Was there a federal census in 1940?

The 1940 census was taken in April 1940 (official date was April 1, though entries were recorded throughout early April). The Federal government requires a census to be taken once every ten years for the apportionment of members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The first census was taken in 1790.

Is 1940 census available online?

The National Archives released the 1940 Census on April 2, 2012. It is available for online searching free of charge at http://1940census.archives.gov or Population Schedules for the 1940 Census.

How do I find 1940 census records?

You can also access the 1940 census for free through NARA’s partner at https://www.familysearch.org/1940census. This database is name searchable. You may need to register with the site (free) before searching. The 1940 census images are also available through the National Archives Catalog.

What census records are available?

Because of a 72-year restriction on access to the Census, the most recent year available is 1950. The 1950 Census was released on April 1, 2022. The National Archives has the census schedules available from 1790 to 1950, and most have now been digitized by our digitization partners.

When will the 1940 census be available to the public?

On April 2, the National Archives and Records Administration will make individual records from the 1940 Census available to the public for the first time.

What is the history of the census?

The first federal census was conducted in 1790, when America was beginning to grow as a country just after having gained independence from the British Empire. Over the course of the next 220 years, 23 censuses have collected tons of data and statistics giving us a tremendous look into the evolution of American life.

What kind of paper was used in the 1940 census?

An original blank 1940 Federal Decennial Census Population Schedule. The census day was April 1, 1940. The 1940 census questionnaire was printed on 23 3/4″ x 12 1/2″ paper. These double sided forms provided space for 40 entries on each side plus two additional lines for the 5% sample questions.

What was the first census of housing?

The 1940 Census included the first census of housing, with enumerators collecting information for a housing census at the same time they gathered information for the population census.