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Interesting Facts


This is the last census in which individuals were asked whether they could read or write.


Unlike previous censuses, this census did not ask individuals for their year of naturalization.


 

This is the first census in which individuals were asked:

  • the value of their home, or the amount of rent paid each month;

  • their age at the time of their first marriage;

  • the specific war a man had fought in.


The 1930 census is the only census to ask whether the occupants of the home owned a radio.


Based on the census, the average number of people in a household was 4.1.


In 1930, the average life expectancy for an American was 59.7 years.


The leading country for people of foreign birth was Italy (1.8 million).

ABOUT THE 1930 US CENSUS

HISTORY

The 1930 census began on 2 April 1930 for the general population of the United States. (The enumeration in Alaska began on 1 October 1929.) Regardless of when an individual was contacted, all responses were to reflect the status of the individual as of 1 April 1930.

Enumerators (census takers) collected the following information for each household:

 

  • Address (name of the street, avenue, or road; house number)
     

  • Occupant (name of each person and their relationship to head of family)
     

  • Residence (whether home is owned or rented; value of home; whether home is farm residence; whether home has a radio)
     

  • Personal (sex, race, age, marital status, college attendance, ability to read and write, birthplace, and birthplace of parents)
     

  • Citizenship (language spoken before coming to the United States; year of immigration; whether naturalized or alien; ability to speak English)
     

  • Occupation (trade or profession; industry or business working in; class of worker; whether worked the previous day; line number of unemployment schedule
     

  • Military (whether veteran or not; war or expedition participated in)

 

  • Note: Individuals in Alaska, and Indians were asked slightly different questions. For example, Indians were not asked about their mother’s country of origin, but which tribe she belonged to.

Normile transcriptions are now complete as of Feb. 2020

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