History

Index of Questions

1950 (Housing)

The 1950 census housing questionnaire was slightly shorter than its counterpart from 1940 but retained the layout developed during that census. Additionally, the questionnaires for occupied and vacant housing were combined into one form. Enumerators collected the following information, listed by column and category number:

Housing

For all dwelling units

1. Serial number of the dwelling unit

2. Block number

3. Type of living quarters

• 1.) House, apartment, or flat
• 2.) Trailer
• 3.) Tent, boat, railroad car
• X.) Non-dwelling unit quarters within a large rooming house, institution, hotel, tourist court, etc.

4. Type of Structure

• 1.) Detached
• 2.) Semi-detached
• 3.) Attached

5. Number of dwelling units in structure

6. Is there a business unit in the structure?

• 1.) Yes
• 2.) No

7. What is the condition of the unit?

• 1.) Not dilapidated
• 2.) Dilapidated

8. Enumerators were to ask the following question: "We have listed (number) persons living here. Have we missed anyone away traveling? Babies? Lodgers? Other persons staying here who have no home anywhere else?"

• Final count of persons
• X.) Occupied entirely by nonresidents
• V.) Vacant

9. How many rooms are in this dwelling unit, not including bathrooms?

10. Piped water supply

• 1.) Hot and cold piped running water inside this structure
• 2.) Only cold piped running water inside this structure
• 3.) Piped running water outside this structure
• 4.) No piped running water (hand pump, well, etc.)

11. Type of toilet

• 1.) Flush toilet inside this structure
• 2.) Flush toilet outside this structure
• 3.) Privy, outhouse, or chemical toilet
• 4.) No toilet for this unit

12. Toilet - exclusive use

• 1.) For this unit's exclusive use
• 2.) Shared with another unit
• 3.) No toilet for this unit

13. Installed bathtub or shower

• For this unit's exclusive use
• Shared with another unit
• No bathtub or shower

14[a]. Household 1: Heating Equipment

• 1.) Piped, steam, or hot water
• 2.) Warm-air furnace
• 3.) Other means—with flue
• 4.) Other means—no flue
• 5.) Not heated
• V.) Vacant

14[b]. Household 2: Does this unit have electric lighting?

• 1.) Yes
• 2.) No

14[c]. Household 3: Is there a radio in this unit

• 1.) Yes
• 2.) No
• V.) Vacant

14[d]. Household 4: Kitchen Sink

• 1.) For this unit's exclusive use
• 2.) Shared with another unit
• 3.) No kitchen sink for this unit

14[e]. Household 5: When was this structure built?

• If built in 1910 or after, enter exact year
• If built before 1940, check on box: 01, 1930–1939; 1920–1929; 1919 or before

15[a]. Household 1: Heating fuel used most

• 1.) Coal or coke
• 2.) Wood
• 3.) Utility gas
• 4.) Bottled gas
• 5.) Liquid fuel
• 6.) Electricity
• 7.) Other fuel
• 8.) Not heated
• V.) Vacant

15[b]. Household 2: What type of refrigerator does this unit have?

• 1.) Electric, gas, or other mechanical refrigerator
• 2.) Ice box or ice refrigerator
• 3.) Other refrigeration
• 4.) None
• V.) Vacant

15[c]. Household 3: Is there a television set in this unit?

• 1.) Yes
• 2.) No
• V.) Vacant

15[d]. Household 4: Cooking fuel used most

• 1.) Coal or coke
• 2.) Wood
• 3.) Utility gas
• 4.) Bottled gas
• 5.) Liquid fuel
• 6.) Electricity
• 7.) Other fuel
• 8.) No cooking
• V.) Vacant

15[e]. Household 5: See 14[e] above

16. Occupancy:

• Occupied
• 1.) By owner
• 2.) By renter
• 3.) Rent free
• Vacant—
• 1.) For rent
• 2.) For sale only
• 3.) Not for rent or sale

17. For all vacant units

• 1.) Non-seasonal
• 2.) Seasonal

For non-farm vacant units only

18. If "for rent"—the monthly rent of this unit

19. If "for sale only"—sale price asked

For non-farm units occupied by owner

20. How much would this property sell for?

21. How many dwelling units are included in this property?

22. Is there any mortgage (trust) on this property?

• 1.) Yes
• 2.) No

For non-farm units occupied by renter

23. What is the monthly rent for this unit?

24. In addition to rent, how much do you pay for—

• Electricity (monthly average)
• Gas (monthly average)
• Water (monthly average)
• Wood, Coal, and Oil (12 month total)

25. Is this unit rented—

• 1.) Unfurnished
• 2.) Furnished

26. If rented furnished, what would it cost to rent per month unfurnished?