Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

Census, United States

General table 1790-1900.

Previous to 1790 there were no definite figures of population; everything was estimate. During the life of the Continental Congress the taxation apportionment, as well as the calls for troops from the colonies, was made on meagre information, and that often of a purely conjectural character. Mr. DeBow, who edited the census returns in 1850, gave the following estimates of colonial population:

Mr. Bancroft gives the estimates of the Board of Trade, which had its agents in the colonies, as follows:

The Constitution of the United States provides for an enumeration of the population as often as once in every ten years, as follows: “Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within the Union according to their respective numbers, which may be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons.” The first act of Congress for the census-taking was dated March 1, 1790; the enumeration was to begin the first Monday of August, and close within nine months thereafter. The free persons were to be distinguished from others, males and females, and Indians not taxed were to be omitted from the enumeration. Free males of sixteen years and over were to be distinguished from those under that age. By that census there were 3,929,214 persons in the United States, of whom 697,681 were slaves and 59,527 were free colored persons. In 1810 the act provided for an enumeration of the inhabitants, distinguishing between races, sexes, and ages.

In 1820 another step forward was taken, in that it was required of the enumerators that their reports show the number of persons engaged in agriculture, manufactures, and commerce.

In 1830 there was required an enumeration of the deaf, dumb, and blind, but there were no statistics of agriculture, manufactures, or commerce. In 1838 preparations were made for taking the sixth census, and the act is very comprehensive, embracing the enumeration of the population, with classification, according to age, sex, and color, the deaf, dumb, and blind, insane, idiots, free and slave colored; number of persons drawing pensions from the United States, with their names and ages; also statistical tables of mines, agriculture, commerce, manufactures, and schools. The returns made show the products of mines, manufactures, number of bushels of grain of every kind, of potatoes, tons of hay and hemp, pounds of tobacco and cotton and sugar, the value of dairy products, etc. The census of 1850 was placed under the charge of the newly created Department of the Interior. The first superintendent was Joseph C. G. Kennedy, of Pennsylvania. [76]

In the following table are given the comparative rank of all the States and Territories, exclusive of Porto Rico and the Philippines:

Comparative rank of States and Territories.

In the taking of the ninth census the act corporated villages; reports were proof 1850 was substantially followed, and Gen. Francis A. Walker was the superintendent. There were the volumes of statistics, of population, agriculture, and manufactures, and, besides, a compendium was issued Nov. 1, 1872, in which were wellprepared summaries of the more important reports. The tenth census act directed the establishment of a census office in the Department of the Interior. Additions were made to the previous acts, such as the indebtedness of cities, counties, and incorporated villages; reports were provided for from railways, to ascertain their condition, business, etc.; also, similar information was asked for in regard to express and telegraph companies; experts were employed in place of the enumerators to collect social and manufacturing statistics. General Walker was appointed superintendent of the census April 1, [77] 1879; resigned Nov. 3, 1881; and was succeeded by Charles W. Seaton, who died before the work was completed. The office of superintendent of the census was abolished in 1885, and was re-established by the act of March 1, 1889. Robert P. Porter was appointed superintendent of the

Population of the United States in 1890 and 1900.

tenth census; served till 1893; and was succeeded by Carroll D. Wright. The eleventh census (1900) was taken under the directorship of William R. Merriam A table showing the centre of population from 1790 to 1900 will be found under “Centre of population.”

The following table shows the population, according to the census of 1900, by States and Territories, with the totals of the census of 1890, and the increase: The following table shows the population of all cities having 25,000 and upward inhabitants in the census years 1890 and 1900, together with their change. [78]

Cities with population exceeding 25,000.

[79]

Cities with population exceeding 25,000.—Continued.

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