Hi Kathy,
I found a explanation online
We all know that the first step was for the recorder to go door-to-door and take down the information. However, what is less well-known are the next two steps. The sheets were then posted publicly--usually at the post office--to have corrections made by the citizens who were just enumerated. Finally, after those corrected sheets were taken down, several copies were made. This was done by hand copying the original document. (Think there's some room for transcription error here?!?) The copies were done so that the county, state, etc. could have that info for their purposes. If those other copies survive, they can prove invaluable as a doublecheck, but they're usually long gone. It's my belief that sometime during the correcting/copying phase is when the entire term "Germany" was entered onto the sheets. (Yes, I've seen it too.) The recorder entered "Ger." on the sheet to get the count done quickly when going door-to-door, but then was required to clarify it with "Germany" in order to submit it to the US Census Burea.
We all know that the first step was for the recorder to go door-to-door and take down the information. However, what is less well-known are the next two steps. The sheets were then posted publicly--usually at the post office--to have corrections made by the citizens who were just enumerated. Finally, after those corrected sheets were taken down, several copies were made. This was done by hand copying the original document. (Think there's some room for transcription error here?!?) The copies were done so that the county, state, etc. could have that info for their purposes. If those other copies survive, they can prove invaluable as a doublecheck, but they're usually long gone.
It's my belief that sometime during the correcting/copying phase is when the entire term "Germany" was entered onto the sheets. (Yes, I've seen it too.) The recorder entered "Ger." on the sheet to get the count done quickly when going door-to-door, but then was required to clarify it with "Germany" in order to submit it to the US Census Burea.
Best regards