1860 United States census | ||
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General information | ||
Country | United States | |
Authority | Census Office | |
Results | ||
Total population | 31,443,321 [1] ( 35.6%) | |
Most populous | New York 3,880,735 | |
Least populous | Oregon 52,465 |
The 1860 United States census was the eighth census conducted in the United States starting June 1, 1860, and lasting five months. It determined the population of the United States to be 31,443,321 [1] in 33 states and 10 organized territories. This was an increase of 35.6 percent [1] over the 23,191,876 [2] persons enumerated during the 1850 census. The total population included 3,953,760 [3] slaves.
By the time the 1860 census returns were ready for tabulation, the nation was sinking into the American Civil War. As a result, Census Superintendent Joseph C. G. Kennedy and his staff produced only an abbreviated set of public reports, without graphic or cartographic representations. The statistics did allow the census staff to produce a cartographic display, including preparing maps of Southern states, for Union field commanders. These maps displayed militarily vital topics, including the white population, slave population, predominant agricultural products (by county), and rail and post road transportation routes.
This census saw Philadelphia regain its position as a second-most populous American city, which it had lost to Baltimore in 1820, due to the Act of Consolidation, 1854 merging many smaller surrounding townships, such as Spring Garden, Northern Liberties, and Kensington, into the main city of Philadelphia. Philadelphia would lose the second-most populous American city position to Chicago in 1890.
The 1860 census Schedule 1 (Free Inhabitants) was one of two schedules that counted the population of the United States; the other was Schedule 2 (Slave Inhabitants).
Schedule 1 collected the following information: [4]
Column | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
1 | Dwelling-houses – numbered in the order of visitation. | |
2 | Families numbered in the order of visitation | |
3 | The name of every person whose usual place of abode on the first day of June 1860, was in this family. | |
4 | Description: Age. | |
5 | Description: Sex. | M or F |
6 | Description: Color, (White, black, or mulatto). | W, B or M |
7 | Profession, Occupation, or Trade of each person, male and female, over 15 years of age. | |
8 | Value of Estate Owned: Value of Real Estate. | |
9 | Value of Estate Owned: Value of Personal Estate. | |
10 | Place of Birth, Naming the State, Territory, or Country. | |
11 | Married within the year. | Marked with '/' |
12 | Attended School within the year. | Marked with '/' |
13 | Persons over 20 years of age who can not read and write. | Marked with '/' |
14 | Whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, pauper, or convict. | |
Schedule 2 (Slave Inhabitants) collected the following information: [5]
Column | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
1 | Name of slave owner | |
2 | Number of slaves | |
3 | Age | |
4 | Sex | |
5 | Color | |
6 | Fugitive from the state | Marked with '/' |
7 | Number Manumitted | |
8 | Deaf and dumb, blind, insane, or idiotic | |
9 | Number of slave houses | |
Full documentation for the 1860 population census, including microdata, census forms and enumerator instructions, is available from the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS). Aggregate data for small areas, together with compatible cartographic boundary files, can be downloaded from the National Historical Geographic Information System.
National data reveals that farmers (owners and tenants) made up nearly 10% of utilized occupations. Farm laborers (wage workers) represent the next highest percent with 3.2%, followed by general laborers at 3.0%. [6]
More localized data shows that other occupations were common. In the town of Essex, Massachusetts, a large section of the women in the labor force were devoted to shoe-binding, while for men the common occupations were farming and shoe-making. [7] This heavy demand of shoe-related labor reinforces the high demand for rigorous physical laborers in the economy, as supported by the data of very large amounts of farm related work as compared to most other labor options.
IPUMS' data also notes that the share of the population that had been enrolled in school or marked as "Student" stood at 0.2%. This demonstrates a small rate of growth, if any, in the proficiency of the human capital of the time—the skill set a worker has to apply to the labor force, which can increase total output through increased efficiency.
The census of 1860 was the last in which much of Southern wealth was held as slaves—still legally considered property.
Rank | State | Free Population | Slave Population | Population | Percentage Enslaved |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
01 | New York | 3,880,735 | 0 | 3,880,735 | 0 |
02 | Pennsylvania | 2,906,215 | 0 | 2,906,215 | 0 |
03 | Ohio | 2,339,511 | 0 | 2,339,511 | 0 |
04 | Illinois | 1,711,951 | 0 | 1,711,951 | 0 |
05 | Virginia | 1,105,453 | 490,865 | 1,596,318 | 30.7 |
06 | Indiana | 1,350,428 | 0 | 1,350,428 | 0 |
07 | Massachusetts | 1,231,066 | 0 | 1,231,066 | 0 |
08 | Missouri | 1,067,081 | 114,931 | 1,182,012 | 9.7 |
09 | Kentucky | 930,201 | 225,483 | 1,155,684 | 19.5 |
10 | Tennessee | 834,082 | 275,719 | 1,109,801 | 24.8 |
11 | Georgia | 595,088 | 462,198 | 1,057,286 | 43.7 |
12 | North Carolina | 661,563 | 331,059 | 992,622 | 33.4 |
13 | Alabama | 529,121 | 435,080 | 964,201 | 45.1 |
14 | Mississippi | 354,674 | 436,631 | 791,305 | 55.2 |
15 | Wisconsin | 775,881 | 0 | 775,881 | 0 |
16 | Michigan | 749,113 | 0 | 749,113 | 0 |
17 | Louisiana | 376,276 | 331,726 | 708,002 | 46.9 |
18 | South Carolina | 301,302 | 402,406 | 703,708 | 57.2 |
19 | Maryland | 599,860 | 87,189 | 687,049 | 12.7 |
20 | Iowa | 674,913 | 0 | 674,913 | 0 |
21 | New Jersey | 672,017 | 18 | 672,035 | 0.01 |
22 | Maine | 628,279 | 0 | 628,279 | 0 |
23 | Texas | 421,649 | 182,566 | 604,215 | 30.2 |
24 | Connecticut | 460,147 | 0 | 460,147 | 0 |
25 | Arkansas | 324,335 | 111,115 | 435,450 | 25.5 |
26 | California | 379,994 | 0 | 379,994 | 0 |
27 | New Hampshire | 326,073 | 0 | 326,073 | 0 |
28 | Vermont | 315,098 | 0 | 315,098 | 0 |
29 | Rhode Island | 174,620 | 0 | 174,620 | 0 |
30 | Minnesota | 172,023 | 0 | 172,023 | 0 |
31 | Florida | 78,679 | 61,745 | 140,424 | 44.0 |
32 | Delaware | 110,418 | 1,798 | 112,216 | 1.6 |
33 | Oregon | 52,465 | 0 | 52,465 | 0 |
X | Kansas Territory [12] | 107,204 | 2 | 107,206 | 0.01 |
X | New Mexico Territory | 93,516 | 0 | 93,516 | 0 |
X | District of Columbia | 71,985 | 3,185 | 75,080 | 4.4 |
X | Utah Territory | 40,184 | 29 | 40,273 | 0.07 |
X | Colorado Territory | 34,277 | 0 | 34,277 | 0 |
X | Nebraska Territory | 28,826 | 15 | 28,841 | 0.01 |
X | Washington Territory | 11,594 | 0 | 11,594 | 0 |
X | Nevada Territory | 6,857 | 0 | 6,857 | 0 |
X | Dakota Territory | 4,837 | 0 | 4,837 | 0 |
The United States census is a census that is legally mandated by the Constitution of the United States. It takes place every ten years. The first census after the American Revolution was taken in 1790 under Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. There have been 23 federal censuses since that time. The census includes territories of the United States. The United States Census Bureau is responsible for conducting the census.
IPUMS, which originally stood for Integrated Public Use Microdata Series but no longer abbreviates anything, is the world's largest individual-level population database. IPUMS consists of microdata samples from United States (IPUMS-USA) and international (IPUMS-International) census records, as well as data from U.S. and international surveys. The records are converted into a consistent format and made available to researchers through a web-based data dissemination and analysis system.
The 1890 United States census was taken beginning June 2, 1890. The census determined the resident population of the United States to be 62,979,766, an increase of 25.5 percent over the 50,189,209 persons enumerated during the 1880 census. The data reported that the distribution of the population had resulted in the disappearance of the American frontier.
The 1850 United States census was the seventh decennial United States Census Conducted by the Census Office, it determined the resident population of the United States to be 23,191,876—an increase of 35.9 percent over the 17,069,453 persons enumerated during the 1840 census. The total population included 3,204,313 enslaved people.
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The 1790 United States census was the first United States census. It recorded the population of the whole United States as of Census Day, August 2, 1790, as mandated by Article 1, Section 2, of the Constitution and applicable laws. In the first census, the population of the United States was enumerated to be 3,929,214 inhabitants.
The 1800 United States census was the second census conducted in the United States. It was conducted on August 4, 1800. It showed that 5,308,483 people were living in the United States, of whom 893,602 were slaves. The 1800 census included the new District of Columbia. The census for the following states were lost: Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Virginia.
The 1810 United States census was the third census conducted in the United States. It was conducted on August 6, 1810. It showed that 7,239,881 people were living in the United States, of whom 1,191,362 were slaves.
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The 1930 United States census, conducted by the Census Bureau one month from April 1, 1930, determined the resident population of the United States to be 122,775,046, an increase of 13.7 percent over the 106,021,537 persons enumerated during the 1920 census.
The 1940 United States census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 132,164,569, an increase of 7.6 percent over the 1930 population of 122,775,046 people. The census date of record was April 1, 1940.
The 1950 United States census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 151,325,798, an increase of 14.5 percent over the 131,669,275 persons enumerated during the 1940 census.
The 1960 United States census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 179,323,175, an increase of 19 percent over the 151,325,798 persons enumerated during the 1950 census. This was the first census in which all states recorded a population of over 200,000. This census's data determined the electoral votes for the 1964 and 1968 presidential elections. This was also the last census in which New York was the most populous state.
Joseph Calm Griffith Kennedy of Pennsylvania, was a 19th-century Whig politician, lawyer and journalist who was appointed to supervise the United States Censuses for 1850 and 1860. A prosperous farmer and journalist from a prominent Pennsylvania family, Kennedy was appointed to supervise the census operations because of his political activism in the 1848 Pennsylvania election.