Use the 1930 U.S. Census Research Guide for detailed ancestry research.
This is an essential guide for researching the 1930 U.S. Census. The 1930 U.S. Census is a list of questions asked to the U.S. Federal Population in 1930. The census captures the moment in time for each person recorded in the 1930 U.S. Census.
Use this guide to learn about and discover the stories of the people who lived during and before the 1930s. With the 1930 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 1930 U.S. Census Guide
The Essential 1930 U.S. Census Research Guide contains the following sections:
- Additional 1790-1950 U.S. Federal Census Resources
- Details about the U.S. 1930 U.S. Census
- How to Search and Use the 1930 U.S. Census Data
- How 1930 U.S. Census Can Lead to Military Records
- Use the 1930 U.S. Census to Calculate the Birth Year
- What is the 1930 U.S. Federal Census?
- What Can You Find in U.S. Census
- Questions Asked in the 1930 U.S. Census
- Author B. Schreiber’s Introduction to the U.S. Census
Note: All images in this guide reflect life from the 1930s.
Why use the Complete 1930 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 1930 U.S. Census Research Guide 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 1930 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.
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 1930 U.S. Census Historical Research. The “Introduction to 1930 U.S. Census Historical Research” provides a quick overview of the 1930 U.S. Census and how you can make the most from the 1930 U.S. Census for individual and family historical and narrative research.
For additional videos, see the BeginMyStory YouTube Channel.
Where to find the 1930 U.S. Census online
The following are some standard resources I have consulted:
Details about the U.S. 1930 U.S. Census
The following are a few of the details that are important to understand about the 1930 U.S. Federal census:
Number of persons included in the 1930 U.S. Census: 122,775,046 people were living in the United States.
1930 U.S. Census day: April 1, 1930, and was completed by May 31, 1930
1930 U.S. Census duration: 1 month
1930 U.S. Census geography:
- States and territories enumerated: 48 states and eight territories were included in the census.
- Territories included: Alaska, American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, Panama Canal Zone, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
- The available states include: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, 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 1930 U.S. Census include:
Numeration date
The numeration date is April 1, 1930, and was completed by May 31, 1930.
President during the census. Herbert Hoover
Census privacy
The 1930 U.S. Censuswas 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.
Birth and death records
By1930, most counties had started recording vital records (birth and death). By 1925 vital records were recorded in all U.S. counties. Most persons who are recorded in this census will have a birth/death certificate.
Social Security Index
If an individual was listed in this census and lived past 1935, make sure you check the Social Security Death Index.
Census maps
The Census Bureau produced maps for every district visited by the enumerators (census takers). Each enumerator was the household in the order it was found. These maps are available from the National Archives film series M1930 on 36 roles.
Questions related to the Indian population
The 1930 U.S. Census did not include a separate schedule for the Indian population, enumerated in the general population schedule. Those who lived on reservations were asked a few specific questions:
- In place of country of birth for the father, the degree of Indian blood was listed, and for the country of birth for the mother, the tribe was listed.
Alaska numeration date and questions
The numeration date for Alaska began on October 1, 1929. There were fewer questions asked on the Alaskan census. These are the questions that were only asked in this census:
- Age at last birthday
- Year of immigration to the United States
- Language spoken in the home before immigration
- Name of street, avenue road, etc.
- Value of home if owned
- If rented, monthly rental
- Whether actually at work the previous workday
- Whether attended school any time since January 1, 1929
- Whether employer, salary or wage worker, or working on own account
- Whether family owned a farm
- Whether family owned a radio set
- Whether home owned or rented
- Year of immigration to the United States
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, or Turkey
Enumerators were instructed to spell out the name of the city, state, province, or region of respondents who declared that they or their parents had been born in Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, or Turkey. Because of the questions asked of these immigrants, many researchers will be able to discover the exact towns or regions from which their families emigrated.
Soundex
I have found the Soundex to be very helpful in searching for names that sound alike, 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. See the article: How to Use the Soundex Coding System
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. The 1930 Soundex includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, part of Kentucky (Bell, Floyd, Harlen, Kenton, Muhlenberg, Perry, and Pike counties, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Part of West Virginia (Fayette, Harrison, Kanawha, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, and Raleigh counties). If you don’t use the internet and end up using Microfilms, look for the series M2049-2050 (1,587 rolls). Take note that the roles are broken down by state and by letters of the alphabet. See the article:
Using the Soundex to identify spelling variations of your last name
I like to go to the Soundex and use it to gather my alternate surnames.
Institutions and military records
Institutions are typically found at the end of the enumeration sections. Service members were to be listed as members of their duty posts, not in their family’s enumerations.
Seamen
This was the first census to include seamen on U.S. flag merchant vessels. Information includes the vessel’s name, owner and address, what port, name of seaman, state or country of birth, occupation, whether a veteran and of what war, and address of next of kin. Do a Google search on “1930 U.S. Census of Merchant Seamen.”
[Return to Guide TOC]
Learn how to search and use the data found in the 1930 U.S. Census. In this section of the Essential 1930 U.S. Census Research Guide for Beginners, you are provided a review of each group of the 1930 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 1930 U.S. Census questions. Each category provides research insights.
- Location Questions (Col. 1-3)
- Family Number Question (Col. 4)
- Name Question (Col. 5)
- Relationship Question (Col. 6)
- Home Data Questions (Col. 7-10)
- Personal Description Questions (Col. 11-15)
- Education Questions (Col. 16-17)
- Place of Birth (Col. 18-20)
- Citizenship and Language Questions (Col. 22-24)
- Occupation Questions (Col. 25-29)
- Military Questions (Col. 30-31)
- Farm Number 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 Questions (Col. 1-3)
How can I use 1930 U.S. Census (Col. 1-3) location questions in my research?
The 1930 U.S. Census questions for columns 1-3
The questions are as follows:
Col. 1: Street, avenue, road, etc.
Col. 2: House number (In cities)
Col. 3: No of dwelling house in order of enumeration
We are provided with the city/town/village/borough, county, state and enumeration district where the family resides. This can help in defining geographic areas to search for family and records.
Research tips and insights include:
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 provides the name of the street and house number in urban areas.
- Use Google maps to find the address. The name was written at the very left of the census page, with the Number written in column 2. See if the house/residence still exists today by placing the address, city and state in Google maps to see what appears.
- Find the home of an individual online. When you put the address in websites like Zillow.com and Realtor.com, you can see when the dwelling was built. You will be able to determine if this is, in fact, the same place your family lived in. You can also learn what the home is worth in today’s market, square footage, number of bedrooms, baths and images. If the homes were built much after 1930, chances are the individual did not live in the home, but rather is the land where your family lived.
Websites
Search online for genealogy-related websites hosted by historical and genealogical societies, city, county, and state libraries/archives, and civic and state government.
Use the address to find the Enumeration District (E.D.) to find your family
If you are having difficulty finding individuals in the census, try searching for the enumeration district. As used by the Bureau of the Census, an enumeration district was an area that could be covered by a single enumerator (census taker) in one census period. Enumeration districts varied in size from several city blocks in densely populated urban areas to an entire county in sparsely populated rural areas. You will need first need to have a physical address for your family.
The address can include the state, county or township, ward, or street name and Number. If you don’t know the address, you can search death certificates of the family that died just before or after the 1930 U.S. Census, period phone books and city directories, and deed records of the family that owns homes. Once you have the address information, you use Enumeration District (E.D.) search tools found on database sites such as Ancestry.com and Stephen P. Morse‘s website.
As a backup, you enumeration district maps that show boundaries and the numbers of the census enumeration districts, which were established to help administer and control data collection, which you can then use to locate the enumeration district. Do a Google search for “finding enumeration district maps.”
- Enumeration District numbering. Numbering was altered for 52 of the 56 states and territories enumerated. Each county was assigned a number based on the alphabetical order of the county. The specific enumeration numbers would then follow that Number for that county, such as 4-1, 4-15, 6-7, 22-52. American Samoa, the Canal Zone, Guam, and the Virgin Islands did not use this system.
- When no one lived in the Enumeration District, if no one lived in the district, the enumerator wrote: “no population” on the sheet, which was not included in the 1930 U.S. Census filming.
Expand research with historical and genealogy societies
Search for historical/genealogical society in the county to learn about the community; records developed when your family lived in the area, connect with other genealogists researching the same surname, groups (i.e., church) your family belonged. When you contact societies, ask them what records they have available or exist in the county in the area when an individual lived there.
Use the address as a reference point
I have used the address as a reference to verify that I have the right family when searching other records.
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. 4)
How can I use the 1930 U.S. Census (Col. 4) location question in my research?
The 1930 U.S. Census questions for column 4
The question is as follows:
Col. 4: Family Number
This was the actual number of families counted.
Research tips and insights include:
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 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 a person in a specific location, I searched for the names of known neighbors to find the person or group I was looking for. Make sure you include the names of neighbors in your family profile.
Name Question (Col. 5)
How can I use the 1930 U.S. Census (Col. 5) name question in my research?
The 1930 U.S. Census questions for column 5
The question is as follows:
Col. 5: Name of each person whose place of abode on April 1, 1930, was in this family.
-
- Enter the surname first, then the given name and middle initial, in any.
- Include every person living on January 1, 1920.
- Omit children born since January 1, 1920.
Provides members of the household by name.
Research tips and insights include:
As of April 1, 1930
List the persons who lived in the home as of April 1, 1930.
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 1, 1930
Individuals who died or the birth of children born after April 1, 1930, were not included in the census.
Search 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 military service in the 1950s and later. The military service periods can include Indian Wars (before 1890), Spanish American War (1898), Philippine Insurrection and Boxer Rebellion(1899-1902), WWI (1918), WWII (1939-1945), Korean War (1950-1953), Vietnam (1955-1975). 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 section “Expand your census research with 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 images
Always seek to see the images of the original census to compare against the transcription.
Surname spellings
By 1930 most individuals could read and write. It was common practice for the enumerator to ask individuals to spell their surname. As a standard practice, I will always search for the phonetic spelling of my last name.
Using the Soundex to identify spelling variations of your last name
I like to go to the Soundex converter on RootsWeb and use it to gather my alternate surnames.
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.
Too many persons with the same name
There have been times when I search common names such as John Smith, where I have found many options. Let’s say the person you were searching for was John Daniel Smith, who was married to Virginia. The following are few examples of search options for this person or family member. Search 1) DL Smith 2) John D Smith 3) Jon Smith 4) Virginia Smith (a unique first name of a family member can be more valuable than ahead of a household name.) If you still haven’t found your family, use the country and another place of origins (county, state).
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.
What to do when you find nicknames in the census
If an individual 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
Ages of children
I will always look carefully at the ages of the children and associate them with their parents. For example, if the mother is 28 and some children are children who are 10-14, you have to ask the question, “Is this the mother, or a second marriage?” If a woman lost her husband and remarries, she will be listed as a wife, not a widow.
Birth and death records
By 1925 vital records were recorded in all U.S. counties. Most persons who are recorded in this census will have a birth/death certificate.
Social Security Death Index
If a person was listed in this census and lived past 1935, make sure you check the Social Security Death Index.
My family just isn’t listed
Is it possible that your family just wasn’t counted? Yes. There are a lot of reasons why a family wasn’t counted. As I have searched the topic, I have seen that up to 15% of anyone’s census could have been missed.
Relationship Question (Col. 6)
How can I use the 1930 U.S. Census (Col. 6) relationship question in my research?
The 1930 U.S. Census questions for column 6
The question is as follows:
The census asked for the relationship to head of household.
Col. 6: Relationship to head of house
Research tips and insights include:
Meaning of Family
For the census, the word “family” means a group of persons living together in the same dwelling. The persons included in this group may or may not be related to each other.
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. As you connect research from other census years, this will become clearer.
Nonfamily titles
If the family isn’t related to the family, you will see titles like none, hired, servant, and so forth.
Home-maker title
Home-maker refers to the person who was responsible for the care of the home and family.
- Use of “H.” After the word mother, wife or another term, you will see the “wife-h,” which identifies that person as being related to the head-of-household. Only one person will receive this designation per household.
Wife may not be the mother of children
Take special note of the wife as to whether she is the mother of the children. Look at age gaps between children. Is the age cap 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.
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 individuals, including 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.
Home Data Questions (Col. 7-10)
How can I use the 1930 U.S. Census (Col. 7-10) location question in my research?
The 1930 U.S. Census questions for columns 7-10
The questions are as follows:
Col. 7: Home owned or rented
Col. 8: Value of the home monthly payment
Col. 9: Radio Set
Col. 10: Live on Farm
Research tips and insights include:
Home owned or rented
Answers to these questions for searching land and tax records.
Radio set
If the family had a radio set, you would see the letter “R” in the space.
Live on a farm
If you see a yes, this will give you a reason to search land records.
Personal Description Questions (Col. 11-15)
How can I use 1930 U.S. Census (Col. 11-15) personal description questions in my research?
The 1930 U.S. Census questions for columns 11-15
The question is as follows:
Col. 11: Sex
Col. 12: Color or race
Col. 13: Age at last birthday
Col. 14: Marital status
Col. 15: Age at 1st marriage
Research tips and insights include:
Sex
You will either see (M) for male and (F) for female.
Color or race
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
This is not the exact date of birth, but it will provide a “ballpark” number that you can use to 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. 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. Unlike the 1900 and 1910 census, this census does not ask how long a couple has been married.
- Age at first marriage. Use the age of first marriage to estimate the year the person was married to find marriage records.
Education Questions (Col. 16-17)
How can I use 1930 U.S. Census (Col. 16-17) education questions in my research?
The 1930 U.S. Census questions for columns 16-17
The questions are as follows:
Col. 16: Attended school?
Col. 17: Able to read and write?
This identifies if the person had gone to school since September 1, 1919. This will provide clues to look for school records that can associate children with parents. Look for records such as school census.
Research tips and insights include:
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 the individuals you are searching for. The census records said that the 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.
Place of Birth (Col. 18-20)
How can I use 1930 U.S. Census (Col. 18-20) place of birth questions in my research?
The 1930 U.S. Census questions for columns 18-20
The question is as follows:
Place of birth of each person enumerated and of his or her parents
Col. 18: Self
Col. 19: Father
Col. 20: Mother
This census provides the birthplace of each person along with the mother tongue. 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.
Research tips and insights include:
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.
Mother tongue for mother and father
The enumerator was to record the first language the individual spoke. If the language is other than English, also look carefully at the immigration columns.
Narrow search to geographic area
Use this information to narrow your search for records to the geographic area, even town. Also very helpful with clues to immigration or migration.
How to read numerator codes
When the enumerator recorded place of birth, they could have used a two-letter code for a state or could have written the state’s name 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 1910 and 1920 censuses to see if you can find clues to help resolve the limited information.
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, or Turkey
Like the 1920 census, enumerators were instructed to spell out the name of the city, state, province, or region of respondents who declared that they or their parents had been born in Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, or Turkey. Because of the questions asked of these immigrants, many researchers will be able to discover the exact towns or regions from which their families emigrated.
Ireland and Canada distinction
The unique distinction was made between the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland and between Canada-French and Canada-English.
Citizenship and Language Questions (Col. 21-24)
How can I use 1930 U.S. Census (Col. 21-24) citizenship and language questions in my research?
The 1930 U.S. Census questions for columns 21-24
The questions are as follows:
Col. 21: Language spoken in home before coming to the U.S.
Col. 22: Year of immigration
Col. 23: Naturalization
Col. 24: Speaks English
Research tips and insights include:
Language at home
This information can give you clues to look at immigration records.
Citizenship
The 1930 U.S. Census asks for the year of the immigration and whether naturalized. This will make it easier of when to start looking for the individual’s paper trail/records in the U.S. Look carefully at the indication of 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 a 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 search will be “Mother Tongue” and the year of immigration.
Speaks English or other
If a person cannot speak English, it may be a clue that the person is an immigrant.
Occupation Questions (Col. 25-29)
How can I use 1930 U.S. Census (Col. 4) occupation questions in my research?
The 1930 U.S. Census questions for columns 2-29
The questions are as follows:
Col. 25: Trade, profession, of kind of work
Col. 26: Industry or business
Col. 27: Class of work
Col. 28: At work yesterday?
Col. 29: Unemployment Schedule No.
This indicates the person’s occupation and related information can help one search for employment records.
Research tips and insights include:
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.
Enumerator codes
You may see the letter E, or Emp, or Empl or the complete word, Employer. O.A. (on account), W (wage worker).
Military Questions (Col. 30-31)
How can I use 1930 U.S. Census (Col. 30-31) military questions in my research?
The1930 U.S. Census questions for columns 30-3
The questions are as follows:
Col. 30: Veteran?
Col. 31: What war?
-
- WW-World War
- Sp-Spanish American War
- Civ-Civil War
- Phil-Philippine Insurrection
- Box-Boxer Rebellion
- Mex-Mexican Expedition
Research tips and insights include:
Use this question as a clue to research for military records.
Understand enumerator coding
The enumerator would use the following coding for answers given: World War (W.W.), Spanish American War (S.P.), Civil War (Civ), Philippine Insurrection (Phil), Boxer Rebellion (Box), Mexican Expedition (Mex).
Return to Table of Contents for 1930 U.S. Census Questions
Farm Number Question (Col. 32)
How can I use the 1930 U.S. Census (Col. 32) farm number question in my research?
The 1930 U.S. Census questions for column 32
The question is as follows:
Col. 32: Farm Number
Research tips and insights include:
Farm number. Suppose a number is listed for a “Farm Schedule,” look for the farm schedule associated with the 1920 census. When I have such information, it has helped me gain a better understanding of the family.
- Code. When you see sections listed with “Code” are explicitly used by the census bureau and don’t have anything to do with your family.
[Return to Questions TOC]
[Return to Guide TOC]
How 1930 U.S. Census Can Lead to Military Records
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:
Civil War 1861-1865
Look for military records of men who would have served in the U.S. Civil War who are 80+ in the 1930 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 a person lived in the Union or Confederate states, they could have 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 your ‘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 60+ in the 1930 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 50+ in the 1930 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 30-50 in the 1930 U.S. Census were most like be involved in the most recent 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 40 years old in the 1930 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
Korean War 1950-1953
The Korean War was a war between North and South Korea, in which a United Nations force led by the United States of America fought for the South. Be aware children as young as 1 could have fought in this war. These men and women were more likely to have been born in 1920 or later.
Vietnam War 1955-1975
The Vietnam War was a conflict, starting in 1954 and ending in 1975, between South Vietnam (later aided by the U.S., South Korea, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, and New Zealand) and the Vietcong and North Vietnam. The U.S.’s highest involvement was during the 1960s and 70s. These men and women were more likely to have been born as early as 1930 or later.
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 1930 U.S. Census to Calculate the Birth Year
In Column 13 of the 1930 U.S. Population Census, learn the age of each household member. The following 1930 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 1, 1930.
| 1930 U.S. Census Birth Year Reference Chart | |||||
| Age | Birth Year | Age | Birth Year | Age | Birth Year |
| Mar 0/12 | 1930 | 28 | 1902 | 67 | 1863 |
| Feb 1/12 | 1930 | 29 | 1901 | 68 | 1862 |
| Jan 2/12 | 1930 | 30 | 1900 | 69 | 1861 |
| Dec 3/12 | 1930 | 31 | 1899 | 70 | 1860 |
| Nov 4/12 | 1930 | 32 | 1898 | 71 | 1859 |
| Oct 5/12 | 1929 | 33 | 1897 | 72 | 1858 |
| Sep 6/12 | 1929 | 34 | 1896 | 73 | 1857 |
| Aug 7/12 | 1929 | 35 | 1895 | 74 | 1856 |
| Jul 8/12 | 1929 | 36 | 1894 | 75 | 1855 |
| Jun 9/12 | 1929 | 37 | 1893 | 76 | 1854 |
| May 10/12 | 1929 | 38 | 1892 | 77 | 1853 |
| Apr 11/12 | 1929 | 39 | 1891 | 78 | 1852 |
| 1 | 1929 | 40 | 1890 | 79 | 1851 |
| 2 | 1928 | 41 | 1889 | 80 | 1850 |
| 3 | 1927 | 42 | 1888 | 81 | 1849 |
| 4 | 1926 | 43 | 1887 | 82 | 1848 |
| 5 | 1925 | 44 | 1886 | 83 | 1847 |
| 6 | 1924 | 45 | 1885 | 84 | 1846 |
| 7 | 1923 | 46 | 1884 | 85 | 1845 |
| 8 | 1922 | 47 | 1883 | 86 | 1844 |
| 9 | 1921 | 48 | 1882 | 87 | 1843 |
| 10 | 1920 | 49 | 1881 | 88 | 1842 |
| 11 | 1919 | 50 | 1880 | 89 | 1841 |
| 12 | 1918 | 51 | 1879 | 90 | 1840 |
| 13 | 1917 | 52 | 1878 | 91 | 1839 |
| 14 | 1916 | 53 | 1877 | 92 | 1838 |
| 15 | 1915 | 54 | 1876 | 93 | 1837 |
| 16 | 1914 | 55 | 1875 | 94 | 1836 |
| 17 | 1913 | 56 | 1874 | 95 | 1835 |
| 18 | 1912 | 57 | 1873 | 96 | 1834 |
| 19 | 1911 | 58 | 1872 | 97 | 1833 |
| 20 | 1910 | 59 | 1871 | 98 | 1832 |
| 21 | 1909 | 60 | 1870 | 99 | 1831 |
| 22 | 1908 | 61 | 1869 | 100 | 1830 |
| 23 | 1907 | 62 | 1868 | 101 | 1829 |
| 24 | 1906 | 63 | 1867 | 102 | 1828 |
| 25 | 1905 | 64 | 1866 | 103 | 1827 |
| 26 | 1904 | 65 | 1865 | 104 | 1826 |
| 27 | 1903 | 66 | 1864 | 105 | 1825 |
Census taker instructions for age on 1930 U.S. Census
The following are the exact instructions given to the census taker (enumerator):
156. Column 13. 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 1, 1930. Thus a person whose exact age on April 1, the census day, is 17 years, 11 months, and 25 days should be returned simply as 17, because that is his age at his last birthday before April 1, even though at the time of your visit he may have completed 18 years.
157. 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, you should inquire whether it 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.
158. Ages of children.-Take particular pains to get the exact ages of children. In the case of a child less than 5 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 old as 1 3/12, a child exactly 3 years old as 3 0/12, a child 3 years and 1-month-old as 3 1/12, etc. It 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 1. For instance, a child who is just a year old on April 5 1930 should nevertheless be returned as 11/12, because that is its age in completed months on April 1.
159. Enumerators must make a special effort to obtain returns for all infants and young children. Children under 1 year of age, in particular, have frequently been omitted from the enumeration in past censuses.
What is the 1930 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 1930 U.S. Census Guide to learn about and discover the stories of the people who lived during and before the 1930s. With the 1930 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), Negro (Neg), Chinese (Chi), Japanese (Jp), Filipino (Fil), Hindu (Hin), Korean (Kor)
- 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 1930 U.S. Census
The following are the questions found on the 1930 U.S. federal census:
PLACE OF ABODE
Col. 1: Street, avenue, road, etc.
Col. 2: House number (In cities)
Col. 3: No of dwelling house in order of enumeration
Col. 4: Family Number
NAME
Col. 5: Name of each person whose place of abode on April 1, 1930, was in this family.
- Enter surname first, then the given name and middle initial, in any.
- Include every person living on January 1, 1920.
- Omit children born since January 1, 1920.
HOME DATA
Col. 6: Relationship to head of house
Col. 7: Home owned or rented
Col. 8: Value of the home monthly payment
Col. 9: Radio Set
Col. 10: Live on Farm
PERSONAL DESCRIPTION
Col. 11: Sex
Col. 12: Color or race
Col. 13: Age at last birthday
Col. 14: Marital status
Col. 15: Age at 1st marriage
EDUCATION
Col. 16: Attended school?
Col. 17: Able to read and write?
PLACE OF BIRTH
Place of birth of each person enumerated and of his or her parents
Col. 18: Self
Col. 19: Father
Col. 20: Mother
NATIVITY AND MOTHER TONGUE
Col. 21: Language spoken in home before coming to the U.S.
Col. 22: Year of immigration
Col. 23: Naturalization
Col. 24: Speaks English
OCCUPATION AND INDUSTRY
Col. 25: Trade, profession, of kind of work
Col. 26: Industry or business
Col. 27: Class of work
Col. 28: At work yesterday?
Col. 29: Unemployment Schedule No.
MILITARY
Col. 30: Veteran?
Col. 31: What war?
- WW-World War
- Sp-Spanish American War
- Civ-Civil War
- Phil-Philippine Insurrection
- Box-Boxer Rebellion
- Mex-Mexican Expedition
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 my mother identified him. 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 taxi cab 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.
