1940 U.S. Census

Counting the Depression Decade

1940 Census

• Examining the structure and values of the Population Schedule

• Using the Enumeration District to find your ancestor

• Accessing the digital copy

Structure and Values

• The physical form– Size

• 23 ¾ x 12 ½ inch paper• Printed on both sides• Both sides have exactly the same layout with the exception

of line numbering

– Layout• Heading• General Entry lines• Supplementary Question Lines• Codes used

Census Form - Heading

Census Form – General Entry Lines

• 40 members of a household can be entered on each page

• The 14th and 29th line of each page is designated for completion of the supplementary schedule

Census Form – Location & Household

Name, Relation, Personal Description and Education

Place of Birth and Citizenship

Residence, April 1, 1935

Employment Status – Persons 14 Years Old and Over

Supplementary Questions

• Sampling is used in the 1940 census to obtain additional information for persons entered on line 14 and 29 (54 and 69) of the population schedule.

• Questions for columns 35-50 are located at the bottom of each side of the census page.

• Only those persons from lines 14 and 29 (54 and 69) are enumerated for these questions.

Name and For Persons of All Ages

For Persons 14 Years Old and Over

For all Women Who are or have ever been Married

Symbols & Explanatory Notes

Sources

• Fond du Lac County Genealogy Society Newsletter, November 2011 and February 2012

• Minnesota Population Center, University of Minnesota, IPUMS USA publication at

• http://usa.ipums.org/usa/voliii/inst1940.shtml.

• Sample Census form at http://www.1940census.net/Img/1940_census_form_large.jpg.

Enumeration Districts

• Enumeration Districts were used starting with 1880 Census

• Area assigned to a single census-taker to count persons and prepare schedules within one census period

Using Enumeration Districts

• Collect Addresses for Ancestors

• Identify the Enumeration District

• Access the Census pages for the ED

Address Sources

• City Directories• Family Letters & Photos• World War II Draft Records• Immigration Records• 1930 Census

Finding the Enumeration District

• Unified 1940 Census ED Finder • Created by Stephen P. Morse PhD & Joel D.

Weintraub PhD• http://stevemorse.org/census/unified.html

Sources

• http://stevemorse.org/census/unified.html