1890 US Census

Each family was enumerated on a separate sheet of paper in the 1890 US census, the only time this was ever done.

Answers to the questions were to be based on the status of households on June 1, 1890.

1890 also saw the United States include a Veterans Schedule as well as the Regular Schedule of households. Questions from both of these schedules appear below.

1890 United States Regular Schedule Questions

Column Question
A Number of dwelling house in order of visitation
B Number of families in this dwelling house
C Number of persons in this dwelling house
D Number of family in this dwelling house
E Number of persons in this family
1 Christian name in full, initial of middle name, and surname
2 whether a soldier, sailor, or marine during the civil war (US or Conf) or widow of such a person
3 relationship to the head of this family
4 whether white, black, mulatto, quadroon, octoroon, Chinese, Japanese, or Indian
5 sex
6 age at nearest birthday. If under 1 year, give age in months
7 whether married, single, widowed, or divorced
8 married during census year (June 1, 1889-May 31, 1890)
9 mother of how many children, and number of these children still living
10 place of birth
11 place of birth of father
12 place of birth of mother
13 number of years in the United States
14 whether naturalized
15 whether naturalization papers have been taken out
16 profession, trade, or occupation
17 months unemployed during the census year (June 1, 1889-May 31, 1890)
18 attendance at school (in months) during the census year (June 1, 1889-May 31, 1890)
19 able to read
20 able to write
21 able to speak English. If not, the language or dialect spoken
22 whether suffering from acute or chronic disease, with name of disease and length of time afflicted
23 whether defective in mind, sight, hearing, or speech, and whether crippled, maimed, or deformed with name of defect
24 whether a prisoner, convict, homeless child, or pauper
25 supplemental schedule and page

1890 United States Veterans Schedule Questions

Column Question
1 house number
2 family number
3 names of surviving soldiers, sailors, marines, and widows
4 rank
5 company
6 name of regiment or vessel
7 date of enlistment (day, month, year)
8 date of discharge (day, month, year)
9 length of service (years, months, days)
10 post office address
11 disability incurred
12 remarks

Almost all of the 1890 US census was destroyed. Very few fragments remain enumerating 6,160 people out of over 62 million in the census.

The surviving fragments cover:

  • Alabama - Perry County
  • District of Columbia - Q, S 13th, 14th, RQ, Corcoran, 15th, SE, and Roggs streets, and Johnson avenue
  • Georgia - Muscogee County (Columbus)
  • Illinois - McDonough County: Mound Township
  • Minnesota - Wright County: Rockford
  • New Jersey - Hudson County: Jersey City
  • New York - Westchester County: Eastchester; Suffolk County: Brookhaven Township
  • North Carolina - Gaston County: South Point Township, Ricer Bend Township; Cleveland County: Township No 2
  • Ohio - Hamilton County (Cincinnati); Clinton County: Wayne Township
  • South Dakota - Union County: Jefferson Township
  • Texas - Ellis County: S.P. No. 6, Mountain Peak, Ovila Precinct; Hood County: Precinct No. 5; Rusk County: Precinct No. 6 and J.P. No. 7; Trinity County: Trinity Town and Precinct No. 2; Kaufman County: Kaufman

To save an Adobe Acrobat copy of the 1890 US census questions click here

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