History
History
Browse our narrative and historical materials for each of the 22 decennial (ten year) censuses, information and artifacts about the Census Bureau itself, its programs, and its technical achievements. Here you'll find historical information about the many aspects of census taking in the United States, including:
- The 1830 census was the first to use standardized questionnaire forms. Read more about historical censuses.
- The 1905 economic census was the first U.S. census to be conducted by mail. Read more about the history of economic programs.
- The Census Bureau's 1937 special census of unemployment was the first survey to use probability sampling techniques. Read more about the history of demographic programs.
Featured Photograph
Herman Hollerith's electric tabulation machine, seen here in a 1904 photograph, was used to process data from the 1890 census. This was the first time an automatic counting device had been used to tabulate census returns, opening the door for future advances in data processing.
Contact Us
Questions or comments? Email the History Staff.
Tips for Genealogists
Interested in researching your family genealogy? Check out our tips for amateur genealogists.
This Month in Census History
In 1790, the first census of the United States began. Assistant U.S. Marshals took 18 months to complete the enumeration.
Did you Know?
In 1861, the Census Office published a map showing the distribution of slaves in the American South in order to raise money for sick and wounded soldiers.
denotes a file in Adobe’s Portable Document Format.
To view the file, you will need the
Adobe® Acrobat® Reader
available free from Adobe.
