Use the 1910 U.S. Census Research Guide for detailed ancestry research.
This is an essential guide for researching the 1910 U.S. Census. The 1910 U.S. Census is a list of questions asked to the U.S. Federal Population in 1910. The census captures the moment in time for each person recorded in the 1910 U.S. Census.
Use this guide to learn about and discover the stories of the people who lived during and before the 1910s. With the 1910 U.S. census information, you can, for starters, build individual and family profiles, write narratives, build family trees and find related records to research.
Table of Contents for 1910 U.S. Census Guide
The Essential 1910 U.S. Census Research Guide contains the following sections:
- Additional 1790-1950 U.S. Federal Census Resources
- Details about the U.S. 1910 U.S. Census
- How to Search and Use the 1910 U.S. Census Data
- How 1910 U.S. Census Can Lead to Military Records
- Use the 1910 U.S. Census to Calculate the Birth Year
- What is the 1910 U.S. Federal Census?
- What Can You Find in U.S. Census
- Questions Asked in the 1910 U.S. Census
- Author B. Schreiber’s Introduction to the U.S. Census
Note: All images in this guide reflect life from the 1910s.
Why use the Essential 1910 U.S. Census Research Guide for Beginners
This guide is based on 1,000s of hours of my first-hand experience in researching the U.S. Censuses for purposes related to writing individuals and family narratives, family history, and genealogy. Writers, family historians, and genealogists can, for example, use this comprehensive research guide to:
- Learn 100’s of census research tips and tricks
- Correctly connect related individuals and family
- Complete and extend ancestral family trees
- Recognize, decipher and use clues from census data
- Build and expand individual family profiles
- Learn about and find other historical records
- Conduct exhaustive background research for writing narratives
- Write compelling individual and family narratives
- Find local, regional, state and national record repositories
Why the Essential 1910 U.S. Census Research Guide for Beginners was written
I’m Author B. Schreiber, a professional writer and blogger. I first started researching the U.S. Censuses to gain background information for stories and narratives I was writing about individuals and families I was related to.
Researching the U.S. Censuses can be complex and overwhelming. I spend hundreds of hours learning about each census and how to solve my research problems. This 1910 U.S. Census Research Guide is a compilation of what I learned and continue to apply. I am sharing this information because I understand how frustrating U.S. Census research can be. Perhaps this knowledge can help you. See the section: Author B. Schreiber’s Introduction to the U.S. Census.
Return to Table of Contents for 1910 U.S. Census Guide
Additional 1790-1950 U.S. Federal Census Resources
Essential censuses research guides
Click on any of the following years, and you will be taken to that years’ essential census research guide:
Census and historical record research articles
Throughout this U.S. federal census guide, please find links to resources that I have specifically prepared to help you. In addition, I have written and assembled other resources to provide you with a more in-depth understanding of the census research process. I have tried to cover every possible question and angle you are likely to face in your U.S. census research. I would encourage you to use the resources often. The resources include:
- 35 Important U.S. Census Research Tips and Tricks
- Pre-1850 U.S. Census Research Tips for Historians
- Where to find 1850-1940 Censuses Research Clues
- Introduction to 1790-1940 U.S. Censuses Ancestry Research
- How to Use Naming Patterns in Ancestry Research
- 5 Step Ancestry Research Process for Historians
- How to Cite and Verify Ancestry Research
- How to Conduct Detailed Exhaustive Historical Research
- Introduction to Ancestry Research and Historical Records
- 15 Strategies to Find Ancestor Names in Historical Records
- Keep Ancestry Research Focused with These 28 Simple Tips
(Video) Introduction to 1910 U.S. Census Historical Research. The “Introduction to 1910 U.S. Census Historical Research” provides a quick overview of the 1910 U.S. Census and how you can make the most from the 1910 U.S. Census for individual and family historical and narrative research.
For additional videos, see the BeginMyStory YouTube Channel.
Where to find the 1910 U.S. Census online
The following are some standard resources I have consulted:
Details about the U.S. 1910 U.S. Census
The following are a few of the details that are important to understand about the 1910 U.S. Federal census:
Number of persons included in the 1910 U.S. Census: 92,228,496 people were living in the United States.
1910 U.S. Census day: April 15, 1910
1910 U.S. Census duration: 1 month for rural districts or two weeks for populations over 5,000
1910 U.S. Census geography:
- States and territories enumerated: 46 states and nine territories were included in the census.
- New states: The newest state included in 1910 was Oklahoma.
- Territories included: Arizona, Alaska (unorganized), American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, New Mexico, Panama Canal Zone, Philippines, Puerto Rico
- The available states include: Alabama, Alaska (unorganized), Arizona Territory, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico Territory, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
A few essential facts about the 1910 U.S. Census include:
Numeration date. The numeration date is April 15, 1910, with one month to complete the census, resulting in fewer people being missed than prior census periods.
President during the census. William H Taft
Census privacy
The 1910 U.S. Census was ordered to keep the answers strictly private and could not share the information with anyone. This was the beginning of the 72-year privacy rule. The general public would not be allowed to view the content of the census for 72 years.
Microfilming quality issues, check the original
The microfilming of the 1910 U.S. Census is considered very poor compared to other census projects. I was working with one genealogist on the Mississippi census, and it was just hard to read. With further investigation, we found that large sections of the state’s census were rendered unreadable. As a result, I have found individuals that were not indexed for computer searches. I suggest going to the original to search them just to make sure an individual was not missed in the indexing because it was hard to read.
Good resource for dates and places to find records
The 1910 U.S. Census will be an excellent resource for gathering approximate dates and places to search for birth, marriage and death records of family members living and not living.
Birth and death records
In 1910 most counties began to record vital records (birth and death). By 1925 vital records were recorded in all U.S. counties
Soundex
I have found the Soundex to be very helpful in searching for names that sound alike, such as Ewell and Yule or Steward and Stuart but are spelled differently. It uses a numbering system for letters, which allows the name to be indexed by how it sounds and not how it is spelled. I have used Soundex for 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 United States federal censuses. If you cannot find your family through online search tools/engines, turn to the Soundex. Tools such as Ancestry.com and MyHeritage feature the Soundex for their database. Only twenty-one states were included: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia. For more information. See the article: How to Use the Soundex Coding System
Some Soundex cities and counties indexed separately. Some cities and counties that were included in the Soundex indexes were indexed separately from the state. They included the following:
- Alabama: Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery
- Georgia: Atlanta, Augusta, Macon, Savannah
- Louisiana: New Orleans, Shreveport
- Pennsylvania: Philadelphia County
- Tennessee: Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, and Nashville
How to Search and Use the 1910 U.S. Census Data
Learn how to search and use the data found in the 1910 U.S. Census. In this section of the Essential 1910 U.S. Census Research Guide for Beginners, you are provided a review of each group of the 1910 U.S. Census questions, including research insights, tips and tricks, and must-know information to aid your research.
- Definition: Column equals the column of the census where the information is recorded for each person.
Table of Contents for Census Questions
The following is a list of the 1910 U.S. Census questions. Each category provides research insights.
- Location and Dwelling Questions (Col. 1-2)
- Family Number Question (Col. 3)
- Name Question (Col. 4)
- Relationship Question (Col. 5)
- Personal Description Questions (Col. 6-8)
- Marital Status Questions (Col. 9-10)
- Mother of Children Questions (Col. 11-12)
- Place of Birth/Nativity Questions (Col. 13-15)
- Citizenship Questions (Col. 16-17)
- Language Question (Col. 18)
- Occupation Questions (Col. 19-23)
- Education Questions (Col. 24-26)
- Home Ownership Questions (Col. 27-30)
- Military Question (Col. 31)
- Health Question (Col. 32)
Each of the following categories will provide you what I consider to be some of the essential research insights, tips and tricks, and more for each of the questions.
Location and Dwelling Questions (Col. 1-2)
How can I use 1910 U.S. Census(Col. 1-2) location and dwelling questions in my research?
The 1910 U.S. Census questions for columns 1-2
The questions are as follows:
Col. 1: Street & House No.
Col. 2: Dwelling No.
Research tips and insights include:
Location and Dwelling number (Col. 1 -2)
We are provided with the city/town/village/borough, county, and state where the family resides. This can help in defining geographic areas to search for family and records.
Counted in order
The dwelling was the number of houses that were counted.
Cities only
The census taker recorded the following for those living in the city: Name of street, house number, dwelling number in order of visitation, and family number in order of visitation.
Top of the form
At the top of every census form, we are provided with the following information: State, county, township or division of county (e.g., township, town, precinct, district or other civil division), name of institution, ward of the city, supervisor’s district number, enumeration district number and enumeration date and enumerator.
Name of street and number in urban areas
This census provided the name of the street and house number in urban areas.
Search for historical and genealogical societies
Search for a historical and genealogical society in the county to learn about the community; records developed when individuals lived in the area, connect with other genealogists researching the same surname, groups (i.e., church) to which your family belonged.
Use the location to find other resources
Use the location to look for resources such as churches, cemeteries, courthouses, schools, funeral homes, libraries and much more.
Use the location to find modern-day repositories
Use the location to identify modern-day record repositories that are near the place your family lived (e.g., historical societies, genealogical societies, libraries, archives, courthouses.)
Family Number Question (Col. 3)
How can I use the 1910 U.S. Census (Col. 3) family number question in my research?
The 1910 U.S. Census questions for columns 3
The question is as follows:
Col. 3: Family No.
Research tips and insights include:
Family Number (Col. 3)
This was the actual number of families counted.
Order of household visited
The census is recorded in the order of households visited. Take special note of the dwelling location versus the family number. For example, you could have dwelling 1 and dwelling 2, but for dwelling two, you could have families 2, 3 and 4 living in the dwelling 2. This could be an apartment building or several families living in the same home. If you have people living in the same building, we need to be asking how they are related.
Learn about the circle of influence
You can begin to build the circle of influence for an individual by seeing who the neighbors were.
Search the neighbors
Often neighbors move with neighbors. Are they the same family? Members of the same congregation? Friends? If you can’t follow family or find the family in the census, see if you can follow neighbors. Are the given names similar among the neighbors and your family? Similar names run in families. This might be a clue that they are more than just neighbors. It has been my experience that neighbors are related even when they don’t share the same name. Look for the neighbors being the wife’s parents, sister of the husband, siblings of the wife, aunts and uncles and so forth. When I couldn’t find an individual in location, I have searched for the names of known neighbors to find my family. Make sure you include the names of neighbors in your family profile.
Name Question (Col. 4)
How can I use the 1910 U.S. Census (Col. 4) name question in my research?
The 1910 U.S. Census questions for columns 4
The question is as follows:
Col. 4: Name of each person whose place of abode on April 15, 1910, was in this family
Research tips and insights include:
Composition of the household (Col. 4)
Provides members of the household by name.
As of April 1910
List the persons who lived in the home as of April 1910.
Individual names
Individual names for those in the household.
List order
As a general format, family members are listed in the following order: husband, wife, children by age, parents, brothers, sisters, and so forth.
Death or birth after April 15, 1910
Individuals who died or the birth of children born after April 15, 1910, were not included in the census.
Military records.
Make sure you search all the males in our family over of 1 year old for military records associated with possible U.S. military service. Yes, you read right when I said 1 year old. Individuals who are 1 will most likely be involved in WWII. The military service periods can include: Civil War (1861-1865), Indian Wars (before 1890), Spanish American War (1898). Search out the military records on not only your direct line but also male siblings, uncles, brothers-in-law, and cousins. I have found important information about my direct line when reviewing the pension files of extended family. See the category “Search military records.”
Follow family through the census
Make it a priority to follow your family through censuses during their lifetime (e.g., federal, state, territorial, and local censuses) as well as census schedules if they exist (e.g., population, agriculture, manufacturing, social statistics, crime, mortality, veterans, slave.)
Check original census
Always seek to see the images of the original census to compare against the transcription.
Search for the same surname
Look closely at persons with the same surname. Could they be a relative? Does the individual show up as a child in the earlier census? Search other records such as deeds, wills to see if the person shows up. Could individuals be in-laws? Check marriages of the entire town, neighboring towns and county for husbands of sisters, aunts, and mothers.
Search pages before and after the listing of an individual
I have found it essential to search for the surname several pages before and after the page where you find your family. This can also help in suggesting relationships between neighbors. Look for added clues such as given first names, occupations, places of origin. When I contact the genealogical/historical societies, I have often sought to find the genealogists who are researching these surnames to compare research.
Extract all with the same surname
Make it a practice to extract all the persons with the same surname living in the same county. Are they family? They could be a family connection or related connection, such as where they came from. If your family lives near a state our county border, go ahead and extract the persons with the same surnames from neighboring counties. I have usually found important clues and connections among those with the same surname to enhance my research.
Nicknames
If a person uses a nickname, check to see if you can find the alternate names. See the articles:
- Use Naming Patterns and Nicknames in Census and Record Research
- Search 494 Male Birth Names and Associated Nicknames
- Search 582 Male Nicknames and Associated Birth Name
- Search 606 Female Birth Names and Associated Nicknames
- Search 702 Female Nicknames and Associated Birth Name
Relationship Question (Col. 5)
How can I use the 1910 U.S. Census (Col. 5) relationship question in my research?
The 1910 U.S. Census questions for columns 5
The question is as follows:
Col. 5: Relation to head of family
Research tips and insights include:
Relationship (Col. 5)
The census asked for the relationship to head of household.
Family relationship titles
In this census, you will be seeing titles such as husband, wife, son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, niece, nephew and so forth. When you see titles such as niece, nephew, uncle, and aunt, you will still need to investigate which side of the family they belong to. As you connect research from other census years, this will become clearer.
Non-family titles
If the family isn’t related to the family, you will see titles like none, hired, servant, and so forth.
Wife may not be the mother of children
Take special note of the wife as to whether she really is the mother of the children. Look at age gaps between children. Is the age cap typical? For example, every two years. Are the age gaps more significant than expected? This could be a clue that there was another child or spouse that had passed away. Look at the age of husband and wife. Are they about the same age? Is one spouse much older than the other? If yes, this could be a clue that there is a second marriage. Look at the ages of children and the place of birth. This might provide clues of where the parents were married or from where the family migrated.
Discovering unknown surnames
The relationships column has helped discover previously unknown surnames for married daughters, mother-in-law, cousins, and other relatives living with the family.
Research all relationships
Make sure that you research all the relationships of an individual, including the siblings and their families (i.e., spouses, children), aunts and uncles, grandparents, and even cousins. As you build out the family tree, you will discover critical pieces of information about your direct line when searching extended family. For example, when I couldn’t find information about the parents of my direct line in the late 1800s, I was able to learn the information from research I did on siblings.
Personal Description Questions (Col. 6-8)
How can I use 1910 U.S. Census (Col. 6-8) personal description questions in my research?
The 1910 U.S. Census questions for columns 6-8
The questions are as follows:
Col. 6: Sex
Col. 7: Color or race
Col. 8: Age at last birthday
Research tips and insights include:
Sex (Col. 6)
You will either see (M) for male and (F) for female.
Color or race (Col. 7) In this census, these were the choices enumerators used for color White (W), Black (B), Chinese (Ch), Japanese (J.P.), Indian (IN), Mulatto (Mu), Other (Ot). This information may help determine the person’s origins.
Age at last birthday (Col. 8). This is not the exact date of birth, but it will provide a “ballpark” number that you can use the help you track the person in the next census and search for birth event records of the period.
Children under the age of 1
Children under the age of 1 were represented months as fractions, such as 1/12 meaning 1 month, 4/12 meaning for months.
Search other records
There are good chances that many individuals listed in this census did not have civil birth records. I would always check to see if there are birth records and then look for church records. Start your search for these types of records at the genealogical/historical society.
Look closely at age gaps
Look at age gaps between children. Is the age gap average? For example, every two years. Are the age gaps more significant than expected? This could be a clue that there was another child or spouse that had passed away. Look at the age of husband and wife. Are they about the same age? Is one spouse much older than the other? If yes, this could be a clue that there is a second marriage. Look at the ages of children and the place of birth. This might provide clues of where the parents were married or from where the family migrated.
Children of the same age
If you find children who are the same age, don’t just assume they are twins. Make sure they are not cousins who are being raised in the same home.
Marital Status Questions (Col. 9-10)
How can I use 1910 U.S. Census (Col. 9-10) marital status questions in my research?
The 1910 U.S. Census questions for columns 9-10
The questions are as follows:
Col. 9: Single, married, widowed, divorced
Col. 10: No. of years of present marriage
Research tips and insights include:
Marital status (Col. 9-10)
In this series of columns, we are told whether the person is single (s), married (M), widowed (Wd) or divorced (D).
- Married one or more times. Look for enumerator marks such as M1 (first marriage), M2 (second marriage), M3 (third marriage) and so forth. Suppose you have marks such as M2/M3. In that case, you will need to look carefully at the family composition and build a strategy of the documents you will search for related to multiple marriages (e.g., marriage, divorce, death). You will also need to compare the questions related to years married and the number of children associated with the mother. Does the composition of the family match what you are finding?
- Widowed. If the person is widowed, consider looking for wills and probate records, military pensions, death event records of a spouse.
- Divorced. If the person is divorced, search court records for divorced proceedings.
- Number of years in present marriage. The 1910 U.S. Census asks how many years the couples were married. Start by searching the county /state civic records in the location where you find the family to see if the marriages were recorded. Next, search the church records of the exact location. If you see a fraction such as 4/12, it means that the couple was married four months earlier.
Mother of Children Questions (Col. 11-12)
How can I use 1910 U.S. Census (Col. 11-12) mother of children questions in my research?
The 1910 U.S. Census questions for columns 11-12
The questions are as follows:
Col. 11: Mother of how many children—No. born
Col. 12: Mother of how many children—No. living
Research tips and insights include:
Mother of how many children and living children (Col. 11-12)
The 1910 U.S. Census is also the only census to ask the number of children born to the mother and how many were still living.
Comparing the number of children a mother has vs. living children
Carefully compare the number of children a mother has vs. those living. You will be able to identify if any children had died. First, look at the number of years the couple has been married; this will give you a timeframe to begin your search. To find who the missing child/children try the following:
- Ask first if there are vital records located in the location where your family lived and what year they began. If they exist, try searching first for death and then birth records.
- Search for church records. In the church records, search for christening, baptism, death and other related records.
- Search cemetery records. I will search for all records with the last name of the family. Don’t automatically expect the child’s grave to be with family.
- Check to see if there are school records that exist for family. This can include records such as school census and school attendance rolls.
- Check to see if the state/local census’ has been conducted for the time frame you are searching. You may find the name of the missing child listed.
Caution about marriages
Always be asking the question, “Is this a first, second, or even third marriage for either spouse?” Take special note of the wife as to whether she really is the mother of the children. Look at age gaps between children. Is the age cap typical? For example, every two years. Are the age gaps more significant than expected? This could be a clue that there was another child or spouse that had passed away. Look at the age of husband and wife. Are they about the same age? Is one spouse much older than the other? If yes, this could be a clue that there is a second marriage. Look at the ages of children and the place of birth. This might provide clues of where the parents were married or from where the family migrated.
Place of Birth/Nativity Questions (Col. 13-15)
How can I use 1910 U.S. Census (Col. 13-15) place of birth/nativity questions in my research?
The 1910 U.S. Census questions for columns 13-15
The questions are as follows:
Research tips and insights include:
Place of birth (Col. 13-14)
This census provides the birthplace of each person along with the birthplaces for each parent. If born in the United States, they were to give the state or territory. If the individual had a foreign birth, they were to give the country.
Father and mother’s place of birth
This information is critical to helping you develop scenarios of where to search for family.
Narrow search
Use this information to narrow your search for records to the geographic area, even town. Also very helpful with clues to immigration and migration.
Numerator accuracy
Numerators only recorded the information that they were provided by the person being interviewed. For whatever reason, individuals did not provide accurate answers to this type of question because of prejudices associated with this period.
Numerator code
When the enumerator recorded place of birth, they could have used a two-letter code for a state or written the name of the state out or another abbreviation. For example, North Dakota could have been written as N.D., North Dakota. If you see a code that is only one letter, such as O, it could mean Oklahoma, Ohio, or Oregon. Make no assumptions. You will need to check the 1900 and 1920 census to see if you can find clues to help your resolve the limited information.
Citizenship Questions (Col. 16-17)
How can I use 1910 U.S. Census (Col. 16-17) citizenship questions in my research?
The 1910 U.S. Census questions for columns 16-17
The questions are as follows:
Col. 16: Year of immigration to the U.S.
Col. 17: Naturalized/Alien
Research tips and insights include:
Citizenship (Col. 16-17)
The 1910 U.S. Census asks for the year of the immigration and whether naturalized. This will make it easier to start looking for the individual’s paper trail/records in the U.S. Look carefully whether the person has applied for citizenship or naturalized (A or A.L. – Alien; N.A. – Naturalized; N.R. – Not Reported; P.A. – First Papers Filed).
- Alien (AL). Individual is board abroad has not taken any steps toward becoming an American citizen.
- Naturalize (N.A.). Individuals have become full citizen by taking out the second or final papers of naturalization.
- First Papers (P.A.). Individual has declared the intention of becoming an American citizen.
- When naturalized. If an individual was naturalized, look at records related to immigration, such as ships passenger lists. Other clues on the census that will help you in this search will be the language spoken and year of immigration.
Language Question (Col. 18)
How can I use the 1910 U.S. Census (Col. 18) citizenship question in my research?
The 1910 U.S. Census questions for columns 18
The question is as follows:
Col. 18: Speaks English or other
Research tips and insights include:
Speaks English or other (Col. 18)
If a person cannot speak English, it may be a clue that the person is an immigrant. Look closely at the census columns 16-17 as they are related to citizenship.
Occupation Questions (Col. 19-23)
How can I use 1910 U.S. Census (Col. 19-23) occupation questions in my research?
The 1910 U.S. Census questions for columns 19-23
The questions are as follows:
Col. 19: Trade or Profession
Col. 20: General nature of work
Col. 21: Employer, employee or works on own
Col. 22: Out of work April 15
Col. 23: Weeks out of work ’09
Research tips and insights include:
Occupation (Col. 19-23)
This indicates the person’s occupation and related information can help one search for employment records.
Over age 15
The occupation was recorded for persons over age 15.
Search for professional directories
When occupations are mentioned, search for occupational directories. Directories can list as little as a name to entire profiles of families.
Look carefully at the occupation/trade
Look carefully at the person’s occupation/trade and define what types of records might exist. You will see answers such as frame spinner, salesman, laborer, rivet heater, music teacher. I had an individual who was a merchant, which led me to look for a business license, business/professional directory, ads for his business in the newspaper and related documents, all of which I found. Another genealogist had an ancestor who was a clergy member, which led them to search and find church records.
General nature of work
This answer will provide the general nature of the industry, business, or establishment, such as cotton mill, dry goods store, and farm.
Out of work and weeks out work
If the person was an employee and out of work, they would be asked how many weeks they were out of work.
Education Questions (Col. 24-26)
How can I use 1910 U.S. Census (Col. 24-26) educations questions in my research?
The 1910 U.S. Census questions for columns 24-26
The questions are as follows:
Col. 24: Can read
Col. 25: Can write
Col. 26: Attended school
Research tips and insights include:
Education (Col. 24-26)
This identifies if the person had gone to school since September 1, 1909. This will provide clues to look for school records that can associate children with parents. Look for records such as school census.
Cannot read and write
Use this information to confirm that you have the right person when searching other records. For example, you are searching wills of individuals with the same name as an individual. The census records said that an individual could read and write. You find the wills of two persons with the same name. One marked his will with an X. The other signed his name on the will. The person using the X most likely couldn’t read or write. Since you are looking for someone who could read and write, the X should raise caution flags that this person may not be the person you are looking for.
Home Ownership Questions (Col. 27-30)
How can I use 1910 U.S. Census (Col. 27-30) educations questions in my research?
The 1910 U.S. Census questions for columns 27-30
The questions are as follows:
Col. 27: Home owned/rented
Col. 28: Free/mortgaged
Col. 29: Farm/house
Col. 30: No. of farm enumerated
Research tips and insights include:
Homeownership (Col. 27-30)
Look carefully at this census section to learn whether your family-owned, rented or mortgaged property.
Real estate value
Real value can be an excellent clue to finding tax and land records.
Charting the movement of the family
I always try to be aware of the movement of my family from one location to another. Train travel now spans nationwide. The mobility of family is just beginning to expand beyond horse and wagon. I will chart the family’s movement on a map and make sure that search each city and count between the two points to see if my family left any records along the way. Don’t be surprised if you them living in different locations along the way. Begin by looking at the date the family left/sold the land/home in the 1900 location and the date they purchased the land/home in the 1910 location. If you have a gap in years, then you have grounds to search for other locations. Next, look at the members of the family that are new (e.g., birth/marriage) or missing (e.g., death/marriage) since the 1900 census. This will give you a clue of the type of civic vital records to search (e.g., birth, marriage, death).
Check the neighbors
As children grow and leave home, it is common for the children to receive land. If you are finding older children (male and female) that are no longer living with the family from the 1910 or 1920 census, check all the neighbors and land records to see if there was any land purchase/transfer that involved your family. I look very closely for daughters that may have been married and moved close to home.
Military Question (Col. 31)
How can I use the 1910 U.S. Census (Col. 31) military question in my research?
The 1910 U.S. Census questions for columns 31
The question is as follows:
Col. 31: Confed or Union veteran
Research tips and insights include:
Confederate or Union Veteran (Col. 31)
Answers to this question should lead to your search for military records. See the category “Search Military records.”
Enumerator instructions
The enumerators were given these instructions with this question: Write “UA” if a survivor of the Union Army, “UN” if a survivor of the Union Navy, “C.A.” if a survivor of the Confederate Army, and “C.N.” if a survivor of the Confederate Navy.
Pension applications
Search for pension applications and records of pension payments for veterans, their widows, and other heirs. The pension applications usually provide the most information. They can include supporting documents such as marriage, birth, and death records/certificates, pages from family Bibles, family letters, dispositions of witnesses, affidavits, discharge papers and other supporting documents. Even if an individual did not receive a pension, see if his pension request was denied.
Health Question (Col. 32)
How can I use the 1910 U.S. Census (Col. 32) health question in my research?
The 1910 U.S. Census questions for columns 31
The question is as follows:
This is the first census in which these questions were asked.
Col. 32: Blind in both eyes or Deaf and dumb.
Research tips and insights include:
Blind in both eyes
Enumerators were given the following instructions: If a person is either totally or partially blind, in both eyes, so as not to read even with the help of glasses, write “Bl.” For all other persons, leave the column blank.
Deaf and dumb. Enumerators were given the following instructions: If a person is both deaf and dumb, write “D.D.” For all other persons, leave the column blank. Persons who are deaf but not dumb, or persons who are dumb but not deaf, are not to be reported.
[Return to Questions TOC]
[Return to Guide TOC]
How 1910 U.S. Census Can Lead to Military Records
Even though there is no information in the 1910 U.S. Census identifying veterans of war, there are still men living who served in one or more military wars and conflicts. The records available for these veterans vary but can yield important clues and knowledge about the individual and their family. For example:
- Pension applications. Search for pension applications and records of pension payments for veterans, their widows, and other heirs. The pension applications usually provide the most information. They can include supporting documents such as marriage, birth, and death records/certificates, pages from family Bibles, family letters, dispositions of witnesses, affidavits, discharge papers and other supporting documents. Even if an individual did not receive a pension, see if his pension request was denied.
- Search family photographs and artifacts. Family photographs can be an excellent source for identifying which persons were involved in which war or military conflict they may have served. It is rare for individuals serving in the military not to have their photographs in their uniforms. You may also find cards, letters, and related military memorabilia. I have also found the local newspaper to be a rich source of information about family during periods of war.
Start your search by looking for these military records:
Early Indian Wars 1815-1858
Look for military records of men serving in the Early Indian Wars who are 70+ in the 1910 U.S. Census. These men would have been born before 1840.
Mexican War 1846-1848
Look for military records of men serving in the Mexican Wars who are 80+ in the 1910 U.S. Census. These men would have been born before 1832.
Civil War 1861-1865
Look for military records of men who served in the U.S. Civil War who are 60+ in the 1910 U.S. Census. These men would have been born in 1855 and earlier. Keep in mind that many young men lied about their age and served with their father, brother (s), or other family members. If an individual living in the Union or Confederate states, they could have very quickly served in their army. Many men who were in the Union served in the Confederacy. And many men from the South served in the Union Army. Make sure that you search for all male family members (i.e., father, sons, brothers, uncles, and nephews.) The Civil War enlistment card will give you clues of a person’s location and place of residence. See the article: How to Find Civil War Soldier Records for Writing Narratives
Later Indian Wars (Before 1890)
Look for military records of men serving in the later Indian Wars who are 40+ in the 1910 U.S. Census. These men would have been born before 1880.
Spanish American War 1898
Look for military records of men serving in the Spanish American War 30+ in the 1910 U.S. Census. These men would have been born before 1880.
World War I 1917-1919
Be aware that many of the males between the ages of 10-30 in the 1910 U.S. Census will most like be involved in the future World War I. These men would have been born in 1900 and before. See the article: How to Find WWI Soldier Records for Writing Narratives
World War II 1917-1919
Be aware that many of the males under the age of 20 years old in the 1910 U.S. Census will most like be involved or register for the draft in the future World War II. These men would have been born in 1910 and before. See the article: How to Find WWII Soldier Records for Writing Narratives
Researching military headstones
Military headstones have evolved through time. See the following articles for details: Meaning of Each Religious Emblem of Belief for U.S. Military Headstones
(Video) Introduction to U.S. Military Headstones. An introduction to U.S. military headstones provides an understanding of the design, history, symbolism, and individual and family research.
Use the 1910 U.S. Census to Calculate the Birth Year
In Column 7 of the 1910 U.S. Population Census, learn the age of each household member. The following 1910 U.S. Census Birth Year Reference Chart will provide the approximate corresponding birth year for the age provided. For more information, see the following article: How to Use the Census to Calculate the Birth Year
Age calculated as of April 15, 1910.
| 1910 U.S. Census Birth Year Reference Chart | |||||
| Age | Birth Year | Age | Birth Year | Age | Birth Year |
| Mar 0/12 | 1910 | 28 | 1882 | 67 | 1843 |
| Feb 1/12 | 1910 | 29 | 1881 | 68 | 1842 |
| Jan 2/12 | 1910 | 30 | 1880 | 69 | 1841 |
| Dec 3/12 | 1909 | 31 | 1879 | 70 | 1840 |
| Nov 4/12 | 1909 | 32 | 1878 | 71 | 1839 |
| Oct 5/12 | 1909 | 33 | 1877 | 72 | 1838 |
| Sep 6/12 | 1909 | 34 | 1876 | 73 | 1837 |
| Aug 7/12 | 1909 | 35 | 1875 | 74 | 1836 |
| Jul 8/12 | 1909 | 36 | 1874 | 75 | 1835 |
| Jun 9/12 | 1909 | 37 | 1873 | 76 | 1834 |
| May 10/12 | 1909 | 38 | 1872 | 77 | 1833 |
| Apr 11/12 | 1909 | 39 | 1871 | 78 | 1832 |
| 1 | 1909 | 40 | 1870 | 79 | 1831 |
| 2 | 1908 | 41 | 1869 | 80 | 1830 |
| 3 | 1907 | 42 | 1868 | 81 | 1829 |
| 4 | 1906 | 43 | 1867 | 82 | 1828 |
| 5 | 1905 | 44 | 1866 | 83 | 1827 |
| 6 | 1904 | 45 | 1865 | 84 | 1826 |
| 7 | 1903 | 46 | 1864 | 85 | 1825 |
| 8 | 1902 | 47 | 1863 | 86 | 1824 |
| 9 | 1901 | 48 | 1862 | 87 | 1823 |
| 10 | 1900 | 49 | 1861 | 88 | 1822 |
| 11 | 1899 | 50 | 1860 | 89 | 1821 |
| 12 | 1898 | 51 | 1859 | 90 | 1820 |
| 13 | 1897 | 52 | 1858 | 91 | 1819 |
| 14 | 1896 | 53 | 1857 | 92 | 1818 |
| 15 | 1895 | 54 | 1856 | 93 | 1817 |
| 16 | 1894 | 55 | 1855 | 94 | 1816 |
| 17 | 1893 | 56 | 1854 | 95 | 1815 |
| 18 | 1892 | 57 | 1853 | 96 | 1814 |
| 19 | 1891 | 58 | 1852 | 97 | 1813 |
| 20 | 1890 | 59 | 1851 | 98 | 1812 |
| 21 | 1889 | 60 | 1850 | 99 | 1811 |
| 22 | 1888 | 61 | 1849 | 100 | 1810 |
| 23 | 1887 | 62 | 1848 | 101 | 1809 |
| 24 | 1886 | 63 | 1847 | 102 | 1808 |
| 25 | 1885 | 64 | 1846 | 103 | 1807 |
| 26 | 1884 | 65 | 1845 | 104 | 1806 |
| 27 | 1883 | 66 | 1844 | 105 | 1805 |
Census taker instructions for age on 1910 U.S. Census. The following are the exact instructions given to the census taker (enumerator):
110. Column 7. Age at last birthday.-This question calls for the age in completed years at last birthday. Remember, however, that the age question, like all other questions on the schedule, relates to April 15, 1910. Thus a person whose exact age on April 15, the census day, is 17 years, 11 months, and 25 days should be returned simply as 17, because that is his age at last birthday before April 15, although at the time of your visit he may have completed 18 years.
111. Age in round numbers.-In many cases, persons will report the age in round numbers, like 30 or 45, or “about 30” or “about 45,” when that is not the exact age. Therefore, when an age ending in 0 or 5 is reported, your should ascertain whether that is the exact age. If, however, it is impossible to get the exact age, enter the approximate age rather than return the age as unknown.
112. Ages of children.-Take particular pains to get the exact ages of children. In the case of a child not 2 years old, the age should be given in completed months, expressed as twelfths of a year. Thus the age of a child 3 months old should be entered as 3/12, a child 7 months old as 7/12, a child 1 year and 3 months as 1 3/12, etc. If a child is not yet a month old, enter the age as 0/12. But note again that this question should be answered with reference to April 15. For instance, a child who is just a year old on the 17th of April, 1910, should nevertheless be returned as 11/12, because that is the age in completed months on April 15.
What is the 1910 U.S. Federal Census?
A census is a government-sponsored enumeration of the population in a particular area. It contains a variety of information — names, heads of household (or all household members), ages, citizenship status, ethnic background, and so on. Here are some different types of census records you are likely to come across in your research.
U.S. federal census is also called a population schedule. Federal census records provide the building blocks of your research, allowing you to confirm the information and learn more. Compiled in the United States for every decade since 1790, census population schedules are comprehensive, detailed records of the federal government’s decennial survey of American households. The federal government uses information from the schedules for demographic analysis.
The schedules themselves, of interest primarily to genealogists, contain the personal information of the survey respondents. To protect the people’s privacy whose names appear in each schedule, census records are restricted for 72 years after the census is taken and are not available to researchers during that time.
What Can You Find in U.S. Census
Use the 1910 U.S. Census Guide to learn about and discover the stories of the people who lived during and before the 1910s. With the 1910 U.S. census information, you can, for starters, build individual and family profiles, write narratives, build family trees and find related records to research. For example, you can use the census to:
- Identify head of household
- Identify members of the household by name
- Identify relationships—surnames of married daughter, mother-in-law, cousins, other relatives
- Indicate that wife may not be the mother of kids
- Identify ages of individuals by name
- Begin to establish family relationships (e.g., spouse, children, siblings, parents)
- Identify people of color: White (W), Indian (I), American Indian, Black (B), Chinese (C), Japanese (J.P.)
- Begin to identify possible remarriages and step relationships
- Identify birthplace of parents-immigrant information
- Supplement birth/marriage info. Due to relationship info.
- Locate and identify birthplaces
- Identify month of birth
- Identify year of marriage
- Determine year of immigration
- Identify occupations
- Locate and identify real estate
- Locate and identify a family who are neighbors
- Identify spelling variations
- Locate and identify a family in other census substitute records (e.g., probate inventories, tax lists)
- Locate and identify children not yet known
- Locate and identify possible parents
- Locate and identify possible children not listed in later censuses
- Differentiate between families of the same name
- Locate and identify possible neighbors who might be family
- Give clues to genetic symptoms or diseases
Questions Asked in the 1910 U.S. Census
The following are the questions found on the 1910 U.S. federal census:
LOCATION
Col. 1: Street & House No.
Col. 2: Dwelling No.
Col. 3: Family No.
NAME
Col. 4: Name of each person whose place of abode on April 15, 1910 was in this family
PERSONAL DESCRIPTION
Col. 5: Relation to head of family
Col. 6: Sex
Col. 7: Color or race
Col. 8: Age at last birthday
Col. 9: Single, married, widowed, divorced
Col. 10: No. of years of present marriage
Col. 11: Mother of how many children—No. born
Col. 12: Mother of how many children—No. living
NATIVITY
Col. 13: Place of birth
Col. 14: Place of birth of father
Col. 15: Place of birth of mother
CITIZENSHIP
Col. 16: Year of immigration to U.S.
Col. 17: Naturalized/Alien
LANGUAGE
Col. 18: Speaks English or other
OCCUPATION
Col. 19: Trade or Profession
Col. 20: General nature of work
Col. 21: Employer, employee or works on own
Col. 22: Out of work Apr. 15
Col. 23: Weeks out of work ’09
EDUCATION
Col. 24: Can read
Col. 25: Can write
Col. 26: Attended school
HOME
Col. 27: Home owned/rented
Col. 28: Free/mortgaged
Col. 29: Farm/house
Col. 30: No. of farm enumerated
MILITARY
Col. 31: Confed or Union veteran
HEALTH
Col. 32: Blind in both eyes or Deaf and dumb.
Author B. Schreiber’s Introduction to the U.S. Census
I first used the U.S. census to help find and discover the past of my step-father, John. I was interested in writing a personal narrative about his life. I wanted to answer questions like.
- Where was he born?
- Who was his family?
- What was his family story?
- What was it like during different periods of his life?
- Are there any family records (e.g., birth, marriage, school, death, etc.) that exist?
- Are there any photos, journals, letters, memorabilia about the individual or family?
- Are there living families or descendants that I can interview or help tell the story?
I did not have much information. I knew where he was buried. He was born in either the 1920s/1930s. He was born in one of four states, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania. John had been married to my mother for about 5 years. After their divorce, my mother lost track of him until she received a call from the police department one day asking if she knew John. John’s body had been left in a hospital’s emergency room parking lot without any personal identification. His body was taken to a local morgue, where he remained for four months until he was identified by my mother. My mother then took steps to have John’s remains buried in a nearby cemetery with a military headstone.
I shared the story with a friend of mine who was a genealogist/family historian. She asked me if I had ever thought of looking in the U.S. Census. I responded with the answer of no and questioned her about how the c
She invited me to join her at a local library, where over the next couple of hours, she began to show me the census of the 1940s, 1930s, and 1920s. Within a couple of hours, she helped me find John and his related family in and around Jersey City, New Jersey. From those humble beginnings, I used the census as a steppingstone to finding records, locating living members of John’s family, and so much more.
In short, John was born in the late 1920s in Jersey City. Growing up, he became a bookie for the mob when he was in his early 20s. When he was caught stealing from the mob, the mob put out a contract on his life.
Desperately needing help, John went to his brother, a captain for the local police department, for safety. His brother was able to work directly with the mob to negotiate for Johns’s life. John was required to pay the money back with interest and leave town, never to return. He was a soldier in WWII and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. When he met my mom, he was a dispatcher for a taxicab company.
From that first experience, I spent 1000s hours learning how to use the U.S. 1940-1790 Censuses as a primary resource for my narrative and background research about individuals, families, and character development.
