Genealogy and History Fan

On March 1, 1790 the U.S. Congress passed what is known as the Census Act. The first census was taken that same year and was completed by August 1^st.

The 1790 census showed a population of about 4 million people in the U. S. and it’s western territories. This was quite a jump from the estimated population of a little over 2 million just 10 years earlier.

It was determined by the 1790 census that African Americans made up 19% of the population with, as expected, most living in the South. Native Americans were not counted in that first census, but it is estimated there were at least 80 tribes with a total of about 150,000 people.

The average age for the white population was under 16 which makes sense since most of the families had 8 children. By the 1810 census this white population had almost doubled to nearly 6 million.

In 1790, the largest U. S. city was Philadelphia with about 42,000 people. Next followed New York with 33,000. A few of the other more populated areas were Boston with 18,000, Charleston had 16,000 and about 13,000 called Baltimore home.

The main purpose for taking a census is to apportion seats in the U. S. House of Representatives. The number of residents in a state determines how many seats that particular state gets in Congress.

Of course, the main purpose for genealogists is to track down our ancestors and to find out more about their lives. In some cases, the only information we may find of certain ancestors, are on those wonderful census records. Thanks to James Madison who introduced the Census Act bill and to George Washington who signed it into law!