Census Research Guide: 1790

About the 1790 Census

Census Bureau's "By Decade" website - includes a variety of publications, questionnaires, datasets, and more

• 1790

Highlights

• 1st decennial census
• US population: 3,929,625

Questions asked (see questionnaire)

In 1790, assistant marshals listed the name of each head of household, and asked the following questions:

• The number of free White males aged:
  • under 16 years
  • of 16 years and upward
• Number of free White females
• Number of other free persons
• Number of slaves

For more information on this map:

Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790 - 1920

Finding Statistics

Social Explorer - remote access limited to UCSD affiliates

Finding Publications

Find all 1790 census publications in the library catalog.

Selected publications:

Return of the whole number of persons within the several districts of the United States [C 3.14:790 and C 3.14:790/rep and XP 510]