Evolution of the Census (unemployment, regular, conspiracy, March)

[denverkid]

I've heard a lot about the census this year. I've heard that it's an undue intrusion by the federal government that asks to many personal questions. I've heard that the information will be used to track us as well as for other nefarious purposes. I've heard it urged that people choose to not participate.

It thought it'd be interesting to look back and see how the census has changed over time. Below I've listed the questions asked in each census for going back in 50 year increments (2010, 1960, 1910, 1860, 1810). Note: "person" refers to each person in household


2010 Census Questions:

Number of people in household
Name, sex, age, and race of each person in household
Additional people at residence as of April 1, 2010 and relation to household
Is residence owned or rented
If owned, is there a mortgage
Telephone number at residence
Does any member of household sometimes reside elsewhere


1960 Census Questions:

Name, age, sex and color of every person in the household
Relationship of person to head of household
When was person born
Where was person born
Marital status of person
What country was person's father born in
What country was person's mother born in
When did person move into the residence
What is the highest grade of regular school person has attended
Was this highest grade completed
If a married woman, how many children has she had
Did person work last week
How many hours did person work last week
Was person looking for work last week
Does person have job, but was absent last week
When did person last work
Did person work prior to 1949
Is person in the Armed Forces
Has person worked since 1950
Describe person's job
Name of person's employer
Type of industry of employer
Type of work done by person
Type of employer (private, government, self-employed, farm)
In what city did person work last week
How did person get to work
Did person work in 1959
How many weeks did person work in 1959
How much did person earn in 1959
How much did person earn in 1959 from self-employment
In 1959 did person receive money from social security
In 1959 did person receive money from pensions
In 1959 did person receive money from rent
In 1959 did person receive money from interest of dividends
In 1959 did person receive money from unemployment insurance
In 1959 did person receive money from welfare
In 1959 did person receive money from any other source
What is the exact amount of many received from above sources
Has person ever served in the US Armed Forces
If so, did he serve in a war - which war
Does more that one family live at residence - If so, do they eat together
List any additional visitor who stayed in home March, 31 1960
List address of any such visitor
What is the relationship of such visitor
What is the sex of such visitor
What is the race of such visitor
When was such visitor born
Is such visitor married
Is residence a house, apartment, flat, or trailer
Is access to residence through a common hall
Does residence have a kitchen
How many rooms are in residence (do not count bathrooms)
Does residence have running hot and cold water
Does residence have a flushing toilet
Does residence have a shower or bathtub
Is residence owner or rented
Estimate the market value of residence
If rented, what is monthly rent
If a house, what is the size of the lot
How many bedrooms in residence
When was the residence originally built
How is the residence heated
Does the residence have a clothes washing machine and of what type
How many television sets are in the residence
How many radios are in the residence
If an apartment, how many units in the structure
What is the water source of the residence
Is the residence connected to a public sewer
Does the residence have a basement
How many stories is the residence
If an apartment, is the building a walk up or elevator building
If the residence is a trailer, is it permanent or mobile


1910 Census Questions:

Name of street, road, avenue etc.
House number for city dwellers.
Name of each person.
Relationship of person to the head of household.
Sex, color, and age of person
Is person single, married, widowed or divorced.
How many years in present marriage.
Mother of how many children and how many still living.
Place of birth of each person.
Place of birth of the father of this person.
Place of birth of the mother of this person.
Year of immigration to the US.
Is person an alien or naturalized.
Can the person speak English. If not, what is language spoken.
Occupation, trade or profession of person.
General nature of industry, business or where this person works.
Is the person an employer, employee or working on own account.
If an employee, was the person working on April 15,1910.
How many weeks during the year 1909 was the person unemployed.
Is person able to read and write.
Did the person attend school since Sept. 1, 1909.
Does this family own or rent home.
Is home owned outright or mortgaged.
Is the dwelling a farm or house.
If a farm, what is the number on the farm schedule.
Is the person a survivor of the Union or Confederate Arm or Navy.
Is the person blind.
Is the person deaf and dumb.


1860 Census Questions:

Name, age, sex and color of every person in the household.
Occupation of each person over age 15.
Value of real estate owned.
Value of personal property owned.
Place of birth of each person.
Was the person married within the year.
Did the person attend school within the year.
Can the person read and write. (only if over age 20).
Is the person deaf, dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, a pauper or convict.


1810 Census Questions:

Name of the head of each household.
How many free white males under age 10
How many free white males over 10 and under 16.
How many free white males over 16 and under 26.
How many free white males over 26 and under 45.
How many free white males over age 45.
How many free white females under age 10.
How many free white females over 10 and under 16.
How many free white females over 16 and under 26.
How many free white females over 26 and under 45.
How many free white females over age 45,
How many other free persons.
How many Slaves.



http://2010.census.gov/2010census/how/interactive-form.php (broken link)
http://usa.ipums.org/usa/voliii/items1960.shtml
http://www.censusfinder.com/census-questions.htm

[AnUnidentifiedMale]

And the anti-government crowd is angrier than ever about the Census this year. They hate the government, and I would venture to say, they hate America. They want to tear the American government down, break it apart, and see it fail.

[Nomander]

Originally Posted by AnUnidentifiedMale

And the anti-government crowd is angrier than ever about the Census this year. They hate the government, and I would venture to say, they hate America. They want to tear the American government down, break it apart, and see it fail.

Or... it could be that people have some valid objections to the way the US has progressed over the years concerning various authorities and the liberties they infringe.

If it is hateful to question the motives of your government, if it is hating America to constantly check them to their authorities, then our founders are such as you describe and they were adamantly opposed to your demand for such conformity to government.

The problem isn't that we hate our government. The problem is not that we hate America. The problem is that we do not like "your" attempts to change the government, nor your redefined approach to the role of our government.

In truth, your display would suggest that you "hate" our form of government, that you "hate" what America stands for, and that you want to tear it down, break it apart, and see it fail so you can design it as you see fit.

The problem is not those of us you maliciously describe. The problem is you.

[denverkid]

Originally Posted by Nomander

Or... it could be that people have some valid objections to the way the US has progressed over the years concerning various authorities and the liberties they infringe.

If it is hateful to question the motives of your government, if it is hating America to constantly check them to their authorities, then our founders are such as you describe and they were adamantly opposed to your demand for such conformity to government.

And do you see this reflected in the current census (especially in relation to the previous ones)?

[AuDiBelle]

I don't see conspiracy theories in every corner. The census is just that... fact gathering on the statistical make-up of our country. The IRS annual tax returns are much more invasive than the bland census questionnaire.

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by whatyousay

I don't see conspiracy theories in every corner. The census is just that... fact gathering on the statistical make-up of our country. The IRS annual tax returns are much more invasive than the bland census questionnaire.

The census was intended to be a count of population for purposes of representation. It's none of their business how many bathrooms I have, what time I'm home each day, etc.

It's really quite clear when you read the early censuses which were simply taking a head count for purposes of representation (which of course at the time incl. free and unfree persons).

[Ceece]

Boy, some of those early census questions are pretty invasive.

[GreenGene]

Originally Posted by arctichomesteader

It's really quite clear when you read the early censuses which were simply taking a head count for purposes of representation (which of course at the time incl. free and unfree persons).

Really?

There's no earlier U.S. Census than the one conducted in 1790. Here are the questions:

Name of the head of each household.
How many free white males age 16 and older.
How many free white males under age 16.
How many free white females.
How many of all other free persons.
How many slaves.

Questions of gender, age, and race ... all in the very first census, 3 years after the Constitution was adopted.

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by GreenGene

Really?

There's no earlier U.S. Census than the one conducted in 1790. Here are the questions:

Name of the head of each household.
How many free white males age 16 and older.
How many free white males under age 16.
How many free white females.
How many of all other free persons.
How many slaves.

Questions of gender, age, and race ... all in the very first census, 3 years after the Constitution was adopted.

Only free males could vote at the time. Males were already required to register with their local militia unit too.

That doesn't even come close to today's long form census though...

[NoExcuses]

Verified address, number of people living in household and that was it. I didn't answer any other questions.

The purpose of a census is to count the residents, not to find out what we had for breakfast.