Missouri Trails To The Past

Questions Asked on the 1870 Census

 

US 1870 Census Download

 

For the 1870 census, enumerators recorded demographic information on the following topics, organized by column number:

  1. 1. Number of dwelling house, by order of visitation from enumerator
  2. 2. Number of family, by order of visitation from enumerator
  3. 3. Name
  4. 4. Age
  5. 5. Sex
  6. 6. Color
  8. Enumerators could mark "W" for White, "B" for Black, "M" for Mulatto, "C" for Chinese [a category which included all east Asians], or "I" for American Indian.
  9. 7. Profession, occupation, or trade
  10. 8. Value of real estate
  11. 9. Value of personal estate
  12. 10. Place of birth
  14. State or territory of the United States or foreign country
  15. 11. Was the person's father of foreign birth?
  16. 12. Was the person's mother of foreign birth?
  17. 13. If the person was born within the last year, which month?
  18. 14. If the person was married within the last year, which month?
  19. 15. Did the person attend school within the last year?
  20. 16. Can the person not read?
  21. 17. Can the person not write?
  22.  18. Is the person deaf and dumb, blind, insane, or idiotic?
  23. 19. Is the person a male citizen of the United States of 21 years or upwards?
  24. 20. Is the person a male citizen of the United States of 21 years or upwards whose right to vote is denied or abridged on grounds other than "rebellion or other crime?"

 

Census Tip

The 1870 census asked if the parents were of foreign birth which is a great help in finding immigrant ancestors and opens up the possibility of locating naturalization records when they become naturalized. Mortality schedules were part of this census. Names of people who died in the year previous to the census were listed in these special mortality schedules along with the cause of death.

 

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