1880 U.S. Census

 

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This article originally appeared in "Census Records" by Loretto Dennis Szucs and Matthew Wright in The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy

The 1880 census began on 1 June 1880. The enumeration was to be completed within thirty days, or within two weeks for communities with populations of 10,000 or more. The official census population count was 50,189,209.

Contents 1 Questions Asked in the 1880 Census 2 Other Significant Facts about the 1880 Census 3 Research Tips for the 1880 Census 4 Comparison of Census Information, 1790-1940 5 External Links

Questions Asked in the 1880 Census

 

1880 census schedule for North Dansville, Livingston County, New York that lists Civil War nurse Clara Barton.

For each person in every household, the census asked the number of the dwelling house and the family, in order of visitation; the person’s name; whether the person was white, black, mulatto, Indian, or Chinese; his or her sex and age, and the month of birth if born within the year; the person’s relationship to the head of the household; whether he or she was single, married, widowed, or divorced; whether married within the year; his or her occupation and months unemployed; the name of the state, territory, or country of birth; his or her parents’ birthplaces; whether he or she attended school during the year; whether he or she was unable to read if age ten or older; and whether the person was sick or temporarily disabled on the day of enumeration, including the reason therefore. Those who were blind, deaf-mute, “idiotic,” insane, or permanently disabled were also indicated as such.

Other Significant Facts about the 1880 Census

In addition to identifying the state, county, and other subdivisions, the 1880 census was the first to provide the name of the street and house number for urban households. The 1880 census was also the first to identify relationship to the head of household; illness or disability at the time the census was taken; marital status; number of months unemployed during the year; and the state or country of birth of every individual’s father and mother. Individuals who were born or died after 1 June 1880 were not included in the 1880 census, even though the enumerator may not have questioned the family until well after that date. Indians not taxed are not in regular population schedules. Some may appear in special Indian schedules. (Also see Non-Population Schedules and Special Censuses.)

Research Tips for the 1880 Census

The 1880 census makes it possible to identify the state or country of birth for parents, which is especially important for tracing movements of immigrant ancestors. The census may be used to supplement birth or marriage records for the census year or even to partially replace them where vital records are not recorded elsewhere. The census may also be useful in discovering previously unknown surnames of married daughters, mothers-in-law, cousins, and other relatives living with the family. This is the first census to state relationship to the head of household, but the wife may not be the mother of the children. The 1880 census may also provide clues to genetic symptoms and diseases in earlier generations of a family.

For a state-by-state listing of census schedules, see The 1790–1890 Federal Population Censuses: Catalog of National Archives Microfilm. For boundary changes and identification of missing census schedules, see Thorndale’s and Dollarhide’s Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790–1920. Also available are 1885 territorial censuses for Colorado, Florida, Nebraska, Dakota Territory, and New Mexico.

Comparison of Census Information, 1790-1940

Personal Info on Census

1790

1800

1810

1820

1830

1840

1850

1860

1870

1880

1900

1910

1920

1930

1940

Name of family head only

x

x

x

x

x

x

Headcount by age, gender, ...

x

x

x

x

x

x

Standard census form

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Names of all individuals

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Age

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Sex

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Color

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Profession or occupation

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Place of birth

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Attended school that year

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Highest grade completed

x

Married that year

x

x

x

x

x

Read or write

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Deaf, blind, insane, idiotic, ...

x

x

x

x

x

Real estate value

x

x

x

x

Personal estate value

x

x

Separate slave schedule

x

x

Father of foreign birth

x

Mother of foreign birth

x

Month of birth

x

Month of birth that year

x

x

Male citizen over 21 years

x

Male over 21 denied vote

x

Visitation number of dwelling

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Visitation number of family

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Street name in city

x

x

x

x

x

x

House number in city

x

x

x

x

x

x

Relationship to family head

x

x

x

x

x

x

Marital status

x

x

x

x

x

x

Month of marriage that year

x

No. of months unemployed

x

x

Father's birthplace

x

x

x

x

x

sup

Mother's birthplace

x

x

x

x

x

sup

Sickness on census day

x

Year of birth

x

No. of years present marriage

x

x

Mother how many children

x

x

sup

Number of children living

x

x

Year of immigration to US

x

x

x

x

No. of years in US

x

Naturalization status

x

x

x

x

Months attended school

x

External Links

• Search the 1880 U.S. Census on Ancestry.com
• Download a blank 1880 census form
• 1880 U.S. Census at the Census Bureau