4

elsewhere in the same county in 1940. In this report, im
migrants are included with the migrants. Inmigrants are those
who were living in foreign countries or in the outlying terri-
tories or possessions of the United States in 1935.1 The
classification of migrants by place of residence in 1935 shows
separately urban areas by four size groups, rural-nonfarm
areas, and rural-farm areas.

Nonmigrants are those persons who lived in the same county
(or quasi county) in 1940 as in 1935. Among the nonmigrants, a
distinction 1s made between those living in the same house in
1940 as in 1935 and those living ina different house in 1940
than in 1935.

The statistics on this subject do not indicate the parti-
cular areas in which the migrants lived in 1935. Furthermore,
these statistics do not indicate all the movements made by the
family heads between 1935 and 1940,’ since many families changed

‘Table IT. FAMILIES BY URBAN-KURAL RESIDENCE, AND RACE

[iso statistics bane co Semple 2. Statistics cor 1540, 2880, ant 1900 represent grin

‘tutions end other quasi Rouseholds which wore counted as'fanilies in ti

Neen ee eeerelillons "Pieares for wales fusilies in 1090 revised to taslvte

FAMILIES, 1940

their residence several times during that period. In so
cases, of course, the family,head returned to the city
county where he had lived in 1935, so that the head was class
fied as a nonmigrant, even though he had moved at least twi
in the five-year period 1935 to 1940.

Tenure.— Families are classified by tenure into two group
Owner and tenant. A family is classified es an owner family
the home was owned either wholly or in part by the head of t
family or by some related member of his family living in t
home. All other families are classified as tenant famili
whether or not cash rent was actually paid for the livi
quarters. Families residing in rent-free quarters or in livi
accommodations which were received in payment for servic
performed are thus included with the tenant families.

Comparative data for the period 1890 to 1940 on families
color of head and tenure ere shown in table II for farm a
nonfarm areas.

OF HEAD, BY TENURE, FOR THE UNITED STATZS: 1690 TO 1940

fentlies only; those for 1920, 1910, and 1690 inelude the snall number of ins
For 1690 to 1920, a enall proportion of the fanilies in the category “Hurel-fa
Mexicans clessitied with "Other races" in 1990 reports]

. 1540 1990 1920 910 1800 1890
RACE OF HEAD,
‘AD THR wumber | Pereent| Number | Percent | Numer | Percent | Number | Percent| Number | Percent | under | Pere
29,904,668 24,051,876 ~ | 20,255,855 ~| 15,968,965 =| 12,690,252
z9izel;es1| 100.0| 23,810,888] 100.0| 19,781,606] 100.0 15,428,987] 100.0 | 12,690,152| 10
aaoo2,o% | 47.8] 10,066,960| 45.6| 9,0e9,711| 45.9| 7,205,212] 48.7| 6,086,417) 4
asjaisyei7 | 52.2] 12,943,58| 54.4] 10,697,895] 54.1] 8,229,775] 58.3] 6,628,705] 5
28,300,026 17,600,472 | u,2s1, 95 =| 10,274,227 7,922,973
22,917,072 irizz9,3s¢| 00,0 | 18,872,044| 100.0] 9,779,979. 7isen,973| 10
10,549,972 ‘7yoat,zea| 40.8} 5,245,380] 38.4 | 2,566,809 zisea,67. | 8
1121367;100 yojeana| 52.1] 9,426,66| 1.6] 6,228,170) 63.5] 4,999,002] 6
6,604,687 6,751,208 ~| 5,228,810 ~| 5,589,888 4,762,179
6,404,619 181,164 | 200.0} 6,109,562] 100.0] 5,649,008, 45,767,173 | 10
3,452,102 3)825,677| 58.2] 3,892,881] 62.8] 3,628,409 azims| 6
2)952,707 2i755,4e7| 41.9| 227,201} 37.2] 2,010,605 iysz4j4ag | 8
26,982,998 | 2,225,658 - e ~| 14,068,791. =| 12,256,169
26,432,256]  100.0| 21,379,168] 100.0 @) =| 18,559,106 | 100.0) 11,255,169} 10
13,288,229 | 50.2| 10,286,257] 48.1 @) =| 6)788,069] 48:7| 5,799,660) =
3sz03,827/ 49.8] 11,092,896) 52.9 e) =| syertjos7| 50.3 | 5,481,809] 4
2,208,755 =| 2,430,008 =| 2,173,018 2,899,759 =| 1,410,769
2y719,862| 200.0| 2,242,348| 100.0 2,092,418 Yj708,725| 100.0 | 1,410,769] 20
659,645 | 24.6) ‘542,54 | 23.2 "408,699 373,450) 21.9 ye] 2
2,050,217} 75.4| 1,799,694] 76.8 | 1,608,719 1,s38,276| 76:1| a,146,481]
7,813 - 95,194 - ica) 56,415 - 214
109,773) 100.0 29,047| 100.0 @) 61,185, 4,214 | 10
44,000| 40.2 3e,033| 42.7 @) 43,693 eacs|
TIIINIIII 65,773] 59.9 s1,oce| 87.3 @) = 17462 asias| 6
2 Statistics for 1910 not available.
Children under 10, under 18, and under 21 years old.—The | are also included in this group; in such families one pers

tabulation of children under 10 yéars old includes all children
within this age class who are related to the head of the family
either by blood or by adoption. Stepchildren are included, but
not foster children nor wards. Grandchildren, nephews, nieces,
and other related children not sons nor daughters of the head
are included, but the number is relatively small. The count of
children under 18 and of children under 21 excludes married
children living with the family.

‘The classification of families by number of children under
10 years old is useful as a measure of fertility and also as an
indication of the number of women who are unable to accept Jobs
because of responsibility for the cafe of young children. Sta-
tistics on families by number of children under 18 years old
are significant principally because the great majority of such
children are still financially dependent upon their parents.
The data on families by number of children under 21 years old
indicate the mmber of families in which there are minor chil-
aren.

Size of family.—in the classification of families according
to size, only the head of the family and persons related to the
head ty blood, marriage, or adoption are counted. Lodgers,
resident servants, guests, and foster children or wards are
omitted fron the number of persons in the family but are in-
cluded in the number of persons in the household as shown in
the second series of Housing Dulletins. Most of the one-person
families shown in the classification represent persons living
alone. A number of so-called partnership families, however,

2 Im the reports on internal migration,
rately from migrants.

immigrants are shown sepa-

has been classified as the head,
counted as lodgers.

The median size of family in 1940 and 1930 is presented
tenure, in table III for the United States by regions, urt
and rurel (with color for the South). In comection with t
median size of family the general definition of the median
‘that item or value which stands at the midpoint of a ser!
arranged according to size or value must be qualified somewhe
since this figure 1s presented with a decimal which can harc
ve taken literally, For practical purposes, however, one ne
not be concerned with the theoretical interpretation of tt
median, but may simply accept it as a convenient summary Tig
representing the size of family in the various areas and grot
concerned.

Lodgers and subfamilies.In the classification of fami1:
according to number of lodgers, certain persons. haye vé
counted as lodgers besides those directly returned as lodge
or roomers. The more important of these are unrelated partnr
sharing the living quarters of the family head; employees
‘the head, other than servants, such as hired hands living w:
‘the farm’ family; foster children and wards; and guests with
other usual place of residence. The distinction betwee!
private family with lodgers or boarders and a lodging house
hotel cannot be sharply defined tut, as stated above, hou
holds with more than 10 lodgers are excluded from the classi:
cation of private families. This line of division conforms
that used in the 1930 family tabulations. In 1940, 8.1 perc:
of the families had one or more lodgers, as compared with !
percent in 1930, :

and the others have be



|

‘BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

J. C. CAPT, Director (Appointed May 22, 1941)
WILLIAM LANE AUSTIN, Director (Retired January 81, 1941)

Pum M. Hauser, Assistant Director

Population—Lzon B. Tavespext, Chief Statistician.
A. Ross Hcxrnn, Assistant Ohief Statistician.

Occupation Statistics—Alba M. Edwards.

Economic Statistics—William H. Mautz.

General Population Statistics—Henry S. Shryock, Jr.
Housing Statistics—Howard G. Brunsman.
Mathematical Adviser—W. Edwards Deming.
Technical Operations—Regis W. Holmberg.
Tabulation Expert—James L. McPherson.

Technical Editing—Bruce L. Jenkinson.

Technical Instructions—Jack B. Robertson.

Administrative Service—F. R. Prrman, Acting Chief.
Agriculture—Zetimer R. Perret, Chief Statistician.
Business—Joun Atsricur, Chief Statistician.
Geography—Canence E. Barecuexer, Geographer.

Information and Publications—A. W. von Sreuve, Acting Chief.
Machine Tabulation—Ratrx E. Gattoway, Chief.
Manufactures—THomas J. Frrzcerat, Chief Statistician.

State and Local Government—Epwanp R. Gray, Chief Statistician.
Vital Statistics—Hacnear L. Dunn, Chief Statistician.

SIXTEENTH CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES : 1940

REPORTS ON POPULATION
Volume

X Number of Inhabitants, by States.
II Characteristics of the Population, by States.
IXL The Labor Foree—Occupation, Industry, Employment, and Income, by States.
Iv Characteristics by Age—Marital Status, Relationship, Education, and Citizenship,
ny States.

Statistics for Census Tracts (Including Housing Data).

Additional Reports—Internal Migration, Families (Including Housing Data), Fertility,
Parentage, Mother Tongue, Further Statistics on The Labor Force, ete. .

Special Reports.

REPORTS ON HOUSING

I Data for Small Areas, by States.
Supplement : Block Statistics for Cities,
II General Characteristics of Housing, by States.
III Characteristics by Monthly Rent or Value, by States.
IV Mortgages on Owner-Occupied Nonfarm Homes, by States.

Special Reports.



MAP OF THE UNITED STATES SHOWING REGIONS, DIVISIONS, AND STATES

meme Region boundaries
——— Division boundaries
——- State boundaries

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF GOMMERCE

ray

i \
STATES, |

=

OHIO

“"BUREAU OF THE CENSUS



i

amerereren

FAMILIES
. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

INTRODUCTION

GENERAL

This report presents statistics for the United States by
States on a number of the characteristics of families and of
their heads based on returns of the Sixteenth Decennial Census
of Population, taken as of April 1, 1940. Families are clas-
sified according. to tenure, size, number of children under 10,
under 18, and under 21 years old, labor force status of chil-
dren 14 to 17 years old, number of lodgers and subfamilies,
number of persons in the labor force, number of employed
workers, family employment status, class-of-worker composition,
and family wage or salary income and receipt of other income.
Heads of families are shown by race, nativity, parentage, citi-
zenship, sex, marital status, age, highest grade of school
completed, migration status and 1935 residence, employment
status, and major occupation group. Statistics are presented
for the United States, by regions and States; for the urban,
rural-nonfarm, and rural-farm parts of the United States,
regions, and States; for cities of 100,000 or more; and for
metropolitan districts of 200,000 or more.

Statistics for male heads of military age by number of
dependents may be derived fron the tables showing families
classified by sex, marital status, and age of head, and number
of children under 18 years old. ‘These statistics are directly
applicable to problems of deferment of meh from military ser-
vice, and allotments to dependents cf men in the armed forces.

Related reports on families.— This is one of a series of
reports presenting Statistics for families, based on tabulations
of samples of the returns of the 1940 Censuses of Population
and Housing. The specific titles of other reports in this
series, anda brief summary of the subjects covered, are given
delow.#

‘Types of Families: Characteristics of families by family
type, that Is, by sex and marital status of head, and number
of children, are presented in this report ty age of head and
other characteristics of the head and of the family. Sta~
tistics are shown for regions and cities of 1,000,000 or
nore.

Employment Status: Data for families by number and
employment status of persons in the labor force, by charac-
teristics of the family and of the family head, are presented
in this report for regions and cities of 1,000,000 or more.

Family Wage or Salary Income in 1939: Statistics on wage
or salary income and receipt of other income in 1939, for
families classified by characteristics of the family and of
the head, are shown in this report for regions and cities of
1,000,006 or more.

Size of Family and Age of Head: Characteristics of fami-
lies and of family heads, by type and size of family and age
of head, are presented in this report for regions and cities
of 1,000,000 or more.

Tenure and Rent: Data for urban and rural-nonfarn fami-
lies classified by tenure and rent and cross-classified by
family characteristics and characteristics of the head, are
presented in this report for regions, cities of 1,000,000 or
more, and metropolitan districts of 500,000 or more.

Income and Rent: Data on wage or salary income and
receipt of other income in 1939 are shown in this report for

1 he 1940 Population Census schedule is reproduced in Part 1 of
Volume III and Part 1 of Volume IV of the Sixteenth Census Reports on
Population. The instructions to emumerators are also reproduced in
these volumes. .

2 at the time this report goes to press (early in 1943) these re-
ports are in various stages of completion, and the titles and contents
may be somewhat altered before publication.

urban and rural-nonfarm families classified by tenure and

rent, and cross-classified byhousing characteristics, family

characteristics, and characteristics of the head. Statis-
tics are presented for regions, and metropolitan districts
of 1,000,000 or more.

Characteristics of Rural-farm Families: Rural-farm femi-
lies are classified in this report by tenure, occupation of
the head, and in some cases by’ value or rent, and cross-
classified by selected housing characteristics, family char-
acteristics, and characteristics of the head. Statistics are
presented for regions and geographic divisions.

Related reports on population and housing. —The United
States summaries of the second, third, and fourth series of
Population bulletins show for individuals many of the charac-
teristics given in the present report for families and family
heads. ‘The second series of Population bulletins, entitled
"Characteristics of ‘the Population," present data on general
population characteristics and condensed labor force statistics
for States, counties, all urban places, and metropolitan dis-
tricts. The third series of Population bulletins, entitled
“he Labor Force--Occupation, Industry, Employment, and Income,"
gives more detailed data on the labor force for States and for
cities of 100,000 or more. ‘The fourth series of Population
bulletins, entitled "Characteristics by Age--Marital Status,
Relationship, Education, and Citizenship," deals with general
population characteristics for States and cities of 50,000 or
more, and presents data on marital status and relationship to
head of household as well as other data less closely related to
family characteristics. Other publications present charac-
teristics of the migrant pophlation for States ‘and large
cities.

‘Sample data on the fertility of women 15 to 74 years old are
presented in other reports, for regions, divisions, States, and
cities of 250,000 or more. In these publications, wonen ere
classified by number of children ever born, number of children
under 5 and 5 to 9 years old, age, duration of marriage, and
other characteristics.

The first series of Housing bulletins, entitled "Data for
small Areas," and the second series of Housing bulletins,
entitled "General Characteristics," present statistics on occu-
pied dwelling units (the living quarters of families) for
States, for counties, for incorporated places of 1,000 or more,
for metropolitan districts, and, in the first series, for minor
civil divisions.

Data from previous censuses.—The reports for each decennial
census beginning with 1850 have included data on the number of
families and the number of dwellings. Beginning with the Census
of 1890, family statistics have been available on farm resi-
dence, tenure, and the number of Negro families. Data are also
available for'1890, 1900, 1920, and 1930 on families by race
and nativity of head. A classification of households by size
was made in 1890 and 1900, but since lodgers and other unrelet-
ed members were included, as well as institutional groups, the
figures are not comparable with the 1950 and 1940 data on
family size. In addition, certain other family characteristics,
such as population per family, were published in the reports
for various censuses.

In recognition of the growing need for statistics on family
characteristics, the Bureau of the Census published a separate
detailed report on families in 1930. This report included data
on families by race and nativity of head and tenure, cross-
classified by size of family, value or rent, number of children
under 10 and under 21 years old, number of gainful workers,
mumber of lodgers, and sex of head, with male heads by age.
Family statistics were presented for each State by counties,
‘and for all incorporated places of 2,500 or more.



CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION
Page
General..... see eeeeeeeeeees 1 | Definitions of terms and explenations-—Continued
Related reports on families. 1 Highest grade of school completed....
Related reports on population and housing 1 Migration status and 1935 residence of head. .
Data from previous censuses - : 1 Temuresssseessseseee Pere rnrrereerererress
Sources of family statistics. . 2 Children under 10, under 16, end under 21 years old
Nature’ of the sample data. . 2 Size of family......
Arrangement of tables...... . 2 Lodgers and subfamilies...
Availability of unpublishea data. 2 Persons in the labor force paesenaes
Detinitions of tems end explanetions.. 2 Comparison of 1940 data on persons in the labor
an and rural areas
it st ful workers.... +
Metropolitan districts. 2 Fonoe with 1980 data on ge in! ae

private household, and occupied dwelling

quasi household
Head of family.
Race of head
Nativity and parentage
Citizenship...
Sex and marital status of head.
Age of head.

Map of the United States showing regions, divisions, and States....s.ssseseseue

ewe wee mE

Fenily employment status
Number of employed workers...
Enployment status of head.
Major occupation group of head.
Labor force status of children 14 to 17 yoars

old. teeter eeee
Fenily wage or salary income and receipt of other

income in 1939..
Class-of-worker composition...

MAP

TEXT TABLES

Table
qe

Families by race and nativity of head,
race, for the United States: 1940, 1930, 1920,

TII.--Median size of family by tenure,
1940 and 1930........606

with total population by race and nativity,

and 1890.
II,--Femilies by urban-rural residence, and race of head, by tenure, for the Unit
for the United States, by regions, urban and rural

1900,

and population per family by

0 to 194
(with color for the South)

DETAILED TABLES

UNITED STATES
Table
l.--Families by color, nativity, parentage, and sex
of head, for the United States, by regions,
urban and rural: 1940, eens

Families by marital status, age, and sex of head,
by number of children under 18 years old, for
the United States, by regions, urban and rural
(with nonwhite for the South): 1940...

3.--Families by number of children under 10 years

ola, by sex of head, for the United States, by
regions, urban ani rural (with nonwhite for the
South): 1940 and 1930.
Families by labor force status of ehilaren “4 to
17 years old, by sex of head, for the United
States, by regions, urban and rural (with non-
white for the South): 1940.......

5.--Families by years of school completed by head, by
sex, for the United States, by regions, urban
and rural (with nonwhite for the South): 1940.
6.--Families by race and nativity of head, by tenure,

for the United States, by regions, urban and

rural: 1940 and 1930....... sees
‘V.--Fanilies by race, nativity, and citizenship of
head, by tenure, for the United States, by

regions, urban and rural: 1940........6+
8.--Families by size and tenure, for “the United
States, by regions, urban and rural (with non-

te for the South): 1940 and 1930......

wv

Page

10

wu

16

18

20

22

UNITZD STATES~-Continued

Table
Q.--Families by number of children under 21 years
old, by tenure, for the United States, by
regions, urban and rural, 1940 and 1930, with
nonwhite for the South, 1940.....ssssseseseeees
10.--Femilies, by number of lodgers and subfamilies in
household, by tenure, for the United States, by
regions, urban and rural (with nonwhite for the
South): 1940...... seeeaee
Families by marital status and sex of head, by
tenure, for the United States, by regions,
urban end rural (with nonwhite for the South:

1940. .ceeeeeee setae tases
12,--Femilies by sex of head, with age for male head,
by tenure, for the United States, by regions,

urban end rural, 1940 and 1930, with nonwhite

for the South, 1940... tae
3,--Fanilies by mumber of persons in the labor force,
March 1940, and number of gainful workers, 1930,

by tenure, for the United States, by regions,

urban and rural (with nonwhite for the South).
14.--Families by number of employed persons and class-

of-worker composition, by tenure, for the
United States, by regions, urban and rural
(with nonwhite for the South): 1940..........4

15,--Families by fenily employment status, and employ-
ment status of head, by tenure, for the United
States, by regions, urban and rural (with non-
white for the South): 1940.........

Page

Ce)

oooua

a

Page

26

30

32

35

38

40

uamispienstntsonntueatrreersens i


|

[

'
t

FOREWORD

Sampling techniques were utilized in the Sixteenth Decennial Census for
the first time in the history of the Population Census. The use of sam~
pling methods permitted the collection of statistics on a larger number of
inquiries than has heretofore been possible, the release of preliminary
population statistics at an early date, and the tabulation of a great many
social and economic characteristics of the population at a relatively low
cost.

This report is based on the tabulation of samples of the census returns
and presents statistics on the economic and other characteristics of fami-
lies for regions, States, cities of 100,000 or-more, and metropolitan
districts of 200,000 or more. This report contains the only statistics
from the 1940 Census on most of the family characteristics for States,
cities of less than 1,000,000, and metropolitan districts of less than
500,000. This report was prepared under the supervision of Dr. Leon E.
Truesdell, Chief Statistician for Population, and Dr. A. Ross Eckler,
Assistant Chief Statistician, by Dr. Henry S. Shryock, Jr., William H.
Mautz, Howard G. Brunsman, and Dr. Paul C. Glick. The sampling proce-
dures were under the direction of Dr. W. Edwards Deming, Mathematical
Adviser.


CONTENTS

SELROTED CITIES OF 100,000 OR MORE--Continued METROPOLITAN DISTRICTS OF 200,000 OR MORE
Table Page | Table
62.--Nonwhite families by mumber of children under 10 72.--Femilies by race, nativity, and citizenship of
years old and under 18 years old, by sex of head, by tenure, for metropolitan districts of
head, for selected cities of 100,000 or more: 200,000 or more: 1940, ae
1940. .eeseceecereeeeeeeers viesuseessee 284 | 78.--Femilies by size, and by mmber of children under
68,~-Nonwhite families by labor force statue of child- 2l years ola, by tenure, for metropolitan dis-
ren 14 to 17 years old, by sex of head, for tricts of 200,000 or mre: 1940..
selected cities of 100,000 or more: 1940. ves | 74.--Ranilies, by number of lodgers and subfanilies in
64.--Nonmhite families by years of school completed by household, by tenure, for metropolitan dis-
head, by sex, for selected cities of 100,000 or tricts of 200,000 or more: 1940......eseeeeeee
MOE: 1MMOecsisessresesereeeceeceereeeseesee 285 | 75.—-Families by marital status and sex of head, by
65.--Nonvhite femilies by size, and by mumber of tenure, for metropolitan districts of 200,000

children under 21 yeers old, by tenure, for or more: 1940 - o.
selected cities of 100,000 or mre: 1940...... 286 | 76.--Families by sex of head, with age for male head,
66.--Nonwhite fenilies, by mumber of lodgers and sub- by tenure, for metropolitan districts of 200,000
fenilies in household, and marital status of OF MOre: 1940.eseeceeseceeceeceteceneeseneeee
male heads, by tenure, for selected cities of 77,--Femilies by nuzber of persons in the labor force,
100,000 or mre: 1940..seeeseeeere 287 nunber of employed persons, and class-of-worker
67.--Nonvhite tentlies by sex of head, with age for composition, by tenure, for metropolitan dis-
mele head, by tenure, for selected cities of tricts of 200,000 or more: 1940.....seeeeee
100,000 or mre: 1940 vesissseseess 286 | 78,—~Fanilies by fenily employment status, and employ-
68.. -Noninite families by family “onployment status, ment status of head, by tenure, for metropoli-
and employment status of head, by tenure, for tan districts of 200,000 or more: 1940...... oe
selected cities of 100,000 or more: 1940...... 289 | 79,-~Families with employed head, by major occupation
69.--Nonwhite femilies with employed head, by major group of head, by tenure, for metropolitan dis-
oceupation group of head, by tenure, for se- tricts of 200,000 or more: 1940.
lected cities of 100,000 or more: 1940.. 290 | 80.--Families by femily wage or salary 2
70.--Nomwhite families by tantly wage or selary income receipt of other incone in 1939, by tenure in
and receipt of other income in 1939, by tenure 1940, for metropolitan districts of 200,000 or
in 1940, for selected cities of 100,0000r more. 291 seeteeeeeeeeeee
7l.--Nonvnite families by migration status end 1935 @l.--Fanilies by migration status and 1985 residence
residence of head, by 1940 residence and ten~ of head, by 1940 residence and tenure, for met-
ure, for selected cities of 100,000 or more.... 292 ropolitan districts of 200,000 or more......+++

APPENDIX ,

Comparison between results of sample tabulations and complete counts......
Table A.--Comparison between results of sample tabulations of fanilies and couplete counts of private households and
occupied avelling units, by urban-rural residence, color and sex of head, ami tenure, for the United States:
1940..

Page

298

297

300

308

gl

315

-318

822

326

Page
332

332


yp pan £007

REFERENCE COPY

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
JESSE H. JONES, Secretary
BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

J. ©. CAPT, Director (Appointed May 22, 1941)
WILLIAM LANE AUSTIN, Director (Retired January 31, 1941)
PHILIP M, HAUSER, Assistant Director

SIXTEENTH CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES : 1940

POPULATION and HOUSING

FAMILIES

General Characteristics, Tenure and Rent,
Income and Rent, and Characteristics
of Rural-farm Families

Bureau of the Census
Library
Prepared under the supervision of

Dr. LEON E. TRUESDELL
Chief Statistician for Population

UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 1943

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. 8. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C.

£


2

Unpublished 1930 tabulations include data on types of fami-
lies, families having a gainfully employed home-maker, and
selected families ty number of children cross-classified by age
of wite, duration of marriage, and other characteristics.

Sources of family statistics.— The 1940 family statistics
shown In this report are based on tabulations of two samples of
families, identified as Sample D and Sample F. Allof the
family characteristics based on tabulations of Sample D and the
majority of those based on tabulations of Sample F were obtain-
ed from the entries on the Population census schedule, where
the individual members of a family were emumerated on consecu-
tive lines. | The tables in this report based on tabulations of
Sample F include two items that were obtained trom the Housing
schedule, namely, farm residence for rural families and tenure.

Nature of the sample data.— Each of the two samples, Sample
Dand Sample F, was designed so that in certain portions of the
areas shown, @ 24-percent sample was used (multiplied by a uni-
form factor of 40), and elsewhere a 5-percent sample was used
(mitiplied by a uniform factor of 20). Sample D differs
slightly from Sample F by reason of differences in procedures
used inderiving the data. Exact agreement is not to be
expected between these tabulations and the corresponding tabu-
lations of a complete count, but the sample data nevertheless
indicate the relationships among the various characteristics
involved. With regard to the individual numbers in the tables,
comparisons thus far made indicate that 95 percent of the
numbers above 25,000 will differ from those given by thé con-
plete count by less than 5 percent, 95 percent of those between
10,000 and 25,000 will ditrer by less than 10 percent, and 95
percent of those between 2,500 and 10,000 will differ by less
‘than 20 percent. Somewhat larger varietions may occur in the
case of numbers below 2,500 but even here the majority of the
differences are less than 15 percent. (See Appendix, "Com
parison of sample and complete counts".)

Arrangement of tables.—The tables in the present report are
arrenged in four groups according to area. Tables 1 to 20 pre-
sent statistics for the United States as a whole and for 4
regions. Data for States are shown in tables 21 to 45. In
tables 47 to 71 appear statistics for cities of 100,000cr more,
and in tables 72 to 81, for the 60 metropoliten districts of
200,000 or more. For several subjects, less detailed statis-
tics are presented for the smaller areas than for the larger
areas. Within each of the four types of areas, the tables
based on tabulations of Sample D precede those based on tabu-
lations of Sample F.

Availability of unpublished data. —The statistics in this
report presented for the United States and regions represent
nearly all of the detail tabulated for these areas in the
counts upon which the report is based. With the exception of
‘the figures shown in tables 19 and 20, similar statistics have
deen tabulated for cities of 100,000 or more, for metropolitan
districts (for those subjects presented by metropolitan dis-
tricts), and for the urban, rural-nonfarm, and rural-ferm
remainder of each State. For all areas in the South and in the
State of Missouri, and for cities in the North and West with
50,000 or more nonwhite inhabitants, or with 10 percent or more
nonwhite, the tabulations upon which all tables except tables
19 and 20 are based heve been made separately for white and
nonhite families. (The date on lodgizg houses and institutions
in table 19 and the data on lodging houses in table 20 are
besed on a special tabulation that was made only for regions,
urban and rural.) Because of space limitations, the data on
certain subjects for States, cities, and metropolitan districts
are published in condensed form but can be made available in
full detail for the cost of preparing and reproducing them.
Request for these data, addressed to the Directorof the Census,
Washington, D. C., will receive a prompt reply, including an
estimate of the cost of preparing the figures.

DEFINITIONS OF TERYS AND EXPLANATIONS

Urben and rural aress.— Urban population, as defined by the
Bureau of the Census, is in general thet residing in cities and
other incorporated places having 2,500 inhabitants or more. In
addition, certain densely populeted townships or other civil
divisions, not incorpcrated as mnicipelities, have been clas-
sified as urban under special rules. The remainder of the popu-
lation is classified es rural, and is subdivided into the
rural-farm population, which comprises all rural residents
living on farms, without regard to occupation, and the rural-
nonfarm population, which comprises the remaining rural popula—
tion. (For further details for each State, see Population,
Volume I, entitled "Number of Inhabitents" and comprising the
first series of Fopulation bulletins for States.)

FAMILIES, 1940

Metropolitan districts. A metropoliten district has been
set up for use in the 1940 Censuses of Population and Housing
in connection with each city of 50,000 or more, two or more
such cities sometimes being in one district. In the present
report, family statistics are shown in several of the tables
for metropolitan districts with 200,000 or more inhabitants.
The general plan is to include in the district, in addition to
the central city or cities, all adjacent and contiguous minor
civil divisions or incorporated places having a population of
150 or more per square mile. In some metropolitan districts a
Tew less densely populated contiguous divisions are included on
the basis of special qualifications. Only a portion of a minor
civildivision 1s included if the minor civil division has a
large area and the principal concentration of population is in
a small section near the central city with the more remote sec

thickly settled
in and eround e city or group of cities. It tends to

and, often\ administrative interests.
~ Family, private household, and occupied dwelling unit. The
term "famiiy," as defined in the 1940, 1930, and 1900 censuses,

is limited ta private families and excludes the small number
(about 80,000) of institutions and other quasi households which
were counted a families in the other censuses since 1850 (see
sections on “bata from previous censuses" and "Quasi house-
hold"). A pribate family comprises a family head and all other
Persons in the home who are related to the head by blood, mar-
riage, or addption, and who live together and share common
housekeeping drrangements. A person living alone is counted as
a one-person private family. A family head sharing his living
accommodatiods with one or more unrelated persons, or providing
rooms for the use of lodgers, servents, ‘or hired hands, is also
counted as fa one-person privete family. A group of related
persons resfding permanently or for an indefinite period in an
tel 1s courted as a private family.

"private household" is used in the 1940 Population
census to Anclude the related family members (who constitute
the privafe family) and the lodgers, servants, or hired hends,

if any, pho regularly live in the home. Thus, the number of
private Youseholds is the same as the number of private fami-
lies, bft the total mumber of persons in private households

some individuals who are not members of private fami-
lies. A family group reporting more than 10 lodgers is clas-
sifiedas a quasi household (specifically, as a lodging house)
rather than as a private family or private household.  Stetis-
tics on the mumber of private households for States and cities
of 50,000 or more ere shown in the tables on relationship to
head of household in the fourth series of Population bulletins.

The term "occupied dwelling unit,"as used in the 1940 Housing
Census, is defined as the living quarters occupied by one
household. The number of occupied dwelling units obtained trom
the Housing census is approximately the same as the number of
private families obtained from the Population census. The
Living quarters of about 115,000 families that were enumerated
at some place other than their usual place of residence were
not classified as occupied, but the related members of the
household were counted as a private family. The small number
(about 20,000) of lodging places with more than 10 lodgers were
counted as occupied units but the heads of such lodging houses
were not counted as heads of private families. (The living
quarters of no other classes of quasi households were included
as occupied dwelling units.) These differences between the
number of private families and the number of occupied units are
numerically minor and partly offsetting.
f= quasi household.— A quasi household is a group of persons

not living in private families, such as those living ina
boarding or lodging house, an institution, a school, a labor
camp, @ military or naval post, or the transient population of
a hotel, or the crew of a vessel.

Heads of quasi households are usually managers or officers
of institutions, hotels, lodging houses, or similar establish-
nents. Ina few instances where no logical head was returned
for the quasi household the first member of the household was
arbitrarily designated as the head. Thus, the number of heads
of quasi households also represents the number of quasi house-
holds. This numer is comparable with the number of quasi-
family groups in 1930.

In this report, statistics are presented on quasi house-
holds for the United States, urban and rural, and for regions:
Since lodging houses are the only quasi households with living
quarters classified as occupied dwelling units, more detailed
statistics are presented for them. Lodging houses are shown by



FAMILIES
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

INTRODUCTION

GENERAL

This report presents statistics for the United States by
States ona number of the characteristics of families and of
their heads based on returns of the Sixteenth Decennial Census
of Population, taken as of April 1, 1940, Pamilies are clas-
sified according. to tenure, size, number of children under 10,
under 18, and under 21 years old, labor force status of chil-
dren 14 to 17 years old, number of lodgers and subfamilies,
number of persons in the labor force, number of employed
workers, family employment status, class-of-worker composition,
and family wage or salary income and receipt of other income.
Heads of families are shown by race, nativity, parentage, citi-
zenship, sex, marital status, age, highest grade of school
completed, migration status and 1935 residence, employment
status, and major occupation group. Statistics are presented
for the United States, by regions and States; for the urban,
rural-nonfarm, and rural-farm parts of the United States,
regions, and States; for cities of 100,000 or more; and for
metropolitan districts of 200,000 or more.

Statistics for male heads of military age by number of
dependents may be derived fromthe tables showing families
classified by sex, marital status, and age of head, and number
of children under 18 years old. These statistics are directly
applicable to problems of deferment of meh from militery ser-
vice, and allotments to dependents cf men in the armed forces.

Retated reports on families.— This is one of a series of
reports presenting Statistics for families, based on tabulations
of samples of the returns of the 1940 Censuses of Population
and Housing. The specific titles of other reports in this
series, and a brief summary of the subjects covered, are given
below .®

Types of Families: Characteristics of families by family
typé, that Is, by sex and marital status of head, and number
of children, are presented in this report by age of head and
other characteristics of the head and of the family.  Sta-
tistics are shown for regions and cities of 1,000,000 or
more.

Employment Status: Data for families by number and
employment status of persons in the labor force, by charac-
teristics of the family and of the family head, are presented
in this report for regions and cities of 1,000,000 or more.

Family Wage or Salary Income in 1939; Statistics on wage
or salary income and receipt of Other income in 1939, for
families classified by characteristics of the family and of
the head, are shown in this report for regions and cities of
1,000,000 or more.

Size of Family and Age of Head: Characteristics of fami-
lies and of family heads, by type and size of family and age
of head, are presented in this report for regions and cities
of 1,000,000 or more.

Tenure and Rent: Data for urban and rural-nonfarm fami-
lies classified by tenure and rent and cross-classified by
family characteristics and characteristics of the head, are
presented in this report for regions, cities of 1,000,000 or
more, and metropolitan districts of 500,000 or more.

Income and Rent: Data on wage or salary income and
receipt of other income in 1939 are shown in this report for

1 jhe 1940 Population Census schedule is reproduced in Pert 1 of
Volume III and Part 1 of Volume IV of the Sixteenth Census Reports on
Population. The instructions to enumerators are also reproduced in
‘these volumes.

2 At the time this report goes to press (early in 1945) these re~
ports are.in various stages of completion, and the titles and contents
may be somewhat altered before publication.

urban and rural-nonfarm families classified by tenure and

rent, and cross-classified by housing characteristics, family

characteristics, and characteristics of the head. Statis-
tics are presented for regions, and metropolitan districts
of 1,000,000 or more.

Characteristics of Rurai-farm Families: Rural-ferm fami-
lies are classified in this report by tenure, occupation of
the head, and in some cases by: value or rent, and cross-
classified by selected housing characteristics, family char-
acteristics, and characteristics of the head. Statistics are
presented for regions and geographic divisions.

Related reports on population and housing. —The United
States summaries of the second, third, and fourth series of
Population bulletins show for individuals many of the charac-
teristics given in the present report for families and family
heads. The second series of Population bulletins, entitled
‘Characteristics of the Populetion," present data on general
population characteristics and condensed labor force statistics
for States, counties, all urban places, and metropolitan dis-
tricts. The third series of Population bulletins, entitled
“The Labor Force--Occupation, Industry, Employment, and Income,’
gives more detailed data on the labor force for States and for
cities of 100,000 or more. The fourth series of Population
bulletins, entitled "Characteristics by Age--Marital Status,
Relationship, Education, and Citizenship," deals with general
population characteristics for States and cities of 50,000 or
more, and presents data on marital status and relationship to
head of household as well as other data less closely related to
family characteristics. Other publications present charac—
teristics of the migrant popllation for States and large
cities.

Sample data on the fertility of women 15 to 74 years old are
presented in other reports, for regions, divisions, States, and
cities of 250,000 or more. In these publications, women are
classified by number of children ever born, number of children
under 5 and 5 to 9 years old, age, duration of marriage, and
other characteristics.

‘The first series of Housing bulletins, entitled "Data for
Small Areas," and the second series of Housing bulletins,
entitled -"General Characteristics," present statistics on occu-
pied dwelling units (the living quarters of families) tor
States, for counties, for incorporated places of 1,000 or more,
for metropolitan districts, and, in the first series, for minor
civil divisions.

Date from previous censuses.—The reports for each decennial
census beginning with 1850 have included data on the number of
families and the number of dwellings. Beginning with the Census
of 1890, family statistics have been available on farm resi-
dence, tenure, and the number of Negro families. Data are also
available for’ 1890, 1900, 1920, and 1950 on families by race
and nativity of head. A classification of households by size
was made in 1890 and 1900, but since lodgers and other unrelat-
ed members were included, as well as institutional groups, the
figures are not comparable with the 1950 end 1940 data on
family size. In addition, certain other family characteristics,
such as population per family, were published in the reports
for various censuses.

In recognition of the growing need for statistics on family
characteristics, the Bureau of the Census published a separate
Getailed report on families in 1930, This report included data
on families by rece and nativity of head and tenure, cross-
classified by size of family, value or rent, number of children
Under 10 end under 21 years old, number of gainful workers,
humber of lodgers, and sex of head, with male heads by age.
Fanily statistics were presented for each State by counties,
and for all incorporated places of 2,500 or more.



CONTENTS

UNITED STATES--Continued

Table
16.--Families with employed head, by major occupation
group of head,. by tenure, for the United
States, by regions, urban and rural {with non~
white for the South): 1940....ssssssseeeeevees
1?.--Families by family wage or salary income and
receipt of other income in 1939, by tenure in
1940, for the United States, by regions, urban
and rural (with nonwhite for the South)....... .
18.--Fanilies ‘by migration status and 1935 residence
of head, by 1940 residence and tenure, for the
United ‘States, by xegions, urban and rural
(with nonwhite for the South)....
19.--quasi households and population in quasi house-
holds by sex, by’ type of quasi household, for
the United States, urban and rural, and for
regions (with nonwhite for the South): 1940
and 198D.seseseseeeee seteeeee
20.—-Lodging houses by sex of hoad, tenure,
monthly remt, and number of rooms,
United States, by regions,
1940s. see renseeerarceenee

value or
for the

urban and rural:

ALL STATES
2L.--Families by color, nativity, parentage, and sex
of head, by States, urban and rural: 1940.....

22.--Families by marital status, age, and sex of head,
by mumber of children under 168 years old, by
States, urban and rural: 1940......++eseee
28.--Femilies by number of children under 10 years
and under 18 years old, by sex of head,
States, urban and rural: 1940...... sete
24,—-Fanilies by labor force status of children 14 to
17 years old, by sex of head, by States, urban
and rural: 1940.
25.--Fantlies by years of school completed by head, by
sex, by States, urban and rural: 1940
2%6.--Families by race, nativity, and citizenship of
head, by tenure, by States, urban and rura:
1940. eeeeeees
7.--Families by size, and by number of children under

ola
by

21 years ola, by tenure, by States, urben and
TUral: 1940.eeeceeereee rere aecaveneuasate .
Families, by mumber of lodgers and subfanilies in
household, by tenure, by States, urban and

rural: 1940.. saceneeenecens
29.--Fenilies by marital status and sex of head, by
. tenure, by States, urban and rural: 1940.....5
30.--Families by sex of head, with age for male head,
by tenure, by States, urban and rural: 1940...

Sl.--Families by number of persons in the labor force,
number of employed persons, and class-of-worker
composition, by tenure, by States, urban and
vural: 1940....+4+0e0++ seeee

32.--Families by fanily employment status, and onploy—
ment status of head, by tenure, by States,

urban and rural: 1940.......- seceeeteretaeneee
98.--Femilies with employed head, by major occupation
group of head, by tenure, by States, urban and
rural: 1940,
Fenilies by wage or salary income and rece:
other income in 1939, by temure in Tao,
States, urban and rural.......
85.--Families by migration status and 1935 residence
of head, by 1940 residence and tenure, by
States, urban end rural.. saeeceesenees

of
by

SOUTHERN STATES

86.--Nonwhite families by marital status, age, and sex
of head, by number of children under 18 years

old, for Southern States, urban and rural:
1940... 0.008 dete eeeeeeeee tenes eees
7.—-Nonwhite families by number of children under 10
years old and under 18 years old, by sex of

head, for Southern States, urban and rural

Page

42

50

52

52

53

57

87

97

107

17

127

137

147

157

Bhan

181

183

SOUTHERN STATES--Continued
Table
38.--Nonwhite families by labor force status of .child~
ren 14 to 1? years old, by sex of head, for
Southern States, urban end rural: 1940....... .

39.--Nomhite families by years of school completed by
urban and

for Southern States,

head, by sex,
rural: 1940.
40.—-Nomwhite families by size, and by number of
children under 21 years old, by tenure, for
Southern States, urban and rural: 1940........
41.--Nomvhite families, by number of lodgers and sub-
families in household, and marital status of
male heads, by tenure, for Southern States,
urban and rural: 1940.......+

42.--Nomiite families by sex of head, with age for
male head, by tenure, for Southern States,
urban and rural: 1940.. cererress

48.--Nonwhite families by family employment status,
and employment status of head, by tenure, for
Southern States, urban and rural: 1940. .
44,--Nonwhite families with employed head, by.major
occupation group of head, by tenure, for South—
ern States, urban and rural: 1040....se.eeeuee
45.--Nonwhite families by family wage or salary income
and receipt of other income in 1939, by tenure
in 1940, for Southern States, urben and rural..
46,--Nonwhite families by migration status and 1935
residence of head, by 1940 residence and ten-
ure, for Southern States, urban and rural......

ALL CITIES OF 100,000 oR MORE

Families by color, nativity, and parentage of
head, and number of children under’ 10 years
old, by sex of head, for cities of 100,000 or
more: 1940.......0. 000s sbeeeeeeenees

Fenilies by marital status, age, and sex of head,
by number of children under 18 years old, for
cities of 100,000 or more: 1940..sseceseeseees

49.--Families by labor force status of children 14 to

1? years old, by sex of head, for cities of
100,000 or more: 1940.....+eeeeeeereeeee
50.--Families by years of school completed by head, by
sex, for cities of 100,000 or mre: 1940......
Sl.--Families by race, nativity, and citizenship of
head, by tenure, for cities of 100,000 or more:
1940
S2.--Families by size, and by mumber of children under
21 years old, by tenure, for cities of 100,000
OF More: 1940.+...eeeeseeee
53,--Families, by number of lodgers and subfamilies in
household, by tenure, for cities of 100,000 or

48

more: 1940 . .
54,--Families by mar: status and sex of head, by
tenure, for cities of 100,000 or more: 1940...
55.--Families by sex of head, with age for male head,
by tenure, for cities of 100,000 or mre: 1940

86.--Families by number of persons in the labor force,
number of employed persons, and class-of-worker
composition, by tenure, for cities of 100,000

Or more: 1940.+...seeeeeee
57.--Families by family employment status, and employ-
ment status of head, by tenure, for cities of
100,000 or more: 1940....-
98.--Fanilies with employed head, by major occupation
group of head, by tenure, for cities of 100,000

or more: 1940.

59.--Families by family wage or salary income and
receipt of other income in 1989, by temure in
1940, for cities of 100,000 or more...

emilies by migration status and 1995 residence
of head, by 1940 residence and tenure, for
Cities Of 100,000 or more.ss.esseseeeeereree ees

60

SELECTED CITIES OF 100,000 OR MORE

L.--Nonwhite families by marital status, age, and sex
of head, for selected cities of 100,000 or
more: 1940..-.eeeeeeeeeee sees

Page

185

188

198

247

253

283


UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
JESSE H. JONES, Secretary

BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

J. ©. CAPT, Director (Appointed May 22, 1941)
WILLIAM LANE AUSTIN, Director (Retired January 31, 1941)
PHILIP M. HAUSER, Assistant Director

SIXTEENTH CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES : 1940

POPULATION and HOUSING

FAMILIES

General Characteristics .

States, Cities of 100,000 or More, and Metropolitan
Districts of 200,000 or More

Prepared under the supervision of
Dr. LEON E. TRUESDELL
Chief Statistician for Population

UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 1943

‘or sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C.

&


INTRODUCTION 5

Table T2T. MEDIAN SIZE OP PAMILY BY TENURE, YOR THE UNITED SUATES, 3
RECTORS, URBAN AND RORAL (WITH COLOR FOR Mi SOUIE): "Iou0 Sa 1890

[i940 statiotics vasod on Sample ¥. Figures for nonwbitte fantltes in 1890 revised
‘to exclude Mexicans classified with *Other races" in the 1980 report]

‘ReoreN axD au vawiizes | urpay [ropat-nowrwa|  RURAL-FARE
‘TURE

1840] 1980 | 1940] 1980] 1940] 1980] 2940] 1990

3.25] 3.40 | 2.00] 9.26] s.12| 3.28] s.n} soz

s.2.| sao a.a7| 34a] s.01| sta] acs] 3.89

2.20] 2.85] 2.90] 3:22) 3.23] 8.47] acgz| 4222

2.19] 3.42] 9.27] 3.43) 3.28| .s2| s.ae] 3.65

ais1| 3.60] 3.38] 3:73) 3.08| a.21| a.a7| 2.58

a.z2| s.s1| 8.08] 8.27] 8:80| s.s2| s.66| 4.03

‘The North Central States....| 9,08/ 3.98] 2.99/ 3.24) 2.98] s.07| 3.49| 3.08

Omer. seveecese] San] age] s.as| 3:44! 2.79] 2lea| s.a2] are.

8.05] 3.29] 2:28] 3.09] 3.13] 3.41| 3.25| 4.06

3.68 | 2.96 3.25) 9,32] 3.0] 3.97] 4.28

aims | 9.14] 9.46] 3.24] 3.45| s.e2| s26

3.66 | 2.9] 3.14] 9.89) s.6¢| 4.30| 4.4

8.05} 3.40 9.38] 3.69| 3.50] 4.35

a8 sie} -| wan] -

zis) | sas] =| acts] =

2.65] 2.7{ 2.99] 2.99] 3.94] 4.07

aes] "=| 3.09] "=| 4:00) -

zie] | aise] =| acasf =

2.05] 2.82] 2.86] s,01| 3.29] s.55

2.84| 3,07] 2.90| 3.07} 3-23] 3.48

2.87] 2162 2:81] 3.00] a.41| 3.78

The term "subfamily," as used in the 1940 census, is defined
as a married couple not including the head of the family, with
or without children. Married couples who are lodgers are
counted as subfamilies, but not those who are resident servants.
Subfamilies related to the head of the family have been sub-
divided into three groups according to their relationship to
the head. The first group of subfamilies is designated
“parents of head" and includes the parents of the head or of
his wife. The second group of subfamilies is designated
“children of head and includes subfamilies in which the hus-
vand or the wife 1s a child, an adopted child, or a stepchild
of the head. ‘The third group of subfamilies is designated
Nother related persons" and includes all related subfamilies in
which-the relationship to the heed of the family does not
belong in either of the two preceding groups.

‘The extent of "doubling up" among families, that 1s, the ex-
‘tent to which subfamilies are found in an area, is not always a
valid indication of the amount of housing demand in the area.
Factors such as choice or convenience rather than economic
necessity often account for the presence of a subfamily.

Persons in the labor force.——In some of the tables in this
report, families are classified according to the number of re-
lated persons 14 years old and over who were in the labor force
during the week of March 24 to 30, 1940. The labor force con-
sists of persons 14 years old and over who were employed for
pay or profit or engaged in unpaid family work, on public
emergency work, or seeking work during the census week. (For
definitions of these employment status categories, see "Family
‘Employment Status," below.) Persons not in the labor force
comprise all other persons 14 years old and over, including
those reported as engaged in own home housework, those in
school, those unable to work, others not at work and not hev-
ing a job, not on public emergency work, and not seeking work;
and persons for whom employment status was not reported.

The classification of families by number of persons in the
labor force provides an indication of the number of. workers
normally contributing to the support of the family. In many
cases, however, the members of the family are financially more
or less independent of one another, so that the family does not
function as a single economic unit. It should also be borne in
mind that many persons not in the labor force derive income
from sources such as pensions, investments, and public assist-
ance payments, which often provide a large part, and sometimes
all, of the family's means of support. Most of the families
with no members in the lator force presumably derive their sup-
port from such sources; the heads of such families are in large
part widows and elderly men’ who have retired from the labor

force.
Comparison of 1940 data on persons in the labor force with

1930 data on gainful workers.— A comparison of 1940 data on
families by number of persons in the labor force with 1930 data

on families by number of gainful workers, is presented in table
13, The stetistics for the two years are not directly compar-

able, partly because of differences in definition and partly
‘because of differences in the types of questions upon which the
data were based. The gainful worker statistics were obtained
by means of questions regarding occupation rather than employ-
ment status. “Gainful workers" were persons 10 years old and
over reported as having a gainful occupation, that is, an occu-
pation in which they earned money or a money equivalent, or in
which they assisted in the production of marketable goods, re~-
gardless of whether they were working or seeking work at the
time of the census. The labor force is defined in the 1940
census on the basis of activity during the week of March 24 to
30, and includes only persons 14 years old and over who were at
work, with a job, seeking work, or on public emergency work in
that week. Certain classes of persons, suchas retired workers,
recently incapacitated workers, and seasonal workers neither
working nor seeking work at the time of the census, were fre-
quently included among gainful workers in 1930, tut in general,
Such persons are not in the 1940 labor force. On the other
hand, the 1940 labor force includes persons seeking work with-
out previous work experience, that is, mew workers. Most of
the relatively few new workers at the time of the 1930 census
were probably not counted as gainful workers,

These differences in definition may have had an appreciable
effect upon the distribution of families by mumber of persons
in the labor force, in comparison with the 1930 distribution by
number of gainful workers. The apparent sharp increases in the
Proportions of families with no workers were probably caused
pertly by the more nearly uniform exclusion of retired and dis-
abled persons from the labor force in 1940. On the other hand,
these increases may have been due partly to the earlier retire-
ment of elderly workers made possible by the Social Security
systen. :

Family employment status.— The classification by family em-
ployment status is designed to show employment and unemployment
‘among family members in the labor force. For this purpose,
families with one person in the labor force are classified ac-
cording to whether that person was employed during the census
week; and those with two or more persons in the labor force are
classified into three groups: (a) those in which all of the
persons in the labor force were employed; (b) those with 1 or
more employed persons, and 1 or more persons seeking work or on
public emergency work; and (c) those in which none of the per-
sons in the labor force was employed.

Data on family employment status have not deen obtained in
any'previous census. They are presented here because of their
value in the study of the impact of unemployment upon families
as economic units, and in the analysis of public assistance
needs resulting from unemployment.

‘The classification according to family employment status 1s
based on the employment’ status classification for individuals
in the labor force, in which the following categories are dis-
‘tinguished:

Zmployed.— The group classified as employed includes
persons Who worked for pay or profit at any time during the
week of March 24 to 30, 1940, in private work or nonener-
gency Federal, State, or local government work, or assisted
without pay ona family farmor ina family tusiness; and
Persons not actually at work and not seeking work during the
week of March 24 to 30, 1940, but with Jobs, tusinesses, or
professional enterprises from which they were temporarily
absent because of vacation, illness, industrial dispute, vad
weather, or lay-off not exceeding 4 weeks with definite in-
structions to return to work ona specific date. For con-
venience in terminology, the term "Employed" is used in this
report to refer to the group designated "Employed (except on
public emergency work)" in the publications presenting data
for individuals.

On public emergency work.—This category includes persons
who, during the week of March 24 to 30, 1940, were at work
on, or assigned to, public emergency work projects conducted
by the Work Projects Administration (WPA), the National
Youth Administration (NYA), the Civilian Conservation Corps
(ccc), or State or local work relief agencies.

‘Seeking work.— This category represents persons without
work of any sort in the week of March 24 to 30, 1940, who
were actively seeking work during that week.

In the interpretation of the data on family employment
status, allowance mst be made for the misclassification in the
census’ returns of considerable numbers of public emergency
workers. The number of persons reported in the census as on
public emergency work in the United States was 2,529,606,
whereas the number recorded on the pay rolls of the Federal
emergency work agencies at about the time of the census was
2,906,196 excluding the NYA Student Work Program, and 3,377,978
Yncluding that program. The amount of misclassification varied

(Or res ce eee.



selogateseessanreny

rsrccnanton

ceeeitiiasiinumaas

INTRODUCTION 7

wages, but also persons working for tips or for room and
board, salesmen and other employees working for commissions,
and salaried business managers, corporation executives, and
government officials.

Employers and own-account workers.—This group consists
of persons who, in their current or latest work, operated
their om business enterprises. It includes not only the
owner-operetors of large stores and manufacturing establish-
ments, but also small merchants, independent craftsmen,
farmers, professional men, peddlers, and other persons con-
ducting enterprises of their own, It does not include
managers paid to operate businesses owned by other persons
or by corporations; such workers are classified as wage or
salary workers.

Unpaid tamily workers.—This class is composed of persons
who assisted without pay on farms or in stores or other
enterprises operated by other members of their families.
The great majority of unpaid femily workers are farm laborers.
On the basis of the class-of-worker designations for the

family members, families were classified into the following
‘three groups:

1. Families with all workers wage or salary workers.—
This category includes those families in which 411 members
in the labor force were classified as wage or salary
workers.

2, Families with some workers wage or salary workers.—
This class includes those families in which some members in
the labor force were classified as wage or salary workers
and some were classified as employers, own-account workers,
or unpaid family workers.

3, Families with no wage or salary workers. — This
category includes those families in which no members in the
labor force were classified as wage or salary workers and
those families having no members in the labor force.

Persons in the labor force for whom class of worker was
not reported have been included among wage or salary workers,
unless there was evidence to the contrary. Families with
one or more persons in the labor force without previous work
experience (new workers) were classified on the basis of the
entries on class of worker for ‘the experienced workers in
the family.

Le ltl De ee

i
19
t
f
t


POPULATION
AND HOUSING

FAMILIES

General Characteristics

States, Cities of 100,000 or More, and Metropolitan
Districts of 200,000 or More


POPULATION AND HOUSING—FAMILTES

This volume consists of four reports, arranged as follows:

General Characteristics

Tenure and Rent

Income and Rent

Characteristics of Rural-farm Families

(See also volume entitled *Population—Families” for
additional reports in this field)


INTRODUCTION ~ 3

sex of head, tenure and value or rent, and number of rooms.
‘These statistics furnish a basis for comparing the proportion
of families and lodging houses with female heads, and for com-
paring the proportion of occupied dwelling units and lodging
houses with high values or rents and large number of rooms.

— Head of tamily.—One person in each family was designated in
the 1940 census as the family head, that 1s, the person re-
garded as the head by the members of the family. The mumber of
heads of families is, therefore, equal to the mumber of fami-
lies. The head of a private family is usually a married man
and the chief breadwinner in the family. In some cases, how-
ever, the head is a parent of the chief earner or is the only
adult member of the household.

Race of head.—Three major racial groups of family heads are
distinguished in certain tables: White, Negro, and "Other
races." Data for three of the "Other races,” the Indian, Chi-
nese, and Japanese, are shown separately for the United States
and for regions in table 7. Persons of Mexican birth or an-
cestry who were not definitely Indian or of other nonwhite race
were returned as white in 1940.

For southern States and for the 14 cities with 20,000 or
more nonwhite families, statistics are presented separately for
nonwhite heads of families, that is, for the total of Negro,
Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and other nonwhite family heads.
The great majority of the nonwhite population consists of
Negroes, except in the Pacific States, where there are many
Chinese and Japanese, and in Oklahoma and certain Mountain
States, where many of the nonwhites are Indians.

Nativity and parentage. —In certain tables, white families
are classified according to the nativity and parentage of the
head. White heads of families are divided into two fundamental
nativity groups, native and foreign born. In this classifi-
cation by nativity, a femily head born in the United States or
in any of its territories or possessions is counted as native.

. In the classification by parentage, which is applied only to
the native white population, there are three primary groups as
follows: (1) Native parentage (both parents born in the United
States or in the outlying possessions); (2) foreign parentage
(both parents foreign born); and (3) mixed parentage (one
parent native and the other foreign born).

Table I shows the number of families in continental United
States in 1940, 1930, 1920, 1900, and 1890, by race and

FAMILIES BY RACE AND NATIVITY OF HEAD, .WITH TOTAL POPULATION
‘BY RACE AND NATIVITY, AND POPULATION PER FAWILY BY RACE, FOR THE
UNITED STATES: 1940, 1950, 1920, 1900, AND 1890

[povo tantty atetistten based oa Saxple F. Yaniiy seatistion for 140, 1990, an
Goin sagresone priate fanilios eniyi” those. for i900 and 2690 inelide the’ szall
dieber Ze tantibations aad other quest households which wore counted. aa faniliog
sete santa: “Hguten for white fanilies ant white, populatien in 1980 Sevised
22 Saeltal lorionne cianeitiog with mother receeTM in the 2090 Seportal

‘SUByECT 1940 1980 11920 1900 1890
FAMILIES
AML tomtni 29, 904,66 15, 963, 365]
25,982,934] 14,063,7

94
509)

1181,669,275|123775,046|108,710, 620| 75,994, 575/'¢2, 622,250
112/214,870]110,286 ,740| 94,820,515] 66,809,196] 54,963,890
1106 ,795, 782] 96,303,895} 81,108, 162| 86,595, 979] 45,262,028

11,419,138] 19,983,405] 13,712,754] 10,213,827) 9,121,867
a!se5, sie] 11,891,243] 10,469,153 8,833,994] 7,470,040
588 287| "isa| 426,574] "S51,385| ‘168,220
100.0] 100.0) 100.0} 200.0] 100.0
29.9] 29.8 89.7 87.9] ere
a1 78.4 6.7 mas 78.2

2.7| | 1810] 13.4] m6

9.9 307 8.9] ing ie

or 0.3) onal ons 0:8

3.3 4 4a) 4.8] 4

3.7 4 a8 4.8 “9

4 4a2| 43 aca 58

4:5) sy a5 5.3 70

% Exclusive of 925,464 persons specially emmerated in Indian territory and on
Indian reservations, ‘for whon fanily data are not availeble.

nativity of the head in comparison with the population by race
and nativity and the population per family by race in the same
years. The percentage of family heads classified as foreign-
orn white has consistently been higher than the percentage of
the total population classified as foreign-born white. The
difference arises because most of the children of foreign-born
white heads are born in this country and are, therefore,
native.

Citizenship.— The foreign-born white heads of families are
classified as naturalized or alien. The aliens are subdivided
into those having first papers--that is, having made formal
declaration of intention to become citizens of the United
States--and those not having first papers. Most of the heads
of families for whom no report on citizenship was obtained were
probably aliens. ‘

Sex and marital status of head. — Several family character-
istics are shown by sex of head, because of the importance of
this classification for the interpretation of the statistics.
‘The classification of families by sex and marital status of
head and number of children is designated "type of family."

The statistics on marital status of the family head refer to
the marital status at the time the census was taken. Heads of
families classified as "married" comprise both those who have
been married only once, and those who remarried after having
been divorced or widowed. Since it is probable that some
divorced persons are reported as married, widowed, or single,
the census returns doubtless understate somewhat the actual
number of divorced heads of families who have not remarried.
The small number of persons whose marital status was not re-
ported and could not be determined trom the evidence given on
‘the schedules were classified as single.

Amale head was classified as "married, wife present," if
his wife was reported as @ member of the household in which he
was enumerated. Females were not classified as heads of fami-
lies 1f their husbands were living in the household at the time
‘the census was taken. A family with a male head, married, wife
present is regarded as a "normal family." Normal families
constituted 75.8 percent of all families in 1940 and 79.2 per-
cent in 1930.

The group "married, husband absent" and the group "married,
wife absent" consist of married heads whose husbands or wives
were not living in the same household at the time of the
census, These two groups include married heads whose families
had been broken by separation (often preceding divorce), im-
migrants whose husbands or wives are abroad, husbands or wives
of persons enumerated as inmates of institutions, and other
married heads whose usual place of residence 1s not the same as
that of their husbands or wives, including soldiers, sailors,
men in labor camps, ete., and their wives.

Age of head.— Tne age classification is based on the age of
the family head at his last birthday before April 1, 1940, that
4s, the age of the head in completed years. In the 1940 census
tabulations, when the age of a person was not reported it was
estimated on the basis of other information on the Population
schedules, such as marital status, school attendance, employ-
ment status, age of other members in the family, etc.

Highest grade of school completed. — In 1940 the census, for
the first time, included a question on the formal educational
attainment of each person. The question on the schedule re-
ferred to the last full grade that the person had completed in
the regular school system--public, private, or parochial school,
college, or university. Statistics on the highest grade of
school completed are shown in this report for heads of families,
the great majority of whom have completed their formal educa-
tion.

Wigration status and 1935 residence of head. — The 1940 cen-
sus included a series of questions designed to provide data on
the movement of the population during the five-year period
etween April 1, 1935, and April 1, 1940. For this purpose,
information was obtained on the place of residence in 1935 of
all persons five years old and over. In the present report,
families are classified according to the migration status and
1935 residence of the head of the family, the two basic groups
being designated as migrants and nonmigrants.

Migrants are those persons who lived in different counties
(or quasi counties) in 1940 and 1935. In this classification,
a city of 100,000 or more inhabitants is treated as a quasi
county, and the remainder of its county as another. Thus, mi-
grants comprise: (a) those living in different counties in
1940 and 1935; (b) those living ina city of 100,000 or more in
940 but living elsewhere in the same county in 1935; and (c)
those living in a city of 100,000 or more in 1935+ but living

2 4ll classifications of place of residence in 1985, either as urban
or rural, or by city size, are based on the 1950 census.


6 FAMILIES, 1940

greatly from State to State. Among the factors that were re-
sponsible for the misclassification were confusion on the part
of the enumerators and respondents regarding the classification
of certain types of public emergency work, and reluctance on
‘the.part of some persons to report that they were on emergency
work.

The most common type of misclassification -was the reporting
of emergency workers as "employed (except on public emergency
work)." Persons on the NYA Student Work Program were very
frequently returned as in school and not in the labor force.
There is also evidence that a considerable number of emergency
workers were classified as seeking work. As a result of these
nisclassifications, the data on family employment status pre-
sented in this report tend to understate the amount of complete’
and partiel family unemployment at the time of the census.

Number of employed workers.— A classification of families
according to the number of persons: in the family who were
employed during the census week, without regard to the total
number in the labor force, is presented in some of the tables.
These data provide an indication of the number af persons in
the family who were earning income or were engaged in unpaid
family work at the time of the census (excluding those working
on public emergency projects).

Employment status of head.— Families are classified accord-
ing to employment status of the family head, showing separately
families in which the head was employed, on public emergency
work, seeking worx, or not in the labor force during the census
week. Since the family head is usually the principal bread-
winner, this classification is useful as an added indteation of
the economic impact of unemployment upon families. In some
families, however, the head was a dependent, such as an aged
father or mother supported by the children. Many of the heads
who were not in the labor force were probably dependents.

Major occupation group of head.— For families with employed
heads, the classification according to the current major occu-
pation group of the family head gives an indication of the
general economic and social status of the family, which tends
to be closely associated with the occupation of the head.

Data on the occupational characteristics of all family heads
in the labor force are not shown in this report because of the
dirficulty of interpreting an aggregate consisting of (1)
current occupations (for employed heads); (2) occupations pursued
on emergency work projects (for headson public emergency work);
and (3) latest occupations (for heads seeking work), which may
represent work that ended a week before the census date or many
years in the past.

In classifying occupation returns for 1940, the Bureau of the
Census used a classification system with 451 occupation titles.
For a list of the occupations included in each major group, see
the United States Summary of the second series of Population
bulletins.

Labor force status of children 14 to 17 years old.—A classi-
fication of families according to labor force status of children
14 to 17 years old is presented in several of the tables. These
tables show the number of families with one or more children 14
to 17 years old related to the family head, and the number with
one or more such children in the labor force during the census
week. Because of the variations among States in the provisions
of child labor laws, and because of the rapid changes in the
labor force status of children over this four-year period,
similar data are also presented for families by labor force
status of children 14 and 15 years old, and by labor force
status of children 16 and 17 years old.

The census data on labor force status of children 14 to 17
years old should be used with caution. . Many students working
part-time after school hours were probably reported as in
school and not in the labor force; and it was doubtless difri-
cult in many cases to determine whether a person attending
school was also seeking work. Avery large proportion of
youths in the NYA Student Work Program were misclassified as
“in school" instead of "on public emergency work." On the other
nand, a considerable number of students in farming areas, who
performed only incidental chores after school, may have been
included erroneously in the labor force as unpaid family work-
ers.

‘In the interpretation of the data for children, it should
also be borne in mind that the employment of perséns in this
age class is highly seasonal. If the census had been taken
during the summer months, a much larger number of families,
especially in rural-farm areas, would have reported one or more

children 14 to 17 years old in the labor force

ge or sal income ret of other inc: in
1938.—In 1940, inquiries concerning income were made for the
first time in the history of the Population Census, in order to
provide statistics regarding the adequacy of employment and the

economic well~being of the people. All persons 14 years old
and over (except inmates of specified institutions) were asked
to report (1) the amount of money wage or salary income re~
ceived in 1939, and (2) whether $50 or more of income other
than money wages or salaries was received in 1939.

Wage or salary income, es defined for the purpose of the
1940 census, includes all money received by persons as compen-

sation for work or services performed as employees, including
commissions, tips, plece-rate payments, bonuses, etc., as well
as receipts commonly referred to as wages or salaries. Enum

erators were instructed not to consider as wage or salary
income receipts from business profits, fees, travel reimburse-
ments, sale of crops, unemployment ‘compensation, etc., nor
compensation in forms other than money, such as meals, lodging,
clothing, fuel, etc.

Family wage or salery income was obtained ty combining the
wages and salaries reported by all releted persons 14 years old
and over in the family. Families were classified as having
wage or salary income uot reported when no report on wage or
salgry income was obtained for one or more members who were (1)
in the labor force and classified as wage or salary workers, or
(2) not in the labor force but who reported 1 or more weeks
worked in 1939, When the question on wage or salary income was
not answered for employers, own-account workers, unpaid family
workers, mew workers, or for persons not in the labor force.
other than those mentioned above, it was assumed that they had
no wage or salary Income. This was done because relatively few.
of these groups of persons worked for wages or salaries in 1939,,
and the emmerstor left the column blank in most cases because.
he believed that the question on wage or salary income was
inapplicable.

“Other income," as defined in the 1940 census, includes: all
income other than money wages or salaries, such as income from
roomers or boarders, tusiness profits, professional teas,
receipts from the sale of farm products, rents, interest,
dividends, unemployment compensation, direct relief, old-age
assistance, pensions, annuities, royalties, reguler contrivu~
tions from’persons other than members of the immediate family,
and income received in kind from sources other than tha immedi-
ate fumily. “Other income" does not include recetpts tm the
form of lump-sum insurance settlements or compensation payments,
occasional gifts of goods or money, inheritances, receipts or
profits from the sale of properties (unless the person earned
his living by tuying and selling such properties), or reim-
bursements for travel expenses. The purpose of the inquiry
concerning other income was to segregate those persons or fami~
lies whose income from money wages or salaries represented all
or nearly all of their Income.

Families were classified as "with other income if any re-
lated person 1¢ years old or over reported the receipt of $50,
or more of income from sources other than wages or s@laries.
Families were classified as "without other income” if all
members 14 years old and over reported that they had recetved
no other income. Persons engaged in home housework or in
school who failed to report on the receipt or nonreceipt of
other income were considered to have received no other income.
Families were classified in the category “other income not re-
ported" if one or more members, other than those engaged in
home housework or in school, failed to report on the receipt or
nonreceipt of other income, and no other member reported that
he had received other income. Since relatively few persons
engaged in home housework or in school receive any type of
income, it is probable that many enumerators assumed that the
question on the receipt of other income was inapplicable and
accordingly made no entries for such persons.

In this report statistics for families with other income not
reported are combined with those. for families with other income,
in spite of the fact that the majority of the families with no
report on other income probably had no other income. This
procedure was followed in order to keep the statistics on wage
or salary income for families primarily dependent upon such
income from being distorted ty the inclusion of families which
may have had $50 or more of income from nomwage sources.

Class-of-worker composition. —An inquiry relating to class
of worker was made for all experienced persons in the lebor
force in the week of March 24 to 30, 1940. For employed workers
and for persons on public emergency work, the classification by
class of worker refers to their current work or job during the
week of March 24 to 30, 1940, For experienced workers seeking
work, it refers to the last job of 1 month or more. The com-
position of each category is described below:

Wage or salary workers. — This class consists of persons
who, in their current or last job, worked as employees for
wages or salaries (in cash or kind). It includes not only
factory operatives, laborers, clerks, etc., who worked for