1940 United States Census

The Sixteenth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 132,164,569, an increase of 7.3 percent over the 1930 population of 123,202,624 persons. The census date was April 1, 1940. A number of new questions were asked including where people were 5 years before, highest educational grade achieved, and information about wages. This census introduced sampling techniques; one in 20 people were asked additional questions on the census form. Other innovations included a field test of the census in 1939.

Microdata and aggregate data derived from the 1940 census are available from U.S. government agencies. On April 1, 2012 the detailed data available from the United States Census of 1940 enumeration sheets will be released to the public by the National Archives and Records Administration.

Census questions

The 1940 census collected the following information: address
home owned or rented
if owned, value
if rented, monthly rent
whether on a farm
name
relationship to head of household
sex
race
age
marital status
school attendance
educational attainment
birthplace
if foreign born, citizenship
location of residence five years ago and whether on a farm
employment status
if at work, whether in private or non-emergency government work, or in public emergency work (WPA, CCC, NYA, etc.)
if in private or non-emergency government work, hours worked in week
if seeking work or on public emergency work, duration of unemployment
occupation, industry and class of worker
weeks worked last year
wage and salary income last year

In addition, a sample of individuals were asked additional questions covering age at first marriage, fertility, and other topics. Full documentation on the 1940 census, including census forms and a procedural history, is available from the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series.

Data availability

Microdata from the 1940 census are freely available through the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series. Aggregate data for small areas, together with electronic boundary files, can be downloaded from the National Historical Geographic Information System.

Because of confidentiality concerns, access to personally identifiable information from census records is limited or restricted by Title 13 of the U.S. Code. On April 1, 2012 the detailed data available from the United States Census of 1940 enumeration sheets will be released to the public by the National Archives and Records Administration.

Translation of "1940 United States Census"

Arabic: تعداد الولايات المتحدة 1940, Romanian: Recensământul Statelor Unite ale Americii din 1940.