Time to Complete: One month
U.S. Population: 72.6 million
On June 1, 1900 the Bureau of the Census began taking the 12th decennial census of the United States. All responses were to reflect the individual's status as of 1 June 1900, even if the status had changed between June 1st and the day of the actual enumeration (i.e. children born after 1 June should not be listed, and people who died after 1 June should still be counted).
Of special interest to genealogists, the 1900 US federal census is the only census to report the month and year of birth of each individual. The 1900 census is also the first census to include space to record the number of years couples were married, the number of children born to the mother, and how many were still living (each also recorded in the 1910 census), as well as how long an immigrant had been in the country and whether naturalized, whether a home or farm was owned or rented, and whether the owned property was free of mortgage (each also recorded in 1910-1930).
All US states were indexed by head of household for the 1900 census, using the Soundex system. This index to the 1900 census is regarded as one of the most inclusive and accurate of the federally created census indexes.
Questions Asked in the 1900 Census
- street name and house number in cities
- name and sex of each individual in the household
- relationship of each individual to head of household
- color or race
- month and year of birth and age at last birthday
- whether single, married, widowed, or divorced
- number of years married
- if a mother, number of children and number of those children still living
- place of birth
- father's place of birth
- mother's place of birth
- year of immigration to the United States
- number of years resided in the United States
- whether or not a naturalized citizen
- profession, occupation, or trade
- number of months unemployed during the census year
- whether attended school within the year
- whether able to read and write
- whether able to speak English
- whether home was owned or rented; and if mortgaged
- if home was a house or a farm
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