U.S. Decennial Census: 1850

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 1850 census

Highlights

7th decennial census
US population: 23,191,876
Oregon Territory population: 12,093
First time additional "social statistics" (information about taxes, schools, crime, wages, etc) was gathered.
First census to use a person (rather than household) as the basic unit of enumeration.

Questions asked

Name
Age
Sex
Race (white, black or mulatto)
Whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, or idiotic
Value of real estate
Occupation
Place of birth
Whether married within the year
School attendance/Literacy
Whether a pauper or convict
Supplemental schedules for slaves
Public paupers and criminals
Persons who died during the year.

Map of coverage of the 1850 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 Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Ancestry.com
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The Ancestry.com database features population schedules and details those persons enumerated in the 1850 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 statistical reports feature population and demographic data by state, county, and town for the 1850 census. UW Government Publications holdings and online access options are listed below.

The seventh census of the United States, 1850
Print copy via UW Libraries
Online via HathiTrust
Manufactures in the several states and territories for the year ending June 1, 1850: abstract of the statistics of manufactures, according to the returns of the seventh census
Print copy via UW Libraries
Mortality statistics of the seventh census of the United States, 1850
Print copy via UW Libraries
Online via HathiTrust
The seventh census: report of the Superintendent of the Census for December 1, 1852; to which is appended the report for December 1, 1851.
Print copy via UW Libraries
Online via HathiTrust
Statistical view of the United States, embracing its territory, population--white, free colored, and slave--moral and social condition, industry, property, and revenue; the detailed statistics of cities, towns and counties; being a compendium of the seventh census
Print copy via UW Libraries
Online via HathiTrust

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.