Census Day: 15 April 1910
Time to Complete: One month
U.S. Population: 92.2 million
On April 15, 1910 the Bureau of the Census began taking the 13th decennial census of the United States. All responses were to reflect the individual’s status as of 15 April 1910, even if the status had changed between 15 April 1910 and the day of the actual enumeration (i.e., children born after 15 April should not be listed, and people who died after 15 April should still be counted).
Of special interest to genealogists, the 1910 US census added a question asking if an individual is a veteran of the Civil War. Other new questions elicited more details on employment, health (blind, deaf, or dumb), and the language spoken in the home. Native Americans living on reservations and in the general population were identified in column 6, Color or Race. On reservations and other areas with a large Native American population, a modified version of the general population schedule may have been used, with column 14 asking for “Tribe and Clan.” Additional questions were asked on special schedules added to the general schedule. If you’re researching Native Americans in 1910, you’ll find additional information in the instructions to enumerators.
Questions Asked in the 1910 Census
- street name and house number in cities
- name, age, and sex of each individual in the household
- relationship of each individual to head of household
- color or race
- whether single, married, widowed, or divorced
- number of years in present marriage
- 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
- whether naturalized (na), alien (al), or have started the naturalization process (pa = papers)
- language spoken
- profession, occupation, or trade
- type of industry or business employed in
- whether employee, employer, or self-employed
- whether or not currently employed; # of weeks out of work in 1909
- whether attended school since 1 September 1909
- whether able to read and write
- whether home was owned or rented; and if mortgaged
- if home is a house or a farm
- whether a survivor of the Union or Confederate army or navy
- whether blind, deaf, or dumb
1910 Census Online
- FamilySearch – 1910 Census – Digital images and an every-name index. Free account required.
- Ancestry – 1910 Census – Digital images and an every-name index. Subscription required.
- MyHeritage – 1910 Census – Choose “advanced search” for best results. Subscription required.