A good look at the 1950 U.S. Census

A census enumerator interviews a woman and her two children for the 1950 U.S. census.
A census enumerator interviews a woman and her two children in 1950.

A census is released to the public 72 years after it was taken. The 1950 U.S. census was released April 1, 2022 to a very eager public. Ancestry and FamilySearch collaborated in retrieving copies of the census to begin indexing almost immediately. That collaboration included the development of artificial intelligence to index the census. That was followed-up by people reviewing and correcting that index. The index was released in record time.

Not only did the release of the 1950 U.S. census in 2022 bring about technical innovation, so did the initial count. The Census Bureau employed the UNIVAC I (for Universal Automatic Computer) to process schedules taken mid-decade. This was the first non-military computer used by the government for other purposes.

The UNIVAC I computer used to help process the census in 1954.
The UNIVAC I computer used to help process the census in 1954.

The 1950 U.S. census continued statistical sampling. There was also an increased effort to improve accuracy and coverage. Enumerators recorded missed persons, who they were instructed to try and find after the initial enumeration. There was also a special effort to count people staying in hotels, places frequented by transients, and others who were traveling.

Questions for the 1950 U.S. Census

The types of questions asked on the census were similar to previous censuses. There were several different schedules including an infant card used to track the births of children who would not have been normally included in the census. Other schedules included a housing, merchant marines, agriculture, farm, and many more.

The actual questions, despite being similar, were more specific than previous censuses. For example one question asked, “What is the highest grade of school you have attended?” The FamilySearch Research Wiki has a really good breakdown of the schedules and questions that were asked.

The statistical sampling asked supplemental questions of selected individuals depending on how they landed on the form. The supplemental questions asked employment and wage questions.

Missing Records

The FamilySearch Research Wiki and other sources do not specify if any records are missing. Just like any census there is always the possibility there are individual sheets missing, but this census is likely complete due to the attention paid to accuracy.

There was special efforts made to catch people who were not home in the initial survey. There was a special transient night in which enumerators visited hotels, flop houses, etc., to count travelers. The infant cards counted born between January and March, 1950.

Statistics

The overall population of the country increased about 15% to 150,697,361. The most populous state was New York and the least populous Nevada. The most populous cities were New York City, Chicago, and Philadelphia.

Many states experienced an increase in population. Of particular note, Alaska, California, Florida, and Arizona experienced incredible growth. Alaska increased about 77% and California about 53%! The population continued migration away from the Midwest to the West and South East. (Wikipedia).

A look at John Henry Eaton in 1950

John Henry Eaton and his family are still relatively close in 19501. John Henry is 68 years old and Hautie is 65. Charlie and Herbert are listed in the home. Hautie’s mother, Mary L. Smith, is 88 years old and living with the family. Just below John Henry’s listing is the Henry Allen family with Gracie and her children.

John Henry is most likely retired at this point. He states he is unemployed and not working in the employment questions. Charlie is also unemployed. It appears as though Herbert is supporting the family by working at the aluminum factory. In the supplemental questions for John Henry, the household income was $2200 for the previous year. The family clearly still struggled financially as they did in 1930 and 1940.

This is the last census we can use the census to look at the John Henry Eaton family. John Henry dies in 1956 and Hautie in 1973. Herbert (or John Hubbard) marries Margaret Slay in 1953. Charlie never marries. Henry and Gracie eventually move West and raise their family.

Sources

  1. 1950 U.S. Census, Lauderdale, Alabama, population schedule, Supervisor District Field 39-47, sheet 15 (penned), Household 116, John Eaton; digital image, FamilySearch, (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6F7J-L5PK accessed 9 Aug 2023); citing NARA Record Group 29, roll 224.
, ,

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *