Research Guides
U.S. Decennial Census: 1930
Decade by decade information about how to access and use U.S. Census reports.
About the 1930 census
Highlights
- 15th decennial census
- US population: 122,775,046
- Washington population: 1,563,396
- Mexicans are given a separate classification in the census returns for the first time in 1930, having been included for the most part with the white population at prior censuses
Questions asked
- Address
- Name
- Relationship to head of family
- Sex
- Race
- Age
- Marital status
- Age at first marriage
- Home owned or rented
- Value or monthly rental
- Radio set
- Whether family lives on a farm
- School attendance
- Literacy
- Place of birth of person and parents
- If foreign born, language spoken in home before coming to US
- Year of immigration
- Naturalization
- Ability to speak English
- Occupation
- Industry and class worker
- Whether at work previous day (or last regular working day)
- Veteran status
- For Indians, whether of full or mixed blood, and tribal affiliation
- Supplemental schedules for gainful workers not at work on the day preceding the enumeration; blind and deaf-mutes
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.
- Population schedules of the fifteenth census of the United States, 1930
Online via Internet Archive - 1930 United States Federal Census Search Database
Online via Ancestry Library (only available with UW NetID)
Statistics
- Fifteenth census of the United States, 1930 : Population
Print copy via UW Libraries
Online via HathiTrust - Fifteenth census of the United States: 1930. Abstract of the fifteenth census of the United States.
Print copy via UW Libraries
Online via HathiTrust - Fifteenth census of the United States: 1930. Unemployment.
Print copy via UW Libraries
Online via HathiTrust - Fifteenth census of the United States: 1930. Population. Final bulletin. Panama Canal Zone. Composition and characteristics of the population, occupations, and unemployment ...
Print copy via UW Libraries - Fifteenth census of the United States: 1930. The Indian population of the United States and Alaska.
Print copy via UW Libraries
Online via HathiTrust - A social-economic grouping of the gainful workers of the United States : gainful workers of 1930 in social-economic groups, by color, nativity, age, and sex, and by industry, with comparative statistics for 1920 and 1910
Print copy via UW Libraries
Online via HathiTrust - Reports online via UW Census Bureau
Click on the desired year
More Information from the US Census Bureau
- Measuring America: The Decennial Censuses From 1790 to 2000A 140-page report released in 2002 detailing the evolution and history of the census questionnaire from its inception in 1790 to 2000.
- Through the DecadesAn overview of the census from 1790 to 2010 that includes the history of census legislation, efforts to improve the count, and the technical innovations introduced to improve data collection, processing, and publication.
- Decennial Census by DecadeDetails events surrounding the decennial census. Click on the desired year.
Guides and Documentation
Census Compilations
- List of Census CompilationsCensus compilations usually cover large areas and can be very useful when comparing statistics over time.
Data Sources
- List of Raw Data SourcesRaw 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.
- Social Explorer
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Maps and reports based on U.S. Census and other data sources, 1790 to present. - Explore Census DataPopulation, housing, economic and geographic information from a variety of surveys.
Contact
Need help? Call the Government Publications, Maps, Microforms & Newspapers help desk at (206) 543-4164 during desk hours. You can also consult the 24/7 Ask Us! reference service.