The census act of 1880 replaced the marshals and their assistants with specially appointed agents (experts assigned to collect technical data, such as on manufacturing processes), supervisors, and enumerators, every one of whom was forbidden to disclose census information. Maintaining the confidentiality of the data was a result of what some people regarded as the census’ invasion of privacy, especially since prior to the 1880 census, there was no law limiting the extent to which the public could use or see the information on any schedule.

The Federal Government provided blank printed forms for the enumerators. For the first time, enumerators were given detailed maps to follow, so they could account for every street or road and not stray beyond their assigned boundaries.

The general scope of the 1880 census was expanded only slightly over that of 1870, but much greater detail was obtained for many of the items—so much more that, beyond the basic counts, which were released promptly, publication of these data was not completed until nearly 1890.

The 1879 census act provided for the collection of detailed data on the condition and operation of railroad corporations, incorporated express companies, and telegraph companies, and of life, fire, and marine insurance companies (using Schedule No. 4 - Social Statistics). In addition, the Superintendent of Census was required to collect and publish statistics of the population, industries, and resources of Alaska, with as much detail as was practical. An enumeration was made of all untaxed Indians within the jurisdiction of the United States to collect as much information about their condition as possible.

The following five schedules were authorized by the 1880 census act:

The 1880 schedule was similar to that used previously, with a few exceptions.

In addition to greatly expanded inquiries concerning various crops (including acreage for principal crop), questions were added to collect data on farm tenure, weeks of hired labor, annual cost for fence building and repair, fertilizer purchases, and the number of livestock as of June 1, 1880.

In addition to the inquiries made in 1870, this schedule contained new inquiries as to the greatest number of hands employed at any time during the year, the number of hours in the ordinary work day from May to November and November to May, the average daily wages paid to skilled mechanics and laborers, months of full- and part-time operation, and machinery used.

Special agents were charged with collecting data on specific industries throughout the country, and included the manufactures of iron and steel; cotton, woolen, and worsted goods; silk and silk goods; chemical products and salt; coke and glass; shipbuilding; and all aspects of fisheries and mining, including the production of coal and petroleum.

Section 18 of the March 3, 1879, census act made the collection of social statistics the responsibility of experts and special agents, not the enumerators. Although some data were collected by enumerators using the general population schedule (Schedule No. 1), the majority of the data were collected through correspondence with officials of institutions providing care and treatment of certain members of the population. Experts and special agents also were employed to collect data on valuation, taxation, and indebtedness; religion; libraries; colleges, academies, and schools; newspapers and periodicals, and wages.

The schedule used the same inquiries as in 1870, and added inquiries to record marital status, birthplace of parents, length of residence in the United States or territory, and name of place where the disease was contracted, if other than place of death.

The Superintendent of Census was authorized to withdraw the mortality schedule in those areas where an official registration of death was maintained, and the required statistics were then collected from these administrative records.

In addition to the five regular schedules of the census certain supplemental schedules were prepared, under the authority of the seventeenth and eighteenth sections of the act of March 3, 1879. Of these, seven related to the defective, dependent, and delinquent classes, who were enumerated both on the regular population schedule and upon the appropriate supplemental schedule.

The seven schedules were:

No. 1 [7-321].—For Insane.
No. 2 [7-322].—For Idiots.
No. 3 [7-323].—For Deaf-mutes.
No. 4 [7-324].—For Blind.
No. 5 [7-325].—For Homeless Children.
No. 6 [7-326].—For Inhabitants in Prison.
No. 7 [7-327].—For Paupers and Indigent Persons in Institutions.

In addition to the regular manufacturing schedule, special manufacturing schedules were prepared. These schedules were:

No. 1 [7-340].—Agricultural Implements.
No. 2 [7-341].—Paper Mills.
Nos. 3 and 4 (on one sheet) [7-342].—Boots and Shoes; Leather.
Nos. 5 and 6 (on one sheet) [7-343].—Lumber-mills and Saw-mills; Brickyards and Tile-works.
Nos. 7 and 8 (on one sheet) [7-344].—Flour and Grist Mills; Cheese and Butter and Condensed Milk Factories.
Nos. 9 and 10 (on one sheet) [7-345].—Slaughtering and Meat Packing; Salt.
Nos. 11 and 12 (on one sheet) [7-346].—Coal Mines; Quarries.

Establishments of productive industry entered upon these special schedules were not entered on the general schedule. The special schedules of manufactures were furnished to every enumerator, except in cities where the statistics of manufactures were collected wholly by special agents.

The law required each enumerator to visit personally each dwelling-house in his subdivision, and each family therein, and each individual living out of a family in any place of abode.

Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz (1877-1881) had general supervision of census operations, tabulation, and reporting the results to the President and Congress.

Superintendent of the Census Francis Amasa Walker (1870-72) directed the compilation of population data for Tenth Census, Volume 1, The Statistics of the Population of the United States and A Compendium of the Tenth Census as well as many other volumes.

The Supervisor for each Federal judicial district was responsible for taking the census in his district with the help of enumerators whom he appointed. Each enumerator took an oath or affirmation that "I, ------, an enumerator for taking the --- census of the United States, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will make a true and exact enumeration of all the inhabitants within the subdivision assigned to me, and will also faithfully collect all other statistics therein, as provided for in the act for taking the --- census, and in conformity with all lawful instructions which I may receive, and will make due and correct returns thereof as required by said act, and will not disclose any information contained in the schedules, lists, or statements obtained by me to any person or persons, except to my superior officers. (Signed) ----".

Every person more than twenty years of age was required to cooperate: That each and every person more than twenty years of age, belonging to any family residing in any enumeration district, and in case of the absence of the heads and other members of any such family, then any agent of such family, shall be, and each of them hereby is, required, if thereto requested by the superintendent, supervisor, or enumerator to render a true account to the best of his or her knowledge, of every person belonging to such family, in the various particulars required by law, and whoever shall willfully fail or refuse shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars.

Supervisors and their enumerators conducted the 1880 census under the rules and directions established in the Acts of Congress approved on March 3, 1879 and April 20, 1880.

In cities: Name of street; house number.

1. Dwelling houses numbered in order of visitation.
2. Families numbered in order of visitation.
3. The name of each person whose place of abode, on the 1st day of June, 1880, was in this family.
   
   Personal Description:
4. Color—White, W.; Black, B.; Mulatto, Mu.; Chinese, C.; Indian, I.
5. Sex—Male, M.; Female, F.
6. Age at last birthday prior to June 1, 1880. If under 1 year, give months in fractions, thus: 3/12.
   
   
7. If born within the Census year, give the month.
8. Relationship of each person to the head of this family—whether wife, son, daughter, servant, boarder, or other.
   
   Civil condition:
9. Single.
10. Married.
11. Widowed; Divorced, D.
12. Married during Census year.
    
    Occupation:
13. Profession, Occupation or Trade of each person, male or female.
14. Number of months this person has been unemployed during the Census year.
    
    Health:
15. Is the person [on the day of the Enumerator's visit] sick or temporarily disabled, so as to be unable to attend to ordinary business or duties? Is so, what is the sickness or disability?
16. Blind.
17. Deaf or Dumb.
18. Idiotic.
19. Insane.
20. Maimed, Crippled, Bedridden, or otherwise disabled.
    
    Education:
21. Attended school within the Census year.
22. Cannot read.
23. Cannot write.
    
    Nativity
24. Place of Birth of this person, naming State or Territory of United States, or the Country, if of foreign birth.
25. Place of Birth of the Father of this person, naming the State or Territory of United States, or the Country, if of foreign birth.
26. Place of Birth of the Mother of this person, naming the State or Territory of United States, or the Country, if of foreign birth.

NOTE A.—The census year begins June 1, 1879, and ends May 31, 1880.

NOTE B.—All persons will be included in the enumeration who were living on the 1st day of June, 1880. No others will. Children born since June 1, 1880, will be omitted. Members of families who have died since June 1, 1880, will be included.

NOTE C.—Questions Nos. 13, 14, 22, and 23 are not to be asked in respect to persons under 10 years of age.

NOTE D.—In making entries in columna 9, 10, 11, 12, 16 to 23 an affirmative mark only will be used—thus /, except in the case of divorced persons, column 11, when the letter "D" is to be used.

NOTE E.—Question No. 12 will only be asked in cases where an affinnative answer has been given either to question 10 or to question 11.

NOTE F.—Question No. 14 will only be asked in cases when a gainful occupation has been reported in column 13.

NOTE G.—In column 7 an abbreviation in the name of the month may be used, as Jan., Apr., Dec.