LibGuides: United States Census Data: 1840

About the 1840 Census

This page provides information about the 1840 census and links to online resources for digital data, transcripts of the original and printed results of the originals.

See more about the 1840 census from the National Archives

Direct URL : https://www.archives.gov/research/census/1840

See more below for:

Questions Asked in the 1840 Census

Free White Persons
- Name of head of family
- Number of free white males under 5 years of age
- Number of free white males of 5 and under 10 years of age
- Number of free white males of 10 and under 15 years of age
- Number of free white males of 15 and under 20 years of age
- Number of free white males of 20 and under 30 years of age
- Number of free white males of 30 and under 40 years of age
- Number of free white males of 40 and under 50 years of age
- Number of free white males of 50 and under 60 years of age
- Number of free white males of 60 and under 70 years of age
- Number of free white males of 70 and under 80 years of age
- Number of free white males of 80 and under 90 years of age
- Number of free white males of 90 and under 100 years of age
- Number of free white males of 100 years of age and upwards
- Number of free white females under 5 years of age
- Number of free white females of 5 and under 10 years of age
- Number of free white females of 10 and under 15 years of age
- Number of free white females of 15 and under 20 years of age
- Number of free white females of 20 and under 30 years of age
- Number of free white females of 30 and under 40 years of age
- Number of free white females of 40 and under 50 years of age
- Number of free white females of 50 and under 60 years of age
- Number of free white females of 60 and under 70 years of age
- Number of free white females of 70 and under 80 years of age
- Number of free white females of 80 and under 90 years of age
- Number of free white females of 90 and under 100 years of age
- Number of free white females of 100 years of age and upwards
Free Colored Persons
- Number of free colored males under 10 years of age
- Number of free colored males of 10 and under 24 years of age
- Number of free colored males of 24 and under 36 years of age
- Number of free colored males of 36 and under 55 years of age
- Number of free colored males of 55 and under 100 years of age
- Number of free colored males of 100 years of age and upwards
- Number of free colored females under 10 years of age
- Number of free colored females of 10 and under 24 years of age
- Number of free colored females of 24 and under 36 years of age
- Number of free colored females of 36 and under 55 years of age
- Number of free colored females of 55 and under 100 years of age
- Number of free colored females of 100 years of age and upwards
Slaves
- Number of male slaves under 10 years of age
- Number of male slaves of 10 and under 24 years of age
- Number of male slaves of 24 and under 36 years of age
- Number of male slaves of 36 and under 55 years of age
- Number of male slaves of 55 and under 100 years of age
- Number of male slaves of 100 years of age and upwards
- Number of female slaves under 10 years of age
- Number of female slaves of 10 and under 24 years of age
- Number of female slaves of 24 and under 36 years of age
- Number of female slaves of 36 and under 55 years of age
- Number of female slaves of 55 and under 100 years of age
- Number of female slaves of 100 years of age and upwards
Total (in each household)
Number of Persons in Each Family Employed in
- Mining
- Agriculture
- Commerce
- Manufactures and trades
- Navigation of the ocean
- Navigation of canals, lakes, and rivers
- Learned professions and engineers
Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services, included in the foregoing
- Name
- Age
Deaf and Dumb, Blind, and Insane White Persons, included in the foregoing
- Deaf and Dumb under age 14
- Deaf and Dumb of 14 and under 25 years of age
- Deaf and Dumb of 25 years of age and upwards
- Blind
- Insane and idiots at public charge
- Insane and idiots at private charge
Deaf and Dumb, Blind, and Insane Colored Persons, included in the foregoing
- Deaf and Dumb
- Blind
- Insane and idiots at private charge
- Insane and idiots at public charge
Schools, etc.
- Number of Universities or Colleges
- Number of Students
- Number of Academies & Grammar Schools
- Number of Students
- Number of Primary and Common Schools
- Number of Students
- Number of Scholars at public charge
- Number free white persons over 20 years of age who cannot read and write

Data Description

Aggregated results of the 1840 census are available from the National Historical GIS Project at IPUMS from the University of Minnesota : NHGIS (Requires free registration).

Direct URL nhgis.org

An index of variables is available HERE

Direct URL : https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18tjVVHtyIxIwJVPIymMLbjbicaXJcdxMKCRuXuHXkn4/edit?usp=sharing

1840 Census Geography

The following spatial data are available from NHGIS.org

1840 States

27 States : Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia.

4 Territories : Florida Territory, Iowa Territory, Unorganized Territory, Wisconsin Territory

1840 Counties

1285 Counties : Some Counties and districts contain no population data.

Data Sources

Digital data in tabular format:

Aggregated results of the 1840 census are available from the National Historical GIS Project at IPUMS from the University of Minnesota.

Click here: https://www.nhgis.org/ (Requires free registration)

Official Reports

1840 Census: Compendium of the Enumeration of the Inhabitants and Statistics of the United States
Direct URL : https://www.census.gov/library/publications/1841/dec/1840c.html

1840 Census: A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services
Direct URL : https://www.census.gov/library/publications/1841/dec/1840d.html