1800 United States Federal Census Transcription Project

Date: 4 Aug 1800 [unknown]
Location: United States

United States Census Transcription Project

1800 Population Schedules of the Second Census of the United States

Overview^[1]

Authorizing Legislation An act of February 28, 1800 authorized the second census of the United States, which was to include the states and territories northwest of the Ohio River and Mississippi Territory. The census was to conclude within nine calendar months of its start.

The guidelines for the 1800 enumeration followed those of the first census, with only minor alterations in the law. John Marshall, secretary of state in 1800, was the nominal head of census operations. By early 1801, however, Marshall was chief justice of the Supreme Court. James Madison, his successor as secretary of state, oversaw the final tabulations and reported population totals to Congress and the president.

Enumeration The questionnaire provided space to separately tally free white males and females in several age categories: under 10, 10 but under 15, 16 but under 25, 25 but under 45, and over 45. Indians, slaves, and free blacks were listed in single categories undivided into age groups.

The United States Census of 1800^[2]

The United States Census of 1800 was the second Census conducted in the United States. It was conducted on August 4, 1800.

It showed that 5,308,483 people were living in the United States, of whom 893,602 were slaves. The 1800 Census included the new District of Columbia. The census for the following states were lost: Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Virginia. This would be the last census in which Virginia was the most populous state.

This census is one of the several for which some of the original data are no longer available. Original census returns for Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Virginia were lost over the years.

1800 United States Federal Census Schedule I Questions/Column Headings^[3]

1 - Name of the head of the household

2 - Number of free white males under age 10

3 - Number of free white males of age 10 and under 16

4 - Number of free white males of age 16 and under 26

5 - Number of free white males of age 26 and under 45

6 - Number of free white males of age 45 and over.

7 - Number of free white females under age 10

8 - Number of free white females of age 10 and under 16

9 - Number of free white females of age 16 and under 26

10 - Number of free white females of age 26 and under 45

11 - Number of free white females of age 45 and over.

12 - Number of all other free persons

13 - Number of slaves

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census Bureau", website online, (https://www.census.gov/history/www/through_the_decades/overview/1800.html); accessed 22 April 2020.
2. ↑ Wikidepia: 1800 United States Census, 23 May 2020.
3. ↑ "United States Census Bureau", website online, index of questions; (https://www.census.gov/history/www/through_the_decades/index_of_questions/1800_1.html), 28 May 2020.