U.S. Decennial Census: 1820

Decade by decade information about how to access and use U.S. Census reports.

Census By Decade

1790 1800 1810 1820 1830 1840 1850 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900

1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

About the 1820 census

Highlights

4th decennial census
US population: 9,638,453
First census to ask about occupation/employment

Questions asked

Name of head of family
Age
Sex
Race
Foreigners not naturalized
Slaves
Industry (agriculture, commerce, and manufactures)

Map of coverage of the 1820 census.

For more information: Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790 - 1920 (GovPub Reference HA195 .T46 1987)

More Information from the Census Bureau

Measuring America: The Decennial Censuses From 1790 to 2000 (PDF)
A 140-page report released in 2002 detailing the evolution and history of the census questionnaire from its inception in 1790 to 2000.
Through the Decades
An overview of the census from 1790 to the present day that includes the history of census legislation, efforts to improve the count, and the technical innovations introduced to improve data collection, processing, and publication.
Reports online from the Census Bureau
Click on the desired year.

Population Schedules

Census population schedules (or "name schedules" or "manuscript census") are copies of the original questionnaires collected during each decennial census. They list the individual names and family information of the people enumerated. Unlike the statistics published soon after the census, the population schedules remain confidential for 72 years. 1950 is the most recent population schedule available. Below are links to print and online versions of the population schedules. The library also has selected population schedules available on microfilm.

Archive.org
Population schedules in PDF form of scanned microfilm from the states of Connecticut, Delaware, D.C., Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, and Virginia.
Ancestry.com
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The Ancestry.com database features population schedules and details those persons enumerated in the 1820 census.

Contact

Need help? Call the Government Publications, Maps, Microforms & Newspapers help desk at (206) 543-4164 during desk hours. You can also consult the Ask Us! reference service (24/7).

Guides and Documentation

Statistics: Original Printed Reports

"Census for 1820" features population data by race, condition of servitude, State, county, and town for the 1820 census. Also includes data by sex for free white persons, and by age group for males. UW Government Publications holdings and online access options are listed below.

Print version 1
Call no.: HA201 1820 .C46 1821a
Print version 2
Call no.: HA201 1820 .C46 1821a
Microfiche
Call no.: M-5003, no. I505-1
Census Bureau
Online access, PDF

Statistics: Original Printed Reports II

"Digest of accounts of manufacturing establishments in the United States, and of their manufactures" is located in the UW Government Publications stacks at the call numbers listed below.

Print version 1
Call no.: HA201 1820 .D54 1823a
Print version 2
Call no.: HA201 1820aa

Statistics: Census Compilations

List of Census Compilations
Census compilations usually cover large areas and can be very useful when comparing statistics over time.

Raw Data Files

List of Raw Data Sources
Raw data files are intended to be loaded into statistical software for analysis and table creation. In some cases these files can be used with spreadsheet software as well.