What really happened to the 1890 census?
Most of the 1890 census’ population schedules were badly damaged by a fire in the Commerce Department Building in January 1921. Visit the Availability of 1890 Census Records Web page for more information. A photo of the damage caused to censu records following the January 1921 fire.
Why is there no census for 1890?
The 1890 Census Disaster The 1890 census promised to provide even more information on our ancestors, and it did. Unfortunately, almost all of the census returns from that year were destroyed in a fire in the U.S. Commerce Building in Washington, D.C. in 1921.
Was there an 1890 census in the United States?
About 1890 United States Federal Census Fragment The records of only 6,160 of the 62,979,766 people enumerated survived the fire. The original 1890 census enumerated people differently than ever before that time. Each family was enumerated on a separate sheet of paper. 1890 was the only year this was done.
Was the 1890 census destroyed?
A January 1921 fire at the U.S. Department of Commerce destroyed the majority of 1890 Census schedules. Had it not been for Washington, DC’s brave firefighters, the damage to millions of census records from other decades stored nearby could have been catastrophic.
What part of the 1890 census survived?
The surviving fragments consist of 1,233 pages or pieces, including enumerations for Alabama, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas.
What was the population of the United States in 1890?
62,979,766
POP Culture: 1890
| The 1890 Census | 10 Largest Urban Places | |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Resident Population: | 62,979,766 | Rank |
| Population per square mile of land area: | 17.8 | 1 |
| Percent increase of population from 1880 to 1890: | 25.5 | 2 |
| Official Enumeration Date: | June 1 | 3 |
How long did 1890 census take?
1890 Census was taken beginning 1 June 1890, for two weeks to thirty days.
What percentage of the land was destroyed after 1890?
Rogers, the Census Director at the time, reported that the 1890 census was about “25 percent destroyed with 50 percent of remainder damaged by water, smoke and fire.”[3] He also indicated that salvage work on the 1890 census would be paused until after the insurance companies could assess the damage.
When was the fire that destroyed 1890 census?
January 10, 1921
Photo courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration. A January 10, 1921 fire at the U.S. Department of Commerce building in Washington, DC, destroyed the majority of the population schedules from the 1890 Census.