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Research Guides

U.S. Decennial Census: 1920

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 1920 census

Highlights

  • 14th decennial census
  • US population: 105,710,620
  • Washington population: 1,356,621
  • For the first time, the majority of Americans were living in urban areas

Questions asked

  • Address
  • Name
  • Relationship to head of family
  • Sex
  • Race
  • Age
  • Marital status
  • Year of immigration to US
  • Whether naturalized and year of naturalization
  • School attendance
  • Literacy
  • Place of birth of person and parents
  • Mother tongue of foreign born
  • Ability to speak English
  • Occupation
  • Industry and class of worker
  • Supplemental schedules for the blind and for the deaf

Coverage

For more information, see Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790 - 1920 available in print via UW Libraries.

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.

Statistics

More Information from the US Census Bureau

Census Compilations

Data Sources

Contact

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