United States Census 1790

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Content
1790 Census was taken between 2 August 1790 and 1 May 1791. The following information was recorded by the census taker:


 * Free white males 16+
 * Free white males under 16
 * Free white females
 * Other—Indian, slave

Information on Federal census records 1790-2000 from the National Archives.

Value
The 1790 census can be used to:1


 * Identify locality
 * Distinguish target family from others of same name
 * Identify neighbors
 * Identify slaveholders
 * Identify name variations

1790-1840 Search Tips from the National Archives.

Unique Features and Problems
First time a nation wide count was taken (population was 3,929,214)


 * 1) No printed form or paper provided
 * 2) The jurisdiction of the 13 original covered actually the area of 17 states.
 * 3) Age brackets very limited, especially for the females.
 * 4) Since the census went until 1792, some children may have been counted that were not actually born by August 1790
 * 5) Only number of slaves accounted for, not ages.
 * 6) Indians that were not taxed were not included.

Territories
(May have some type of substitute list or an area covering a county)


 * Northwest Territory
 * Southwest Territory

Web Sites
1790-2000 Information. This 4-page brochure discusses the availability of federal census records and their contents. 1790-1840 census Search Tips: