)
- City, town, or village having 2,500 or more inhabitants. Enter "R" for all other places.
- County
- State (or Territory or foreign country).
- On a farm? (Yes or No).
- CODE (Leave blank)
PERSONS 14 YEARS OLD AND OVER - EMPLOYMENT STATUS
- Was this person AT WORK for pay or profit in private or nonemergency Gov't. work during week of March 24-30? (Yes or No).
- If not, was he at work on, or assigned to, public EMERGENCY WORK (WPA, NYA, CCC, etc.) during week of March 24-30? (Yes or No).
- If neither at work nor assigned to public emergency work. ("No" in Cols. 21 and 22).
  - Was this person SEEKING WORK? (Yes or No).
  - If not seeking work, did he HAVE A JOB, business, etc.? (Yes or No).
- For persons answering "No" to question 21, 22, 23 and 24.
  - Indicate whether engaged in home housework (H), in school (S), unable to work (U), or other (Ot).
  - CODE (Leave blank)
- If at private or nonemergency Govt. work. "Yes" in col. 21.
  - Number of hours worked during week of March 24-30, 1940.
- If seeking work or assigned to public emergency work. ("Yes" in Col. 22 or 23).
  - Duration of unemployment up to March 30, 1940 - in weeks.
- Occupation, Industry and Class of Worker:
  For a person at work, assigned to public emergency work, or with a job ("Yes" in Col. 21, 22, or 24), enter present occupation, industry, and class of worker. For a person seeking work ("Yes" in Col. 23): a) if he has previous work experience, enter last occupation, industry, and class of worker; or b) if he does not have previous work experience, enter "New worker" in Col. 28, and leave Cols. 29 and 30 blank.
  - OCCUPATION: Trade, profession, or particular kind of work, as frame spinner, salesman, laborer, rivet heater, music teacher.
  - INDUSTRY: Industry or business, as cotton mill, retail grocery, farm, shipyard, public school.
  - Class of Worker.
  - CODE (Leave blank)
- Number of weeks worked in 1939 (Equivalent full-time weeks).
- Income in 1939 (12 months ended December 31, 1939):
  - Amount of money wages or salary received (including commissions).
  - Did this person receive income of $50 or more from sources other than money wages or salary? (Yes or No).
- No. of farm schedule
- Line No.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS 35-50:
For persons enumerated on lines # and # [about a 5% sample of the population]
- Line No.
- Name.
FOR PERSONS OF ALL AGES
- Place of Birth of Father and Mother
  If born in the United States, give State, Territory, or possession. If foreign born, give country in which birthplace was situated on January 1, 1937. Distinguish: Canada-French from Canada-English and Irish Free State from Northern Ireland.
  - Father.
  - Mother.
  - CODE (Leave blank)
- Mother Tongue (or Native Language):
  - Language spoken in home in earliest childhood.
- Veterans:
  Is this person a veteran of the United States military forces; or the wife, widow, or under-18-year-old child of a veteran?
  - If so, enter "Yes."
  - If child, is veteran-father dead? (Yes or No)
  - War or military service.
  - CODE (Leave blank)
FOR PERSONS 14 YEARS OLD AND OVER
- Social Security:
  - Does this person have a Federal Social Security Number? (Yes or No)
  - Were deductions for Federal Old-Age Insurance or Railroad Retirement made from this person's wages or salary in 1939? (Yes or No)
  - If so, were deductions made from (1) all, (2) one-half or more, (3) part, but less than half, of wages or salary?
- Usual Occupation, Industry, and Class of Worker:
  Enter that occupation which the person regards as his usual occupation and at which he is physically able to work. If the person is unable to determine this, enter that occupation at which he has worked longest during the past 10 years and at which he is physically able to work. Enter also usual industry and usual class of worker. For a person without previous work experience, enter "None" in column 45 and leave columns 46 and 47 blank.
  - Usual occupation.
  - Usual industry.
  - Usual class of worker.
  - CODE (Leave blank)
FOR ALL WOMEN WHO ARE OR HAVE BEEN MARRIED
- Has this woman been married more than once? (Yes or No)
- Age at first marriage.
- Number of children ever born (do not include stillbirths).
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY - DO NOT WRITE IN THESE COLUMNS

==============================================================================

Questions asked in the 1950 Census

Questions for all persons

Name of street, avenue, or road
House and apartment number
Serial number of dwelling unit
Is this house on a farm or ranch?
Is this house on a place of three or more acres?
Agricultural Questionnaire Number
Name
Relationship to head of household
Race
Sex
Age on last birthday
Marital status: Married (Mar), Widowed (Wd), Divorced (D), or Separated (Sep)
State or country of birth
Naturalization status if foreign born (Yes, No, or AP for born abroad of American parents)

Questions for persons fourteen years of age and over

Was this person working (Wk), unable to work (U), keeping house (H), or doing something else (Ot) most of last week
If H or Ot in item 15: Did this person do any work at all last week?
If No in item 16: Was this person looking for work?
If No in item 17: Even though he didn’t work last week, does he have a job or business?
If Wk in item 15 or Yes in item 16: How many hours did he work last week?
a. Occupation
b. Industry in which person worked
c. Class of worker: Private employer (P), government (G), in his or her own business (O), or without pay on family farm or business (NP)

Questions for persons on sample lines (six per sheet)

Was he living in this same house a year ago?
Was he living on a farm a year ago?
Was he living in this same county a year ago?
If No in item 23: What county (24a) and state or foreign country (24b) was he living in a year ago?
What country were his father and mother born in?
What is the highest grade of school that he has attended?
Did he finish this grade?
Has he attended school at any time since February 1st? (Yes, No, or age 30 or over)

Questions for persons on sample lines fourteen years of age and over (six per sheet)

If Yes in item 17: How many weeks has he been looking for work?
Last year (1949), in how many weeks did this person do any work (excluding work around the home)?
a. Last year (1949), how much money did he earn working as an employee for wages or salary (before taxes and other deductions)?
b. Last year (1949), how much money did he earn working in his own business, professional practice, or farm (net income)?
c. Last year, how much money did he receive from interest, dividends, veteran’s allowances, pensions, rents, or other income (excluding salary or wages)?
a. Last year (1949), how much money did his relatives in this household earn working for wages or salary (before taxes and other deductions)?
b. Last year (1949), how much money did his relatives in this household earn in their own business, professional practice, or farm (net income)?
c. Last year, how much money did his relatives in this household receive from interest, dividends, veteran’s allowances, pensions, rents, or other income (excluding salary or wages)?
If male, did he ever serve in the U.S. Armed Forces during (33a) World War I, (33b) World War II, or (33c) any other time including present service? (Yes/No).

Questions for person on the last sample line if fourteen years of age and over (one per sheet)

To enumerator: If person worked last year (1 or more weeks in item 30): Is there any entry in items 20a, 20b, and 20c? If Yes, skip to item 36. If No, make entries in items 35a, 35b, and 35c.
a. What kind of work did this person do in his last (previous) job?
b. What kind of business or industry did he work in (in previous job)?
c. Class of worker (in previous job): Private employer (P), government (G), in his or her own business (O), or without pay on family farm or business (NP).
If ever married (Mar, Wd, D, or Sep in item 12): Has this person been married more than once? (Yes/No).
How many years since this person was (last) married, widowed, divorced, or separated?
If female and ever married (Mar, Wd, D, or Sep in item 12): How many children has she ever borne, not counting stillbirths?