The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1919-12-12
HOW MANY PEOPLE
LIVE In BETSEY?
The 1920 Census Promises Some
Interesting Revelations as to
Growth of Elizabeth City
in Past Decade

With the approach of the 1920 census.
many interested persons are speculating
as to just what the population of Eliz- |
abeth City is today, and there is consid- |
cradle divergence in the opinions ex
pressed. One man, who is in a good po |
sition to observe the growth of the city
FROM business viewpoint, says that the
population of this city is not less than
$4,000. Another places it at II 900, with
a total population of % 900 for the city
and-eeunty A majority of the estimates
incline toward the $4,000 mark for the
city. with total of 25OOO in the entire
county, city included. 1t will be remem
bered that the population of Elizabeth
City in 1910, was SAP persons, as
compared with 6,3S4 in 1900, and some
thing like $500 in 1890. To even~the
most casual observer, it is apparent that
the city has grown rapidly in the past
ten years, and it is evident that the 1920
census figures will show a big increase
over the enumeration for 1910.
January first is Census Day through
out the length and breath of the United
States, the day upon which the regular
decennial count of the population of the
nation commences. In most sections
the work of enumeration will actually be-
gin January End, because the first is a
holiday. and according to the plans of
the census-takers, the count of popula-
tion in the cities will require just two
weeks. In the rural districts the work
is expected to take 80 days, and many
other statistics besides the population
enumeration will be gathered, for the
census is the means whereby the Govern
ment learns the latest figures concern
| ing agriculture. and the vital figures re-
| lating to the resources of the country.
| The questions to be asked are careful
! 1y dass bss act asongres and the
| information gathered is IN no case to be
used as. basis for taxation, nor can it
be used to harm any person or his pro-
perty. It has absolutely nothing to do
with detection, arrest prosecution, or
punishmnt of any person or any violation
of any law. and is considered confidential
in the strictest sense. These questions
vii be asked all persons: 1. Age at last
birthday. 2. Each person ten years~ot
age and over will be asked whether he
is able to read and write. 3. Each per
|
birthplace of his father and mother. 4
Each foreign born resident must tell the
date of his coming to the United States
and if naturalized, the ,ate upon whicl
J he became a citizen; also his native Ian
guage s. Each head of family vii
be asked whether his home belongs t.
him. or is rented. If owned, whethe
the home is mortgaged or free from debt
6. Each person vii be asked his occu
patton. and whether he is employer, em
= Dloyee or working on his own account
In the case of farmers each occupan
of a farm must tell how many years,
| any, he worked on farm for wages
y how many years. if any. he was ter
ant; and how many years, if any, b
l. farmed as an owner He will also
= asked whether he owns, rents, partl
owns and partly rents his farm, or whe
n ther he runs the farm for another 6
| superintendent or manager. Anothe
question requires him to tell the numbe
of acres in his farrn and the number {
= acres unimproved or in woodland. ID
- must also give the value of his farm
, buildings, implements and machner
. whether or not the farm is mortgage
- and if so, the amount of the mortgag
= expenses for-feed, fertilizer and labt
:, in the year 1919; several questions col
cerning artificial drainage; number
- cows horses, sheep. chickens and otht
domestic animals on the farm aJnuary
1920: quantity and acreage of all croI
grown on the farm in 1919, includiI
fruits and vegetables; quantity of mi
- and butter sold off the farm during tt
~ year 1919, and the timber lands on far
and value of forest products. Any farm
-, er who wishes to post himself upo
the questions in advance of the enun
Grafton will be supplied with copy
the agriculture schedule for the cens'
upon making application to the Direct'
E of the Census, Washington, d. c.