1950 U.S. Census Guide

Use the 1950 U.S. Census Research Guide for detailed ancestry research.

This is an essential guide for researching the 1950 U.S. Census. The 1950 U.S. Census is a list of questions asked to the U.S. Federal Population in 1950. The census captures the moment in time for each person recorded in the 1950 Census.

Use this guide to learn about and discover the stories of the people who lived during and before the 1950s. With the 1950 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 U.S. Census Guide
The Essential 1950 U.S. Census Research Guide for Beginners contains the following sections:

Table of Contents

Why use the Essential 1950 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 essential 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 1950 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 1950 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 Article TOC]

Additional 1790-1950 U.S. Federal Census Resources

1950 U.S. Census Guide

Essential censuses research guides

Click on any of the following years, and you will be taken to that years’ essential census research guide:

1950 U.S. Census 1940 U.S. Census 1930 U.S. Census
1920 U.S. Census 1910 U.S. Census 1900 U.S. Census
1890 U.S. Census 1880 U.S. Census 1870 U.S. Census
1860 U.S. Census 1850 U.S. Census 1840 U.S. Census
1830 U.S. Census 1820 U.S. Census 1810 U.S. Census
1800 U.S. Census 1790 U.S. Census

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:

Where to find the 1950 U.S. Census online. The following are some standard resources I have consulted:

 [Return to Article TOC]

Details about the U.S. 1950 U.S. Census

The following are a few of the details that are important to understand about the U.S. 1950 U.S. Census:

Number of persons included in the 1950 U.S. Census: 151,325,798 people were living in the United States.

1950 U.S. Census day: April 1, 1950, and was completed by May 31, 1950

1950 U.S. Census duration: 1 month

1950 U.S. Census geography:

  • States and territories enumerated: 48 states, District of Columbia and seven 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 1950 U.S. Census include:

 Numeration date. The numeration date is April 1, 1950, and was completed by May 31, 1950.

President during the census. Harry S. Truman

Census privacy. The 1950 U.S. Census was ordered to keep the answers to the census 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.

Social Security Death Index. If an individual is listed in this census, 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. The Number of original maps made of the 230,000 enumeration districts. The maps were used as guides for enumerators to personally visit every house, building, tent, cabin, hut or another place where a person might be living or staying. Enumerators were instructed to begin their canvass by carefully checking for completeness and accuracy of the map they were provided. Each enumeration district was designed so a single enumerator could easily canvas it in about two weeks in urban areas or a month in rural areas.

Second use of questions asked only on a sample basis. The 1950 U.S. Census was the second in which enumerators asked additional supplemental questions of a 20 percent (questions 21–33) and 3.5 percent (questions 34–38) sample of the population.

Enumerators and personal visits. There were approximately 143,000 enumerators in 1950. In the 1950 U.S. Census, enumerators were told to visit every house, building, tent, cabin, hut or other place where a person might be living or staying. During each visit, enumerators then interviewed residents and filled out their answers on a portfolio-sized book. [Return to Article TOC]

How to Search and Use the 1950 U.S. Census Data

1950 U.S. Census Guide

Learn how to search and use the data found in the 1950 U.S. Census. In this section of the Essential 1950 U.S. Census Research Guide for Beginners, you are provided a review of each group of the 1950 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.

Census Question Table of Contents
The following is a list of the 1950 U.S. Census questions. Each category provides research insights.

Each of the following categories will provide you with what I consider to be some of the essential research insights, tips and tricks, and more for each of the questions. [Return to Category TOC]

Location Questions (Col. 1-2)

How can I use 1950 U.S. Census(Col. 1-2) location questions in my research?

The 1950 U.S. Census questions for columns 1-2

The questions are as follows:

Location

Col. 1: [Enumerator Supplied] Name of street, avenue or road where the household is located

Col. 2: Home or apartment number

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.

Find someone who lived in a hotel, tourist home, trailer camps, or one-night lodging house

People living in those places, except hotels, were counted on April 8-13, and people living in hotels were counted on April 11 and can be found on separate pages.

Name of street and Number in urban areas

This census provides the name of the street and house numbers 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 1950, 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, civic and state governments.

1950 U.S. Census Guide

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 1950 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 census filming.

When you don’t know where your family lived

If you don’t know where your family lived in the 1950 U.S. Census, start your search in the 1940 census. There is a good chance your family stayed in the same place/area.

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 the 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.) [Return to Category TOC]

Household Data Questions (Col.3-6)

How can I use 1950 U.S. Census(Col. 3-6) household data questions in my research?

The 1950 U.S. Census questions for columns 3-6

This was the actual Number of families counted. The questions are as follows:

Household Data

Col. 3: Serial number of dwelling unit

Col 4.: Is this house on a farm (or ranch)? (Yes or No)

Col. 5: If No in item 4— Is this house on a place of three or more acres? (Yes or No)

Col. 6: Corresponding agriculture questionnaire number

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 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 individuals 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 someone in location, I searched for known neighbors’ names to find my family. Make sure you include the names of neighbors in your family profile.

Renting/ownership and value of the home (Col. 4-5)

Answers to these questions for searching land and tax records.

Live on the farm (Col. 4)

If you see a yes, this will give you a reason to search land records. [Return to Category TOC]

Name Question (Col. 7)

How can I use the 1950 U.S. Census (Col. 7) name question in my research?

The 1950 U.S. Census question for column 7

Provides members of the household by name. The question is as follows:

Col. 7:  Name

Enumerators Instruction:

    • What is the name of the head of this household?
    • What are the names of the all other persons who live here?
    • List in this order
      • The head
      • His wife
      • Unmarried sons and daughters (in order of age)
      • Other relatives
      • Other persons, such as lodgers, roomers, maids or hired hands who live in and their relatives

Research tips and insights include:

As of April 1, 1950

List the persons who lived in the home as of April 1, 1950.

Individual names of persons living in the home

A listing of all the people who were currently living in the home was provided.

Understand the census list order

In 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, 1950

Individuals who died or the birth of children born after April 1, 1950, were not included in the census.

When you see the word “infant” in the name column

If there was a child under the age of 1 who had not been given the first name, they would be marked as “Infant.”

Establish “Bookends” by following an individual through the censuses

I have found it valuable to follow an individual through the census to create what is called bookends. For example, My great-great-grandfather was born in 1846 and died in 1923. I will then list all the available Federal and state censuses to search for his and his family’s records. This exercise will guide me in knowing where to look and maximize my time. The first census where he could have appeared in 1850, and the last is 1920, thus creating “bookends.”

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 1950 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 for 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 a 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).

Search pages before and after the listing of individuals/families

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 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.

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:

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.

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 it possible that up to 15% of anyone’s census could have been missed. [Return to Category TOC]

Relationship Question (Col. 8)

How can I use the 1950 U.S. Census (Col. 8) relationship question in my research?

The 1950 U.S. Census questions for columns 8

The census asked for the relationship to head of household. The questions are as follows:

Relationship
Col. 8: enter the relationship of person to head of the household, as Head, Wife, Daughter, Grandson, Mother-in-law, Lodger, Lodger’s wife, Maid, Hired Hand, Patient, etc.

Research tips and insights include:

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 to understand which side of the family they belong to. As you connect research from other census years, this will become clearer.

1950 Census 5

Nonfamily titles

If the family isn’t related to the family, you will see titles lodger, lodger’s wife, maid, maid’s daughter chauffeur, hired man, employee, foster child, and so forth.

A wife may not be the mother of children

Please 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 gap normal? 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

Ensure 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. [Return to Category TOC]

Personal Description Questions (Col. 9-12)

How can I use 1950 U.S. Census(Col. 9-12) personal description questions in my research?

The 1950 U.S. Census questions for columns 9-12

The following provides insight into the personal description questions. The questions are as follows:

Color or race (Col. 9). In this census, these were the choices enumerators used for color: White (W), Negro (Neg), Chinese (Chi), Japanese (Jap), Filipino (Fil), American Indian (Ind), Persons from India (Asiatic Indians). Other groups were to be spelled out. This information may help determine the person’s origins.

Sex (Col. 10). You will either see (M) for males and (F) for females. Research tips and insights include:

Age at last birthday (Col. 11). 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.

Marital status (Col. 12). In this series of columns, we are told whether the person is married (Mar), Widowed (Wd) or divorced (D), Separated (Sep) and Never married (N).

Research tips and insights include:

Children under the age of 1

Children under the age of 1(born after April 1, 1939) were represented by month or abbreviation of the month.

  • April or Apr 1949
  • May 1949
  • June 1949
  • July or Jul 1949
  • August or Aug 1949
  • September  or Sep 1949
  • October Oct 1949
  • November or  Nov 1949
  • December or Dec 1949
  • January 0r Jan 1950
  • February or Feb 1950
  • March or Mar 1950

Search other records

There are good chances that many individuals listed in this census did not have civil birth records. I would always first 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 normal? 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 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.

Race instructions: The following were the enumerators instructions for race:

114. Item 9. Determining and entering race. Write “W” for white; “Neg” Negro; “Ind” for American Indian’ “chi” for Chinese’ “Jap’ for Japanese; “Fil” for Filipino. for a person of any other race, write the race in full. Assume that the race of the related persons living in the household is the same race as your respondent unless you learn otherwise. For unrelated persons (employees, hired hands, lodgers, etc.) your must ask the race, because of the housewife’s race (for example) tells nothing of the maid’s race.

115. Mexicans. Report “white” (W) for Mexicans unless they are definitely of Indian or other nonwhite race.

116. Negroes. Report “Negro” (Neg) for Negroes and for persons of mixed white and Negro parentage. A person of mixed Indian and Negro blood should be returned as a Negro unless the Indian blood very definitely predominates and he is accepted in the community as an Indian. (Note, however, the exceptions described in par.118 below.)

117. American Indians. Report American Indian” (Ind) for persons of mixed white and Indian blood if enrolled on an Indian Agency or Reservation roll; if not so enrolled, they should be reported as Indian if the proportion of the Indian blood is one-fourth or more, or if they are regarded as Indians in the community where they live. In those counties where there are many Indians living outside of the reservations, special care should be taken to obtain accurate answers to Item 9.

118. Special communities. Report persons of mixed white, Negro and Indian ancestry living in certain communities in Eastern United States in terms of the name by which they are locally known. The communities in question are of long standing  and are locally recognized by special names such as “Croatian,” Jackson White,” We-sort,” etc. Persons of mixed Indian and Negro ancestry and mulattoes not living in such communities should be returned as “Negro”. When in doubt, describe the situation in a footnote.

119. Mixed parentage. Report race of nonwhite parent for persons of mixed white and not white races. Mixtures of nonwhite races should be reported according to the race of the father.

120. India. Persons originating in India should be reported as “Asiatic Indians.”

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.”

Marital status (Col. 12)

In this series of columns, we are told whether the person is married (Mar), Widowed (Wd) or divorced (D), Separated (Sep) and Never married (N). Research tips and insights include:

  • 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. [Return to Category TOC]

Place of Birth Questions (Col. 13-14)

How can I use the 1950 U.S. Census (Col. 13-14) place of birth questions in my research?

The 1950 U.S. Census questions for columns 13-14

The questions are as follows:

Column 13: What State or country was the person born in?

    •  If born in the continental United States, give the full name of State.
    • If the person was born outside of the continental United States, they were to report the territory.
    • Distinguish Canada-French from Canada-English and Irish Free State (Eire) from Northern Ireland.

Col. 14: If foreign-born, is the person naturalized?

In the supplemental questions that were asked to 20 percent of the population, also check out these questions as they are related to place of birth.

Col. 21: Was the person living in the same house a year ago?

Col.22: If no to question 21, was the person living on a farm a year ago?

Col 23: If no to question 21, was the person living in the same county a year ago? If no to question 23—What county (or nearest place) was he living in a year ago?

Col. 24a: County (If county unknown, enter name of place or nearest place)

Col. 24b: State or foreign country

Col. 25: What country were the person’s mother and father born in?

Research tips and insights include:

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.

Place of birth

This information is critical to helping you develop scenarios of where to search for family.

Narrow search to geographic areas

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 the place of birth in the continental US, there were asked to use the full name of the state. If they used a two-letter code for a state or wrote 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 1940 and 1930 censuses to see if you can find clues to help resolve the limited information.

If the person is Naturalized

This will make it easier to start looking for the individuals’ paper trail/records in the U.S. Look carefully to indicate 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). Research tips and insights include:

  • Alien (AL). An individual who is board abroad has not taken any steps toward becoming an American citizen.
  • Naturalize (N.A.). An individual has become a full citizen by taking out the second or final naturalization papers.
  • First Papers (P.A.). An 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.

 [Return to Category TOC]

Employment Status Questions (Col. 15-20c)

How can I use 1950 U.S. Census (Col. 21-27) employment status questions in my research?

The 1950 U.S. Census questions for columns 21-27

The questions are as follows:

Persons 14 Years Old and Over—Employment Status
Col. 15:What was this person doing most of last week – working, keeping house, or something else?

    • Enumerators were to record “Wk” for working, “H” for keeping house, “U” for unable to work, or “Ot” for other

Col. 16: If the person was “keeping house” or “something else” in question 15, did the person do any work at all last week, not counting work around the house? (Including work-for-pay, in his own business, working on a farm or unpaid family work)

    • If neither at work nor assigned to public emergency work. (“No” in Cols 21 and 22):

Col. 17: If the person answered “no” to question 16, was he looking for work?

Col. 18: If the person answered “no” to question 17, even if he didn’t work last week, does he have a job or business?

Col. 19: If the person was working, how many hours did he or she work in the last week?

Col. 20a: What kind of work does the person do?

Col. 20b: What kind of business or industry is the person in?

Col. 20c: Class of worker

    • Enumerators were to mark “P” for private employment, “G” for government employment, “O” for own business, or “NP” for working without pay

Research tips and insights include:

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.s.

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How 1950 U.S. Census Can Lead to Military Records

1950 Census 4

The records available for these veterans vary but can yield important clues and knowledge about the individual and their family. Research tips and insights include:

  • 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, 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, look to 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.

Search for military records. 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 90+ in the 1930 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 70+ in the 1930 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 60+ in the 1950 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 40-60 in the 1950 U.S. Census were most likely 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 50 years old in the 1950 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. [Return to Article TOC]

Use the 1950 U.S. Census to Calculate the Birth Year

In Column 11 of the 1950 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, 1950.

1950 U.S. Census Birth Year Reference Chart
Age Birth Year Age Birth Year Age Birth Year
Mar 0/12 1950 28 1922 67 1983
Feb 1/12 1950 29 1921 68 1982
Jan 2/12 1950 30 1920 69 1981
Dec 3/12 1949 31 1919 70 1980
Nov 4/12 1949 32 1918 71 1979
Oct 5/12 1949 33 1917 72 1978
Sep 6/12 1949 34 1916 73 1977
Aug 7/12 1949 35 1915 74 1976
Jul 8/12 1949 36 1914 75 1975
Jun 9/12 1949 37 1913 76 1974
May 10/12 1949 38 1912 77 1973
Apr 11/12 1949 39 1911 78 1972
1 1949 40 1910 79 1971
2 1948 41 1909 80 1970
3 1947 42 1908 81 1969
4 1946 43 1907 82 1968
5 1945 44 1906 83 1967
6 1944 45 1905 84 1966
7 1943 46 1904 85 1965
8 1942 47 1903 86 1964
9 1941 48 1902 87 1963
10 1940 49 1901 88 1962
11 1939 50 1900 89 1961
12 1938 51 1899 90 1960
13 1937 52 1898 91 1959
14 1936 53 1897 92 1958
15 1935 54 1896 93 1957
16 1934 55 1895 94 1956
17 1933 56 1894 95 1955
18 1932 57 1893 96 1954
19 1931 58 1892 97 1953
20 1930 59 1891 98 1952
21 1929 60 1890 99 1951
22 1928 61 1889 100 1950
23 1927 62 1888 101 1949
24 1926 63 1887 102 1948
25 1925 64 1886 103 1947
26 1924 65 1885 104 1946
27 1923 66 1884 105 1945

Census taker instructions for age on 1950 U.S. Population Census. The following are the exact instructions given to the census taker (Enumerator):

Item 11. Age last birthday

122. Item 11. Age at last birthday. — Enter the age of the person at his last birthday as of the day of your call. For persons 1 year old and over, this question calls for the age in completed years at last birthday.

123. Ages of infants. — The entry for the children less than a year old should indicate the month of birth for example, the entry for a child born in March 1950, should be “March.” It is permissible to abbreviate where necessary in entering the name of the month “Dec.” for December.

143. Estimate of age. — If a respondent gives an off-hand estimate, such as “around 60,” try to find out whether the person is nearer 58 or 59 or possibly 61 or 62. Try to get it as accurate as possible. If age is not known, center an estimate as the last resort, and footnote it as an estimate. An entry of “21 plus” is not acceptable. [Return to Article TOC]

What is the 1950 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. [Return to Article TOC]

What Can You Find in U.S. Census

Use the 1950 U.S. Census Guide to learn about and discover the stories of the people who lived during and before the 1950s. With the 1950 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. [Return to Article TOC]

Questions Asked in the 1950 U.S. Census

1950 U.S. Census

The 1950 U.S. Census population questionnaire asked fewer questions than its predecessor; the full population was asked only 20 questions. Enumerators asked additional supplemental questions of a 20 percent (questions 21–33) and 3.5 percent (questions 34–38) sample of the population. Enumerators asked the following questions, listed by column:

FOR HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD
1. [Enumerator Supplied] Name of street, avenue or road where the household is located

2. Home or apartment number

3. Serial number of dwelling unit

4. Is this house on a farm (or ranch)? (Yes or No)

5. If No in item 4— Is this house on a place of three or more acres? (Yes or No)

6. Corresponding agriculture questionnaire number

FOR ALL PERSONS

7. Name

8. Relationship to head

9. Race

10. Sex

11. How old was this person on his last birthday?

12. Is this person now married, widowed, divorced, separated, or never married?

  • Enumerators were to enter “Mar” for married, “Wd” for widowed, “D” for divorced, “Sep” for separated, or “Nev” for never married

13. What State or country was the person born in?

14. If foreign born, is the person naturalized?

FOR PERSONS 14 YEARS OF AGE AND OVER

15. What was this person doing most of last week – working, keeping house, or something else?

  • Enumerators were to record “Wk” for working, “H” for keeping house, “U” for unable to work, or “Ot” for other

16. If the person was “keeping house” or “something else” in question 15, did the person do any work at all last week, not counting work around the house? (Including work-for-pay, in his own business, working on a farm or unpaid family work)

17. If the person answered “no” to question 16, was he looking for work?

18. If the person answered “no” to question 17, even if he didn’t work last week, does he have a job or business?

19. If the person was working, how many hours did he or she work in the last week?

20a. What kind of work does the person do?

20b. What kind of business or industry is the person in?

20c. Class of worker

  • Enumerators were to mark “P” for private employment, “G” for government employment, “O” for own business, or “NP” for working without pay

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS FOR A 20 PERCENT SAMPLE OF THE POPULATION

FOR ALL AGES

21. Was the person living in the same house a year ago?

22. If no to question 21, was the person living on a farm a year ago?

23. If no to question 21, was the person living in the same county a year ago?

If no to question 23—What county (or nearest place) was he living in a year ago?

24a. County (If county unknown, enter name of place or nearest place)

24b. State or foreign country

25. What country were the person’s mother and father born in?

26. What is the highest grade of school that the person has attended?

  • Enumerators were to mark “0” for no school; “K” for kindergarten; “S1” through “S12” depending on the last year of elementary or secondary school attended; “C1” through “C4” depending on the last year of undergraduate college education attended; or “C5” for any graduate or professional school.

27. Did the person finish this grade?

28. Has the person attended school since February 1st?

  • Enumerators could check a box for “yes” or “no” for those under thirty; for those over thirty, they were to check a box for “30 or over.”

FOR PERSONS 14 YEARS AND OLDER

29. If the person is looking for work, how many weeks has he been looking for work?

30. Last year, how many weeks did this person not work at all, not counting work around the house?

31a. Last year, how much money did the person earn working as an employee for wages or salary?

31b. Last year, how much money did the person earn working at his own business, professional occupation, or farm?

31c. Last year, how much money did the person receive from interest, dividends, veteran’s allowances, pensions, rents, or other income (aside from earnings)?

32a. If this person is the head of the household: last year, how much money did his relatives in this household earn working for wages or salary?

32b. If this person is the head of the household: last year, how much money did the person earn working at his own business, professional occupation, or farm?

32c. If this person is the head of the household: last year, how much money did the person receive from interest, dividends, veteran’s allowances, pensions, rents, or other income (aside from earnings)?

If male: did he ever serve in the U.S. Armed Forces during—

33a. World War II, Yes or No

33b. World War I, Yes or No

33c. Any other time, including present service

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS FOR A 3.5 PERCENT SAMPLE OF THE POPULATION

34. To enumerator: if the person worked in the last year, is there any entry in columns 20a, 20b, or 20c?
• If yes, skip to question 36; if no, make entries for questions 35a, 35b, and 35c.

35a. What kind of work does this person do in his job?

35b. What kind or business or industry does this person work in?

35c. Class of worker

36. If ever married, has this person been married before?

37. If married, widowed, divorced, or separated, how many years since this event occurred?

38. If female and ever married, how many children has she ever borne, not counting stillbirths? [Return to Article TOC]

Author B. Schreiber’s Introduction to U.S. Census Research

1950 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 John’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. [Return to Article TOC]