Census Research Guide: 1930

These are computer files intended to be loaded into statistical software for analysis and creating your own tables. In some cases these files can be used with spreadsheet software as well.

Census population schedules (or "name schedules" or "manuscript census") are copies of the original questionnaires collected during each decennial census. They list the individual names and family information of the people enumerated. Unlike the statistics published soon after the census, the population schedules remain confidential for 72 years. 1930 is the most recent population schedule available.

• Online version: Heritage Quest [UCSD only]
• Microform version: Population schedule: California [XF 2689 reels 100-228]

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Highlights

• 15th decennial census
• US population: 122,775,046
• California population: 5,677,251
• Mexicans are given a separate classification in the census returns for the first time in 1930, having been included for the most part with the white population at prior censuses

Questions asked

Address; name; relationship to head of family; sex; race; age; marital status; age at first marriage; home owned or rented; value or monthly rental; radio set; whether family lives on a farm; school attendance; literacy; place of birth of person and parents; if foreign born , language spoken in home before coming to U.S; year of immigration; naturalization; ability to speak English; occupation, industry, and class of worker; whether at work previous day (or last regular working day); veteran status ; for Indians, whether of full or mixed blood, and tribal affiliation. Supplemental schedules for gainful workers not at work on the day preceding the enumeration; blind and deaf-mutes.

For more information:

Find all 1930 census publications in the Library.

Multi-year census compilations (compare across years): These sources tend to include statistics for large geographic areas (e.g. states), but can be very useful when comparing statistics over time.

Key publications: