United States Census 1950

Background
Census day was April 1, 1950. Everyone living in the United States was to be counted at their place of residence. For those individuals not at home during the enumeration, information may have been obtained by other family members or neighbors, etc. Individuals serving in the military were enumerated were they were stationed. College students away at school were enumerated where they were attending school.

This census had separate forms for population and housing. The main population schedule (P1) was separated into three sections of questions: For Head of Household, For All Persons, For Persons 14 Years of Age and Over. Every fifth person counted was asked a set of supplemental questions starting with question 21. Full documentation on the 1950 census, including census forms and a procedural history, is available from the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series. A PDF copy of the United States Census Bureau 1950 Instructions is available. Instructions for enumerators can be found in Urban & Rural Enumerator's Reference Manual, 1950 Census of the United States and Supplement to the Enumerator's Reference Manual, both available on Google Books.

A special effort was made to enumerate transient persons living in hotels, YMCAs, motels, flop houses, and missions by designating Tuesday, 11 April, as "T-Night" (Transient Night), and again on Thursday, 13 April, when enumerators would be present in the lobby or other space to assist persons in completing their individual census returns (ICR). Prior to T-Night, census workers would contact these places to educate staff on how the procedure would take place and provide them with copies of the ICRs to give to guests to complete. Additional information on this can be found in RG 29, Records of the Bureau of the Census; 17th Decennial Reference Materials, 1947-1954; Binder 36-M, Hotels and Apartment Houses. Image 17 of this item gives the number of Negro-only hotels by state. Images 18 through 57 have the number of Negro-only hotels by city. Unfortunately, none of those hotels are identified by name or address. The New York Public Library's (NYPL) Digital Collections has a copy of the The Negro Motorist Green Book: 1950 which may list the hotel. Additional editions of the Green Book can be found in the library's The Green Book collection.

Release and Updates
According to law, the census is scheduled for public release on 1 April 2022. Updates on the census can be found on the following sites:
 * FamilySearch.org - 1950 United States Census Updates
 * National Archives News - 1950 Census on Track for 2022 Release, Despite Pandemic
 * History Hub - 1950 Census Blog Series
 * The Twelve Key - Blog Posts – 1950 Census & More

Forms
The following is a select list of forms used in the census. Additional forms were used to gather information on residential financing (mortgages), irrigation, drainage, and horticulture. More information on the forms used in the enumeration can be found in Principal Data Collection Forms Used in the 1950 Censuses, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1952. Many of these additional forms were printed and sent out to a limited number of respondents.

A Series

 * A1 - Agricultural Questionnaire - There were 41 versions of this form tailored to crops in various states
 * A2 - Special Agricultural Questionnaire (NAID 208134026)
 * A3 - Landlord-Tenant Operations

P Series

 * P1 - Population and Housing Schedule
 * P2 - Individual Census Report (ICR)
 * P3 - Infant Card (for children born January - March, 1950)
 * P4 - Merchant Marine
 * P5 - Overseas Census Report - Members of Armed Forces and U.S. Citizens Abroad
 * P6 - Confidential Report on Income - this was completed by the respondent and mailed to the Director of the Census
 * P8 - Indian Reservation Schedule
 * P10 - 1950 Census of Population and Housing (Procedure II "non-sample")
 * P11 - 1950 Census of Population and Housing (Procedure II "sample")
 * P12A - 1950 Census of Population and Housing (Procedure III) Self-enumeration forms for residents in certain areas
 * P12B or P13B - Left to be filled out by the head of the household and mailed to the District Office if no one was at home to give the required information to the enumerator on his first visit.
 * P12C or P13C - Distributed prior to April 1 to be filled out by the household and mailed to the District Office
 * P80 - American Samoa, Population schedule
 * P82 - Territory of Alaska, Population schedule
 * P85 - Guam, Population schedule
 * P87 - Territory of Hawaii, Population schedule
 * P91 - Panama Canal Zone, Population schedule
 * P93 - Used only in Puerto Rico, Population schedule, in Spanish, with no questions for sample persons as were found in P1
 * P97 - United States Virgin Islands, Population schedule
 * P100 - Canton, Johnston, Midway, Swan, and Wake Islands, Population schedule

Form P1, Population and Housing Schedule
This is the schedule used to enumerate to the population of all persons in the United States. A copy of the form can be downloaded at the Census Bureau's 1950-History-U.S. Census Bureau page.

Form Header
The header of the population questionnaire included the following fields: • 2

Household Information
The following questions are listed in the order they appear on the form.

For Head of Household For All Persons • 2 For Persons 14 Years of Age and Over • 2 Supplemental Questions: Every 5th person enumerated was asked the following questions For All Ages • 2 For Persons 14 years old and older
 * 1. Name of street, avenue or road.
 * 2. House (and apartment) number
 * 3. Serial number of dwelling unit.
 * 4. Is this house on a farm (or ranch) ? (Yes or No)
 * 5. If no in item 4- Is this house on a place of three or more acres ? (Yes or No)
 * 6. Agricultural Questionnaire Number.
 * 31. Income Received by this person in 1949
 * 31.a. Last year(1949), how much money did he earn working as an employee for wages or salary ?
 * 31.b. Last year, how much money did he earn working his own business, profession practice or farm ?
 * 31.c. Last year, how much money did he receive from interest, dividends, veteran's allowances, pensions, rents, or other income, (aside from earnings) ?


 * 32. If this person is a family head (see definition below) -- Income received by his relatives in this household:
 * 32.a. Last year (1949), how much money did his relatives in this household earn working for wages or salary (before taxes and other deductions)?
 * 32.b. Last year (1949), how much money did his relatives in this household earn in their own business, professional practice, or farm (net income)?
 * 32.c. Last year, how much money did his relatives in this household receive from interest, dividends, veteran’s allowances, pensions, rents, or other income (excluding salary or wages)?


 * 33. If male, did he ever serve in the U.S. Armed Forces during:
 * 33.a. World War I (April 6,1917-November 11, 1918)
 * 33.b. World War II (September 16, 1940, to July 25, 1947)
 * 33.c. Any other time including present service? (Yes/No)


 * 34. To enumerator: If worked last year (1 or more weeks in Item 30): Is there any entry in Items 20a, 20b, or 20c? If Yes: Skip to Item 36; If No: Make entries in Items 35a, 35b, and 35c.
 * 35a. What kind of work did this person do in his last job?
 * 35b. What kind of business or industry did he work in?
 * 35c. Class of worker (P, G, O, or NP, as in Item 20c).


 * 36. If ever married (Mar, Wd, D, or Sep in Item 12): Has this person been married more than once? (check box for Yes or No)
 * 37. If Mar: How many years since this person was (last) married?
 * If Wd: How many hears since this person was widowed?
 * If D: How many years since this person was divorced?
 * If Sep: How many years since this person was separated? (Enter number of years or check Less than 1 year.)


 * 38. If female and ever married (Mar, Wd, D, or Sep in Item 12): How many children has she ever borne, not counting stillbirths? (Enter number of children or None.)

Housing Schedule
A copy of the form can be downloaded at the Census Bureau's 1950-History-U.S. Census Bureau page. The following questions are listed in the order they appear on the form.

Sheet No For All Dwelling Units • 2 For All Vacant Units For Nonfarm Vacant Units Only For Nonfarm Units Occupied by Owner For Nonfarm Units Occupied by Renter
 * 1. Serial number of dwelling unit
 * 2. Block number
 * Non-seasonal or seasonal
 * 18. If "For rent"-monthly rent for this unit
 * 19. If "For sale only"-sale price asked
 * 20. How much would this property sell for?
 * 21. How many dwelling units are included in this property?
 * 22. Is there any mortgage (trust) on this property ? 1. Yes; 2. No
 * 23. What is the monthly rent for this unit?
 * 24. In addition to rent, how much do you pay for: Electricity?; Gas?; Water?; Wood? Coal? Oil?
 * 25. Is this rented&mdash;1. Unfurnished or 2. Furnished
 * 26. If rented furnished - What would it rent for monthly if unfurnished?

Form P2, Individual Census Report
This form was left by the enumerator when they were unable to personally contact anyone in the household. It was also used for enumerations at apartments, hotels, and for transients during "T-Night". The resident was to complete the form and return it to the enumerator. A copy of a blank form can be found at Record Group 29, Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, Binder 71-C - Form P2, Individual Census Report.

Questions
For Persons 14 Years Old and Older For Women Who Are Married, Widowed, Divorced, or Separated
 * 1) What is your name?
 * 2) Where do you usually live? Here, Some place else
 * 3) What is your relationship to the head of the household where you usually live? Head, Not head, relationship to head
 * 4) What is your race? White, Negro, or What race?
 * 5) What is your sex? Male, Female
 * 6) How old were you on your last birthday?
 * 7) Where were you born? State or territory, possession, or foreign country
 * 8) Are you a citizen of the United States? Born in US or its Territories or possessions, Born in a foreign country but became a citizen, Born in a foreign country of American parents, Not a citizen
 * 9) Were you living on a farm a year ago?
 * 10) Where were you living a year ago? Same house, Not in this same house, but in this county, Not in this county
 * 11) Where were your parents born? Father, Mother
 * 12) What is the highest grade of school you have attended?
 * 13) Did you finish this grade?
 * 14) Have you attended school at any time since Feb. 1, 1950?
 * 1) What were you doing last week? Working, Looking for work, Temporarily absent from work, Housework in own home, Permanently unable to work, None of the above
 * 2) If you worked last week, how many hours did you work?
 * 3) If you were looking for work last week, how many weeks have you been looking for work?
 * 4) Last year, did you do any work at all, not counting work around the house? Yes, No
 * 5) Describe the job you held last week. A. What kind of work did you do?; B. In what kind of business or industry did you do this work?; C. Was this work: For a private employer, For government, For profit in your own business, Without pay on you family's farm or business
 * 6) Last year, did you earn any money by working as an employee for wages, salary, commission, or tips? Yes, No
 * 7) Last year, did you earn any money income by working for yourself in your own business, professional practice, or farm? Yes, No
 * 8) Did you receive any other money from interest, dividends, veteran's allowances, pensions, rents, or other income not counted in questions 20 and 21? Yes, No
 * 9) Are you now a member of the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty? Yes, No?
 * 10) Did you ever serve in the Armed Forces of the United States during: a. World War I, b. World War II, c. Other war or peacetime service
 * 11) Are you now married or not married? Married, Divorces, Widowed, Separated, Never married
 * 12) Have you been married more than once? Yes, No, Never married
 * 13) If you are now married, how many years since you were (last) married? If you are now widowed, how many years since you were widowed? If you are now divorced, how many years since you were divorced? If you are now separated, how many years since you were separated?
 * 1) How many children have you ever borne, not counting stillbirths?

Form P3, Infant Card
This card was to be filled out for each child born in January, February, or March of 1950. The purpose of the cards were to study or compare the number of infants registered at birth and not enumerated against those enumerated and not registered. A copy of a blank form can be found at Record Group 29, Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, Folder 12 Form P3, Infant Card, 1950 Census of Population and Housing, 17th Decennial Census, 1950 and Binder 71-D - Form P3, Infant Card. A similar card, P14, asks the same information as P3, but refers in Question 16 to line numbers on some population schedule other than the P1, Population and Housing Schedule. Infant cards for U.S. territories and possessions were assigned different form numbers: Alaska P84, Hawaii P89, Puerto Rico P95 and the Virgin Islands P99. The Infant Cards no longer exist.

Questions
• 2

Form P4, Merchant Marine
This form is also identified as the Crew of Vessels report. The instructions read, "this form is provided so that officers and other crew members of American flag vessels and U. S. Government vessels (Navy, Coast Guard, etc.) may be included in the 1950 Census of the Population of the United States." Like the P2 form, this was printed as a tri-fold that could be folded up and sealed closed after it had been filled out by the individual. A sample of the form can be found at History Hub, "1950 Census: Enumeration of U.S. Coast Guard Personnel".

Questions
Identification&mdash;to be filled in by master of vessel All Officers and Crew Answered If This Vessel was in a United States Port on April 1, 1950
 * 1) Name of vessel
 * 2) Operator of vessel
 * 3) Was this vessel berthed in a U. S. Port (including U.S. Territories and possessions) on April 1, 1950? No/Yes. If yes, Name of port - city and state, Number or name of pier
 * 1) Name
 * 2) Race: White, Negro, or What race?
 * Sex: Male, Female
 * 1) Age at last birthday (years)
 * 2) Are you now married or not married?: Married, Widowed, Divorced, Separated, Never married
 * 3) Where were you born: State or Territory, possession, or foreign country
 * 4) Are you a citizen of the United States?: Yes, born in the US; Yes, foreign born but became a citizen; Yes, born in a foreign country of American parents; No
 * 5) Are you now a member of the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty? No, Yes
 * 6) If you are on active duty, what is your branch of service?: Not on active duty, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Other
 * 1) Were you living on a farm a year ago?: Yes/No
 * 2) Where were you living a year ago? On a vessel, Ashore-give county, state, place
 * 3) Where were your parents born?
 * 4) What is the highest grade of school you have attended>
 * 5) Did you finish this grade?
 * 6) How many hours did you work from Sunday, March 26 through Saturday, April 17
 * 7) What kind of work did you do?
 * 8) Last year did you do any work at all, even for a week or two? Yes/No
 * 9) Last year did you earn any money by working as an employee for wages, salary, commission, or tips? Yes/No
 * 10) Last year, did you earn any money income by working for yourself in your own business, professional practice, or farm? Yes, No
 * 11) Did you receive any other money from interest, dividends, veteran's allowances, pensions, rents, or other income not counted in questions 18 and 19? Yes/No
 * 12) Did you ever serve in the Armed Forces of the United States during: a. World War I, b. World War II, c. Other war or peacetime service
 * 13) Have you been married more than once? Yes/No/Never married
 * 14) If you are now married, how many years since you were (last) married? If you are now widowed, how many years since you were widowed? If you are now divorced, how many years since you were divorced? If you are now separated, how many years since you were separated?

Form P5, Overseas Census Report
This form was used for members of the armed forces and civilian American citizens employed by the government who were residing overseas on 1 April, 1950. A copy of the schedule can be found on the National Archives catalog in Record Group 29: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007; Binder 36-C - Members of Armed Forces and U.S. Citizens Abroad and Binder 71-E - Form P5, Overseas Census Report. This form was not to be used if the person's residence was in the continental United States, the territories of Alaska and Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Panama Canal Zone, American Samoa, Guam, or the United States Virgin Islands.

Questions
Questions for Yourself and any members of your family living with you
 * 1. Date (Date Form Filled Out)
 * 2. Location (Country or Island)
 * 3. Service Serial Number (members of the Armed Forces only)
 * 4. Are Any Members of Your Family Living with you Overseas? Yes/No
 * 5. Check the Box Which Applies to You:
 * Member of Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard
 * Civilian Employee of (Agency)
 * Other
 * Name
 * Relationship to You
 * Sex: Male/Female
 * Age at last birthday (Enter "Under 1" for children under one year of age)
 * Marital Status: Married, Widowed, Divorced, Never Married
 * Race: White, Negro, Other
 * Place of birth
 * Citizenship: Citizen, Not a Citizen

Form P8, Indian Reservation Schedule
Record Group 29, Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, Indian Reservation Schedules, 1950 - 1950. The schedules are stored in 73 boxes. An inventory of the contents can be found on the Container List section of the National Archives' catalog record. A list of proposed questions can be found on image 69 of Binder 37 - Indian Reservations, in the records of the Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Field Division, 8/1/1945-ca. 1962; 17th Decennial Census Reference Materials, 1947 - 1954. A blank form can be seen at History Hub, 1950 Census: Form P8, Indian Reservation Schedule. Additional information on the schedule can be found at 'The Story of the 1950 Census P8 Indian Reservation Schedule", The Text Message : Blog of the Textual Records Division at the National Archives.

Information in fields A through F and questions 1 through 3 are transcribed from P1 schedule.

Form Header
A. State B. County C. Reservation D. E.D. Number E. Serial number of dwelling unit F. Agriculture questionnaire number G. Enumerator's signature H. Checked by Housing Data:  J. Type of construction: Frame, Log, Stone or brick, Tent, Brush, Mud or adobe, Other K. Type of floor construction: Earth, Wood, Stone or cement, Other

Questions

 * 1) Sheet number
 * 2) Line number
 * 3) Name
 * 4) Known by any other name?
 * 5) Belongs to what tribe?
 * 6) Belongs to what clan?
 * 7) Degree of Indian blood: Full, Half, Quarter, Less than 1/4
 * 8) Language [English]
 * a. Read English? Yes/No
 * b. Write English? Yes/No
 * c. Speak English? Yes/No


 * 1) Language [Other]
 * a. Read another language? Yes/No
 * b. Write another language? Yes/No
 * c. Speak another language? Yes/No


 * 1) In 1949 did he attend or participate in any native Indian ceremonies? Attend, Participated, Neither

Form P93, Población y Viviendas
This is the schedule used to enumerate to the population of all persons in Puerto Rico. All questions on this form are in Spanish. The front side of the form asked questions about each person, and the reverse side asked about the residence. The reverse side was not microfilmed. Only the front side of the form was microfilmed by the Bureau of the Census. Because of this the questions regarding housing are not listed here. A copy of a blank housing form is available on HistoryHub.

Form Header

 * a. Municipio
 * b. Barrio
 * c. Enumeration District (D. de E.) number
 * d. Hotel, Case de Huéspedes, Institución, Puesto Militar, etc.
 * e. La enumeración de esta hoja empezó el
 * f. Firma del enumerador
 * h. Examinado por (jefe de grupo) on (date)
 * Hoja Numero

Household Information
Para Jefe de Familia Para Toda Persona Para Toda Personal de 14 Anos o Mas de Edad
 * 1) Nombre de la calle, avenida, carretera o camino
 * 2) Número de la casa (y del apartamiento)
 * 3) Número de la vivienda en orden de la visita
 * 1) Cuál es el nombre del jefe de la familia?
 * 2) Relación. A note el parentesco, vinculo, o relación de la persona con el jefe de familia, como Jefe, esposa, hija, nieto, suegro, alojado, esposa del alojado, sirvienta, paciente, etc.
 * 3) Color o raza. Blanco "B", De color, negro o mulato "Col", Otra raza-especifique
 * 4) Sexo. M/F
 * 5) ¿Qué edad tenía en su último cumpleaños?
 * 6) ¿En qué municipio nació? Si nació fuera de Puerto Rico, anote el país
 * 7) Estado Civil con "C" for casado, "UC" for en unión consensual, "V" for Viudo, "D" for Divorciado, and "S" for soltero
 * 8) ¿Sabe esta persona leer y escribir? (Si o No)
 * 9) Cuál es el grado más alto que esta persona ha asistido en la escuela? (Vea clave al pie de la hoja)
 * 10) ¿Fué aprobado este grado? (Si o No)
 * 11) ¿Ha asistido a la escuela en cualquier período después de febrero 1?
 * 12) ¿Sabe esta persona hablar inglés? (Si o No)
 * 1) ¿Qué estaba haciendo esta persona la semana pasada?  (Vea clave al pie de la hoja)
 * 2) Además durante la semana pasada, ¿hizo algún trabajo por parga o ganancia? (o algún trabajo sin paga para un familiar) (Si o No)
 * 3) ¿Buscó trabajo la semana pasada? (Si o No)
 * 4) ¿Tenia un empleo o negocio en el cual no trabajó la semana pasada? (Si o No)
 * 5) Si "T" en la 16 or "Si" en la 17, ¿Cuantas horas trabajo la semana pasada? (Incluya trabajo sin paga para un familiar)
 * 6) ¿Cuantás semanas trabajó en 1949? (Haga esta pregunta a toda persona de 14 años o más de edad) (Anote número) o "O")
 * 7) a. ¿Cuál fué su ocupación? [Same as Form P1 Item 20a].
 * 8) b. ¿En qué negocio o industria trabajó? [Same as Form P1 Item 20b].
 * 9) c. Clase de trabajador
 * 10) a. ¿Cuánto dinero ganó en jornales o sueldos el año pasado?
 * 11) b. ¿Cuánto dinero ganó en su propio negocio, profesión, o finca el año pasado?
 * 12) c. ¿Cuánto dinero recibió en intereses, dividendos, asignaciones de veteranos, pensiones, rentas u otros ingresos el año pasado?
 * 13) Para cada hombre, ¿Ha servido en las Fuerzas Armadas de los Estados Unidos durante (24a) II Guerra Mundial, (24b) I Guerra Mundial, and (24c) Otro servicio (Incluye servicio actual)?
 * 14) ¿Para cada mujer, número de hijos nacidos vivos due ha tenido?

Reports
Several reports based on data collected in the 1950 census have been published. For additional information, see the Statistical Reports section of this article.

Volume 1. Number of Inhabitants
These are links to PDF files available on Internet Archive. • 4

Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS)
IPUMS provides access to over sixty integrated, high-precision samples of the American population drawn from sixteen federal censuses, from the American Community Surveys of 2000-present, and from the Puerto Rican Community Surveys of 2005-present.
 * Questions From the 1950 Census of Population and Housing, Form P-1, Integrated Public Use Microdata Series
 * 1950 Enumeration Form, Integrated Public Use Microdata Series

1950 Census Enumeration District Maps - Selected
1950 Census Enumeration District Census Maps are included in the series: Enumeration District and Related Maps, 1880 - 1990 NAID 821491. On that page click the Search within this series link. Go through the results to find the locality you are looking for, and click the link to see the map.

Sample Census Enumeration District maps:
 * 1950 Census Enumeration District Maps - California (CA) - Los Angeles County - Beverly Hills - ED 19-158 to 197
 * 1950 Census Enumeration District Maps - Kentucky (KY) - Jefferson County - Louisville - ED 122-1 to 624

Read the post on the National Archives' blog, The Unwritten Record, "Snapshot USA:1950 Census Enumeration District Maps".

Related Sources
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Statistical Reports
The Census Bureau issued several reports based on data collected from the census. A list of Final, Advance, and Preliminary Reports, and Procedural Studies for the censuses of Population, Housing, and Agriculture is available at Decennial Census Official Publications, 1950. Please note the files available from the link to volume 1 below contain only cartographic and numerical data. For a PDF copy of the full report see the links in the Reports section of this article. Final Reports
 * 1950 Census of Population: Volume 1. Number of Inhabitants
 * 1950 Census of Population: Volume 2. Characteristics of the Population
 * 1950 Census of Population: Volume 3. Census Tract Statistics
 * 1950 Census of Population: Volume 4. Special Reports

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Census of population, 1950 : a report of the seventeenth decennial census of the United States. Washington, D.C. : United States. Government Printing Office, 1953 2 volumes (FamilySearch book 973 X2p 1950)

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * United States Census, 1940
 * Florida State Census, 1945
 * South Dakota State Census, 1945

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * Volume 1, Number of inhabitants
 * Volume 2, part 1, Characteristics of the population