1910 Census Federal Population Schedule

The 1910 census contains records for approximately 92 million Americans. The Thirteenth United States Census officially began on April 15, 1910 and was taken over the course of 30 days. 

Overview of the 1910 Census

Legislation for the 1910 census was introduced initially in December 1907, but was not enacted into law until July 1909.

The law gave census takers two weeks to complete their work in cities of 5,000 inhabitants or more while enumerators in smaller and rural areas were allotted 30 days to complete their task.

The 1910 census did not provide the same level of detail as did the 1910 census. However, it still provides a helpful list of information for genealogical researchers.

Information collected includes household relationship, sex, age, race, and marital status. It also includes birthplace information, immigration information and information on both occupations and real estate holdings.

The 1910 census comprised of 46 States, two territories (Arizona and New Mexico), and Washington D.C., as well as Military and Naval Forces, and Puerto Rico.

1910 Census Facts

• 1910 Census Number:  92,228,496
• 1910 Census Day:  April 15, 1910
• 1910 Census duration:  1 month+
• 1910 Census States: 46 States
• 1910 Census Territories: 9 Territories

Questions Asked in the 1910 Census

Some of the questions answered by the 1910 census included:

• Place of residence
• Name of each person at residence
• Relationship of each person to head of household
• Home data
  - Owned or rented
  - Does family own a farm
• Personal Description
  - Sex
  - Color or race
  - Age at last birthday
  - Marital condition (Single, Married, Widowed, Divorced)
  - Number of years married
• Education
  - Attended school or college
  - Whether able to read or write
• Place of Birth
  - Each person and his or her parents birthplace
  - If United States give State or Territory
  - If foreign birth give country in which birthplace is now situated
• Native language of foreign born
• Citizenship
  - Year of immigration into the United States
  - Naturalization
  - Ability to speak English
• Occupation & Industry
  - Trade or profession, type of work done
  - Industry or business
• Employed (Yes/No)
• Veterans
  - Survivor of the Union or Confederate Army or Navy

1910 Census Schedules

Seven schedules were  prepared for the 1910 census. They included:

1. General Population Schedule
2. Native Americans Population Schedule
3. Agriculture Schedule
4. Manufacturing Schedule
5. Mortality Schedule
6. Social Statistics Schedule
7. Crime Schedule

1910 Census Resources

You may find the following resources helpful in your research of the 1910 census data.

The 1910 United States Federal Census database at Ancestry.com consists of all individuals enumerated in the 1910 Census, the Twelfth Census of the United States.

Additionally, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1910 Federal Census, copied from the National Archives and Records Administration.

Download Free a US 1910 Census Extract Form which allows you to read column headings and record information from the US Census.

Unique Features of the 1910 Census

Census Date Changed

One new feature of the 1910 act was that it changed Census Day from June 1st, which it had been since 1830, to April 15.

The director of the Census Bureau suggested this adjustment, because he felt that much of the urban population would be absent from their homes on summer vacations in June.

Problems with the 1910 Census

Much of the 1910 census microfilm has been damaged or was not properly cared for.

For example, hundreds of pages of the information for Mississippi were overexposed to the point of being completely unreadable.

Also, many individuals were not indexed in the Miracode/Soundex for 1910, which creates a disadvantage in researching family names.

Questionnaires

For the first time, enumerators in the large cities distributed questionnaires in advance, a day or two prior to April 15, so that people could become familiar with the questions and have time to prepare their answers.

In practice, only a small portion of the population filled out their questionnaires before the enumerator visit, however.

Historical Considerations of the 1910 Census

Military Veterans

The census for 1910 identifies survivors of the Civil War.  It recognizes veterans of both the Union and Confederate militaries.

Native Americans

The 1910 census collected information about the Native American population in a separate schedule.  This information can be found in the “Indian schedule”, which records the band or tribe of each Indian.

Education

By 1910, compulsory education laws were present in most states, elevating the importance of tracking education levels. 

Information was collected about a person’s ability to read and write, along with the number of years of formal education received.

Interesting facts about the 1910 census

• William H. Taft is President during the 1910 census.
• The U.S. population increased by 21.0 percent over the 76,212,168 persons enumerated during the 1900 Census.
• It took approximately $15,968,000 and 70,286 enumerators to complete the 1910 census
• 1910 census included a question regarding if an individual was a survivor of the Union or Confederate Army or Navy.
• When the United States entered World War I in 1917, the Census Bureau took on an important new role.
  During the nation's mobilization for the war, the Census Bureau was able to use its compiled population and economic data to report on populations of draft-age men, along with the different states' industrial capacities.

Historical events surrounding the 1910 US Census

• April 14, 1912 - The Titanic strikes an iceberg and sinks on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean.
• March 12, 1912 - The Girl Scouts, formerly known as The American Girl Guides, is formed.
• Oct 10, 1911 - Henry Ford patents the Automotive Transmission.
• April, 14 1912 - AThe HMS Titanic strikes an iceberg and sinks on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. 
• January 15, 1915: The United States Coast Guard is established replacing the U.S. Life-Saving Services. 
• 1917 - United States entered World War I.

States Covered in the 1910 Census

The 1910 Census recorded information from 46 states and 9 territories. The new state of Oklahoma was included, as well as the Arizona, Alaska (unorganized), American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, New Mexico, Panama Canal Zone, Philippines and Puerto Rico Territories.

The 46 states included in the 1910 Census were Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the District of Columbia.

The 1910 census also covered 5 Territories:
Alaska Territory, Hawaii Territory, Arizona Territory, New Mexico Territory and Puerto Rico.

What was lost from the 1910 U.S. Census?

No major loss of records for the 1910 census.