An official website of the United States government                

----

end of header

# History

###### You are here: Census.gov ›  History ›  FAQs › Demographic FAQs › When was the first census in the United States?

Skip top of page navigation

                - History Main
                - Agency History                    - Director Biographies
                  - Census Facilities
                  - Suitland, MD
                  - Notable Alumni
                - Innovations                    - Data Collection
                  - Technology
                - Programs                    - Agriculture
                  - Demographic
                  - Housing
                  - Economic
                  - Geography
                  - Governments
                - Through the Decades                    - Fast Facts
                  - Overview
                  - Index of Questions
                  - Questionnaires
                  - Census Instructions
                - Genealogy                    - Decennial Census Records
                  - Other Resources
                - Reference                    - Data@Museums
                  - Artifacts
                  - Lesson Plans
                  - Legislation
                  - Maps
                  - Oral Histories
                  - Privacy & Confidentiality
                  - Apportionment
                  - Publications 
                - Home Page Archive                    - 2024
                  - 2023
                  - 2022
                  - 2021
                  - 2020
                  - 2019
                  - 2018
                  - 2017
                  - 2016
                  - 2015
                  - 2014 
                - FAQs                    - Genealogy
                  - Agency History
                  - Demographic
                  - Economic
                  - Governments
                  - Agriculture
                  - Geography
                  - Innovations
                  - Miscellaneous

### Demographic FAQs

### Also in this Section:

                          - When did the U.S. Census Bureau begin using statistical sampling?
                          - Why do the schedules used in the 1790-1820 censuses differ?
                          - When did the U.S. Census Bureau begin collecting housing data?
                          - Have census records always been confidential?
                          - What day was the census taken each decade?
                          - When was Puerto Rico first included in a census of the United States?
                          - When was the first census in the United States?

## When was the first census in the United States?

The first census in the United States took place beginning on August 2, 1790.  Although it took months to collect all the data from households, census takers were instructed to collect information as of August 2.  For more information, see the 1790 Overview page.

CONNECT WITH US**********

                            - Information Quality
                            - Data Linkage Infrastructure
                            - Data Protection and Privacy Policy
                            - Accessibility
                            - FOIA
                            - Inspector General
                            - No FEAR Act
                            - U.S. Department of Commerce
                            - USA.gov

----

Measuring America's People, Places, and Economy

Is this page helpful?
YesNo

NO THANKS

255 characters maximum255 characters maximum reached

Thank you for your feedback.Comments or suggestions?