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Feb. 22, 2012 

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 *Special Edition* 

1940 Census Records Release 

On April 2, the National Archives and Records Administration will make individual records 

from the 1940 Census available to the public for the first time. The 1940 Census was conducted 

during a momentous time in our nation’s history, as the Great Depression was winding down and 

not long before our entry into World War II (although the war was already raging in Europe). It 

marked the only census conducted during the lengthy presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt. It 

was also notable for many other reasons, as detailed below. In this edition of Profile America 

Facts for Features, we compare notable 1940 Census facts with corresponding information from 

the 2010 Census. Included is an early look at plans for the 2020 Census. 

1940 Census 2010 Census 

Population 

132.2 million 

Number of U.S. residents counted in the 1940 

Census. We estimate that there are about 21.2 

million people in the United States and Puerto 

Rico alive today who were eligible to be 

counted in the 1940 Census (fewer than one in 

six 1940 residents). (Alaska and Hawaii, which 

then were territories, were included in this 

count of 132.2 million, but Puerto Rico, which 

had 1.9 million residents, was not, though it 

was enumerated in the census.) 

308.7 million 

Number of U.S. residents counted in the 2010 

Census. (This count does not include residents 

of Puerto Rico.) 

Housing Units 

37.2 million 

Number of housing units counted in the 1940 

Census. 

131.7 million 

Number of housing units counted in the 2010 

Census. 

Questionnaire Design 

First Housing Census 

The 1940 Census included the first census of 

housing, with enumerators collecting 

Fewer Housing Questions 

There was no separate census of housing as 

part of the 2010 Census. Instead, only two 

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1940 Census 2010 Census 

information for a housing census at the same housing questions were asked of all 

time they gathered information for the respondents: one on tenure (whether the home 

population census. These 31 housing questions is owned or rented) and whether the respondent 

pertained to the characteristics of dwellings, sometimes lives or stays somewhere else. 

such as principal refrigeration equipment, Tenure and whether the respondent and other 

presence of a radio, presence of flush toilets household members sometimes lived or stayed 

and outhouses, whether principal lighting somewhere else were determined for all 

equipment was electric, gas or kerosene and housing units occupied on Census Day. 

whether the unit had running water. Enumerators followed up on units that were 

vacant on Census Day and asked the status (for 

rent, for sale, for seasonal or occasional use) of 

vacant units. More housing questions were 

instead asked in the American Community 

Survey. 

First Use of Questions Asked Short Form Only 

Only on a Sample Basis In the 2010 Census, every household was 

The 1940 Census was the first in which 

enumerators asked a random sample of the 

population (roughly 1 in 20 people) an extra 

set of more detailed questions, including place 

of birth of their mother and father, mother 

tongue, veteran status (or whether wife, widow 

or child of vet), whether deductions for Social 

Security were made from wages, occupation, 

industry and class of worker, and, for women 

asked the same basic demographic questions. 

The more detailed demographic, economic and 

housing questions that used to be asked of a 

sample of households in the census (up through 

2000) now are asked annually in the American 

Community Survey, which is sent to about 3 

million households nationwide every year. The 

specific detailed questions asked on a sample 

basis over the decades has changed over time. 

who had ever been married, whether they had 

been married more than once, age at first 

marriage, and number of children ever born. 

All in all, 34 questions were asked of all 

households, with another 16 asked of the one 

in 20 sample. 

New in 1940 New in 2010 

Questions new to the census included Two new questions were added to the 2010 

residence five years earlier, income, highest Census form, designed to help ensure an 

level of school completed and new, detailed accurate count of all household members: one 

questions on unemployment history. Many of on whether any additional people were staying 

these questions were added to measure the in the home that were not included in the count 

effects of the Great Depression. of people living or staying there (such as 

newborn babies, cousins or roommates) and 

whether each person sometimes lived or stayed 

somewhere else. 

81 Questions 10 Questions 
 

1940 Census 2010 Census 

A total of 65 questions were asked on the 1940 In 2010, every household was asked the same 

Census (34 for the Census of Population and 10 basic questions. 

31 for the Census of Housing). Additionally, 5 

percent of the population was asked 16 The more detailed demographic, housing and 

supplemental population questions. economic questions that were asked of a 

sample of households in the Census (through 

2000) are now asked annually in the American 

Community Survey (ACS), which was sent to 

about 3 million households in 2010. 

Occupations and Industries 

Frame spinner, salesman, 

laborer, rivet heater, music 

teacher 

Occupations listed as examples for the 1940 

Census occupation question. 

Computer programmers, human 

resources managers, clinical 

laboratory technologists and 

technicians, special education 

teachers 

Occupations for which data were tabulated in 

the 2010 American Community Survey. (Data 

on occupations were not collected in the 2010 

Census.) 

Cotton mill, retail grocery, farm, 

shipyard, public school 

Examples listed for 1940 Census industry 

question. 

Broadcasting, Internet 

publishing, and 

telecommunications services; 

radio, TV, and computer stores; 

air transportation; electronic 

shopping and mail-order houses 

Industries for which data were tabulated in the 

2010 American Community Survey. (Data on 

industries were not collected in the 2010 

Census.) 

Geographic Planning 

175,000 

The number of original maps made of the 

147,000 enumeration districts. The maps were 

used as guides for enumerators so they could 

personally visit every house, building, tent, 

cabin, hut or other place in which a person 

might be living or staying. Enumerators were 

instructed to begin their canvass by carefully 

checking for completeness and accuracy of the 

145 million 

An address canvassing operation was 

conducted by the Census Bureau in 2009 to 

verify that its master address list of 145 million 

housing units and maps were accurate so it 

could mail or hand-deliver questionnaires to 

housing units. During this procedure, census 

workers looked for every place where people 

lived, stayed or could stay, comparing what 
1940 Census 2010 Census 

map they were provided. Each enumeration 

district was designed so it could easily be 

canvassed by a single enumerator in about two 

weeks in urban areas or a month in rural areas. 

they saw on the ground with what was shown 

on the Census Bureau’s address list. 

Data Collection and Processing 

Roughly 120,000 635,000 

Number of enumerators for the 1940 Census. Number of enumerators hired for the 2010 

Census nonresponse follow-up operation. For 

all field operations, close to 1 million were 

hired. 

Personal Visits 

In the 1940 Census, enumerators were told to 

visit every house, building, tent, cabin, hut or 

other place in which a person might be living 

or staying. During each visit, enumerators then 

interviewed residents and filled out their 

answers on a portfolio-sized book. 

Mail-out/Mail-back 

For the 2010 Census, more than 120 million 

questionnaires were targeted for delivery by 

mail to U.S. residences with another 12 million 

delivered instead by census workers. For both 

these areas, a nonresponse follow-up operation 

was conducted in which enumerators visited 

households that did not mail back a form in 

order to gather answers from them. There were 

another 1.5 million addresses (generally the 

most remote and rural areas) in which 

enumerators made one visit to validate our 

address list and to fill out the questionnaire at 

the door. 

Punch cards 

In processing the 1940 Census, operators 

transferred information appearing on the 

schedules filled out by enumerators to punch 

cards. This permitted processing of census 

returns by sorting machines. 

Optical character recognition 

In processing the 2010 Census, optical 

scanners and computer software were used to 

“read” the human handwriting on the 

questionnaires and convert it into electronic 

form. This was supplemented by keyers for 

cases that couldn’t be optically read. 

529 494 

The number of district supervisors utilized for Number of local census offices utilized for the 

the 1940 Census; they were responsible for 2010 Census, 150 of which were open for the 

directing the collection of the data and address listing operation. Staff working in and 

overseeing enumerators. The district from these temporary offices managed address 

supervisors worked for 104 area managers, listing field work, conducted local recruiting 

who were the direct representatives of the and visited living quarters to conduct 

Census Bureau in the field and appointed by nonresponse follow-up. These local census 

the director of the census. Area managers sent offices were supported by 12 regional census 
1940 Census 2010 Census 

weekly mail reports directly to Washington, 

and at the end of census operations in the area, 

forwarded office records directly to the chief of 

the Field Division at Census Bureau 

headquarters. 

centers. 

Publicity 

For the 1940 Census, area managers and 

district supervisors were encouraged to contact 

local newspapers and radio stations and local 

organizations and officials to obtain their 

cooperation in promoting a complete and 

effective census. The Census Bureau’s 

Division of Public Relations issued press 

releases during the canvass period; area 

managers and district supervisors were 

instructed to contact civic organizations for 

assistance in circulating them to the media. The 

Census Bureau distributed thousands of posters 

like the one at the top of this Facts for 

Features. 

Through the cooperation of newspapers, trade 

associations, more than 2,000 local citizens 

committees, motion pictures and radio stations, 

the nation was informed about their census. 

With the nation much larger and more diverse 

than in 1940, the 2010 Census utilized 

partnerships with 257,000 organizations, 

dispatched 16 Portrait of America Road Tour 

vehicles, and implemented a $168 million 

national paid advertising campaign to boost 

participation rates. The vast majority of census 

partners were community-based organizations 

such as churches, neighborhood organizations 

and service clubs, although many national 

organizations and media partners also signed 

on in this effort to help increase awareness of 

the census. The 2010 Census Portrait of 

America Road Tour vehicles stopped and 

exhibited at more than 800 events nationwide, 

from local parades to major sporting events. 

The paid advertising campaign was utilized 

based on projections that for every one 

percentage point increase in the national mail 

response participation rate, the federal 

government would save $85 million in 

taxpayer money. 

Data Dissemination & Uses 

Paper Electronic 

The 1940 Census results were published via The 2010 Census results were made available 

printed reports. Via the news wires, the Census exclusively through American FactFinder, the 

Bureau distributed press releases and summary Census Bureau’s online statistics and 

statistics. (The bottleneck created by the information search engine. The first results, 

overloading of press association wires in total population counts for states, were released 

Washington by war news made the in December 2010 for the purposes of 

announcement of census results difficult. This apportionment of U.S. House seats. Following 

situation was met in part by emphasizing these were more detailed demographic 

information of interest to a particular state or characteristics down to the block level on a 

local area and transmitting the news directly state by state flow basis between February and 

through channels to that region.) The April 2011 to be used by governors and state 

preliminary population results were first legislators to redraw federal, state and local 

published as a series of state bulletins between legislative districts. Many other products 

August 1940 and April 1941. A second series followed. 
 

1940 Census 2010 Census 

of population bulletins were produced between 

September 1941 and April 1942, composed of 

separate bulletins for each state and a summary 

volume for the U.S. These second series 

bulletins were assembled in a bound volume. 

Published in 1943, it contained statistics down 

to the level of incorporated places of 1,000 

people or more. 

Most Populous States and Cities 

13.5 million 37.3 million 

Population of New York, the most populous Population of California, the most populous 

state per the 1940 Census. Pennsylvania, state per the 2010 Census. Texas, New York, 

Illinois, Ohio and California rounded out the Florida and Illinois followed. Wyoming, with 

top five. The least populous of the 48 states 564,000 residents, was last. See the top 10 

was Nevada, which had 110,000 residents. here. 

(Alaska and Hawaii were still territories.). See 

the top 10 here. 

7.5 million 8.2 million 

Population of New York City in the 1940 Population of New York City in the 2010 

Census. New York was the most populous city, Census. Although New York remained the 

with Detroit, Cleveland, St. Louis and most populous city, it was joined in the top 10 

Pittsburgh also among the 10 most populous by Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego, 

cities. See the top 10 here. Dallas and San Jose, among others. See the top 

10 here. 

Education 

5% 28% 

Percent of adults with a bachelor’s degree or Percent of adults with a bachelor’s degree or 

higher, according to the 1940 Census. higher, according to the 2010 American 

Community Survey. 

Race 

89.8% & 9.8% 

The percentages of the U.S. population that 

were white and black, respectively, in the 1940 

Census. Information on the Hispanic 

population was not collected. 

72.4% & 12.6% 

The percentages of the U.S. population that 

were single-race white and black, respectively, 

in the 2010 Census. (Respondents had the 

option of choosing more than one race). 

Additionally, 16.3 percent were Hispanic (who 

may be of any race), 4.8 percent Asian, 0.9 

percent American Indian and Alaska Native 

and 2.9 percent two or more races. 
 

1940 Census 2010 Census 

Earnings 

$956 & $592 

Median annual wage or salary for men and 

women, respectively, counted in the 1940 

Census. These figures are in 1939 dollars and 

pertain to people 14 and older. Wages was the 

only income identified with an amount in the 

1940 Census. 

$33,276 & $24,157 

Median annual earnings for men and women, 

respectively, in 2010 who were 16 and older, 

according to the American Community Survey. 

Farmers 

5.1 million 613,000 

Number of farmers (owners and tenants) and Number of farmers, ranchers and other 

farm managers counted in the 1940 Census. agricultural managers, according to the 2010 

American Community Survey. 

Gender 

100.7 

Number of males per 100 females in the U.S., 

according to the 1940 Census. 

96.7 

Number of males per 100 females, according to 

the 2010 Census. 

Cost 

$67.5 million $12.4 billion 

Cost of the 1940 Census. (This would amount Estimated cost of the 2010 Census, covering 

to $1.0 billion in 2010 dollars. So about $7.56 fiscal years 2001 through 2013. The total 

per capita for the 132.2 million people counted includes the cost of the American Community 

in 1940.) Survey for this period. This total equates to 

about $40.17 per capita for the 308.7 million 

people counted in 2010, plus the cost to 

conduct and release detailed ACS data each 

year. 

2020 Census: A Look Ahead 

The Census Bureau is planning some major innovations in the design of the census in order to 

control costs and improve efficiency. A preview is below. 

Multiple Mode Response Options 

The 2020 Census will be a “multiple mode” census, using mail, telephone, Internet, face-to-face 

interviews and other electronic response options that may emerge to ensure that diverse 

subgroups of the population have every opportunity to submit their information. Increasingly 

innovative alternatives approach a nearly paperless census design. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Targeted Address Canvassing 

For the 2010 Census, staff in the field walked almost every street in the nation to ensure that 

every housing unit was counted in the correct geography. This operation, known as address 

canvassing, was one of the most expensive components of the census. Updating the Master 

Address File and the associated mapping system known as TIGER continually throughout the 

decade will reduce costs by targeting canvassing efforts. 

Modernizing Infrastructure and Streamlining Operations 

The Census Bureau will be modernizing the information technology (IT) and field support 

infrastructure and automating data collection operations. It is exploring innovations in 

enumeration procedures that will allow for a smaller number of field offices, and staff will use 

electronic devices rather than pens and paper. 

341.4 million 

Projected U.S. population in 2020. 

Following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau’s Facts for Features series: 

Black History Month (February) 

Super Bowl 

Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) 

Women’s History Month (March) 

Irish-American Heritage Month (March)/ 

 St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) 

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May) 

Older Americans Month (May) 

Cinco de Mayo (May 5) 

Mother’s Day 

Hurricane Season Begins (June 1) 

Father’s Day 

The Fourth of July (July 4) 

Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act (July 26) 

Back to School (August) 

 Labor Day 

Grandparents Day 

Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15) 

Unmarried and Single Americans Week 

Halloween (Oct. 31)

American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month 

 (November) 

Veterans Day (Nov. 11) 

Thanksgiving Day 

The Holiday Season (December) 

Editor’s note: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling 

variability and other sources of error. Facts for Features are customarily released about two months before an 

observance in order to accommodate magazine production timelines. Questions or comments should be directed to 

the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office: telephone: 301-763-3030; fax: 301-763-3762; or e-mail: 

<pio@census.gov>.