An official website of the United States government                

----

end of header

# History

###### You are here: Census.gov ›  History ›  Through the Decades › Index of Questions › 1840

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

### Index of Questions

### Also in this Section:

                          - 2020
                          - 2010
                          - 2000
                          - 1990 (Housing)
                          - 1990 (Population)
                          - 1980 (Housing)
                          - 1980 (Population)
                          - 1970 (Housing)
                          - 1970 (Population)
                          - 1960 (Housing)
                          - 1960 (Population)
                          - 1950 (Housing)
                          - 1950 (Population)
                          - 1940 (Housing)
                          - 1940 (Population)
                          - 1930
                          - 1920
                          - 1910
                          - 1900
                          - 1890
                          - 1880
                          - 1870
                          - 1860
                          - 1850
                          - 1840
                          - 1830
                          - 1820
                          - 1810
                          - 1800
                          - 1790

## 1840

Each head of family was asked:
                        - The number of free White males and females, respectively:                               - under 5 years
                          - 5 to 10 years
                          - 10 to 15 years
                          - 15 to 20 years
                          - 20 to 30 years
                          - 30 to 40 years
                          - 40 to 50 years
                          - 50 to 60 years
                          - 60 to 70 years
                          - 70 to 80 years
                          - 80 to 90 years
                          - 90 to 100 years
                          - 100 years and upward
                        - The number of slaves and free colored persons of each sex, respectively:                               - under 10 years
                          - 10 to 24 years
                          - 24 to 36 years
                          - 36 to 55 years
                          - 55 to 100 years
                          - 100 years and upward
                        - The number of persons in each family employed in mining; agriculture; commerce; manufacture and trade; navigation of the ocean; navigation of canals, lakes and rivers; and learned professional engineers.
                        - Name and age of pensioners for Revolutionary or military service.
                        - The number of White persons who were deaf and dumb:                               - under 14 years
                          - 14 and under 25 years
                          - 25 years and upward  The number of White persons who were were blind.  The number of White persons who were insane and idiots (at public and private charge).  The number of Colored persons who were deaf, dumb and blind.  The number of Colored persons who were insane and idiots (at public and private charge).  Number of colleges or universities, primary schools, and grammar schools.- Number of students or scholars associated with each institution.
- Number of scholars at public charge.
Number of White persons age 20 years and older who could not read and write.
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 THANKS255 characters maximum255 characters maximum reached✕Thank you for your feedback.Comments or suggestions?   Source: U.S. Census Bureau | Census History Staff |  Last Revised: December 14, 2023