1790 United States census

The 1790 United States census was the first United States census. It recorded the population of the whole United States as of Census Day, August 2, 1790, as mandated by Article 1, Section 2, of the Constitution and applicable laws. In the first census, the population of the United States was enumerated to be 3,929,214 inhabitants.[1][2]

1790 United States census
August 2, 1790 (1790-08-02)
Title page of 1790 United States census
General information
CountryUnited States
AuthorityOffice of the United States Marshal
Results
Total population3,929,214
Most populous ​stateVirginia (747,610)
Least populous ​stateDelaware (59,094)

Congress assigned responsibility for the 1790 census to the marshals of United States judicial districts under an act, which with minor modifications and extensions, governed census taking through the 1840 census. "The law required that every household be visited, that completed census schedules be posted in 'two of the most public places within [each jurisdiction], there to remain for the inspection of all concerned...' and that 'the aggregate amount of each description of persons' for every district be transmitted to the president."[3]

Contemporary perception

Both Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and President George Washington expressed skepticism[4] over the results, believing that the true population had been undercounted. If indeed an undercount was the result, possible explanations for it include dispersed population, poor transportation links, limitations of contemporary technology, and individual refusal to participate.[5]

Questions
Column Title[6]
1Name of the head of family
2Number of free white males age 16 and over
3Number of free white males under age 16
4Number of free white females
5Number of all other free persons
6Number of slaves

Loss and availability of data

Although the census was proved statistically factual, based on data collected, the records for several states (including Delaware, Georgia, New Jersey, and Virginia) were lost sometime between 1790 and 1830.[7] Almost one-third of the original census data have been lost or destroyed since their original documentation. These include some 1790 data from: Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Vermont; the validity and existence of most of these data, though, can be confirmed in many secondary sources pertaining to the first census.[8]

No microdata from the 1790 population census are available, but aggregate data for small areas, together with compatible cartographic boundary files, can be downloaded from the National Historical Geographic Information System.[9]

Data

Under the direction of the Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, marshals collected data from all thirteen states (Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts including the District of Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia), and from the Southwest Territory.[3] The census was not conducted in Vermont until 1791, after that state's admission to the Union as the 14th state on March 4 of that year. (From 1777 until early 1791, and hence during all of 1790, Vermont was a de facto independent country whose government took the position that Vermont was not then a part of the United States.)

At 17.8 percent, the 1790 census's proportion of slaves to the free population was the highest ever recorded by any census of the United States.[10]

State or territory
Free white males of 16 years and upward[lower-alpha 1]
Free white males under 16 years
Free white females[lower-alpha 1]
All other free persons
Slaves
Slaves % of state population
Total
% of U.S. population
Vermont[11][12] 22,435 22,328 40,505 255 16[lower-alpha 2][13] 0.0% 85,539[lower-alpha 3] 2.2%
New Hampshire[14][12] 36,086 34,851 70,160 630 158 0.1% 141,885 3.6%
Maine[15][12] 24,384 24,748 46,870 538 0 0.0% 96,540 2.4%
Massachusetts[16][12] 95,453 87,289 190,582 5,463 0 0.0% 378,787 9.8%
Rhode Island[17][12] 16,019 15,799 32,652 3,407 948 1.4% 68,825 1.7%
Connecticut[18][12] 60,523 54,403 117,448 2,808 2,764 1.2% 237,946 6.0%
New York[19][20][12] 83,700 78,122 152,320 4,654 21,324 6.3% 340,120 8.6%
New Jersey[12] 45,251 41,416 83,287 2,762 11,423 6.2% 184,139 4.6%
Pennsylvania[21][12] 110,788 106,948 206,363 6,537 3,737 0.9% 434,373 11.0%
Delaware[12] 11,783 12,143 22,384 3,899 8,887 15.0% 59,094[lower-alpha 4] 1.5%
Maryland[22][12] 55,915 51,339 101,395 8,043 103,036 32.2% 319,728 8.1%
Virginia[23][12] 110,936 116,135 215,046 12,866 292,627 39.1% 747,610[lower-alpha 5][24][12] 18.9%
Kentucky[12] 15,154 17,057 28,922 114 12,430 16.9% 73,677 1.9%
North Carolina[25][12] 69,988 77,506 140,710 4,975 100,572 25.5% 393,751 9.9%
South Carolina[12] 35,576 37,722 66,880 1,801 107,094 43.0% 249,073 6.3%
Georgia[12] 13,103 14,044 25,739 398 29,264 35.5% 82,548 2.1%
Southwest Territory[12] 6,271 10,277 15,365 361 3,417 9.6% 35,691 0.9%
Total 813,365 802,127 1,556,628 59,511 697,697 17.8% 3,929,326 100%
  1. Heads of families were included.
  2. The census of 1790, published in 1791, reports 16 slaves in Vermont. Subsequently, and up to 1860, the number is given as 17. An examination of the original manuscript allegedly shows that there never were any slaves in Vermont. The original error occurred in preparing the results for publication, when 16 persons, returned as "Free colored", were classified as "Slave". But this claim is disputed by at least one historian.
  3. Corrected figures are 85,425, or 114 less than figures published in 1790, due to an error of addition of several towns.
  4. Corrected figures are 59,096, or 2 more than figures published in 1790, due to error in addition.
  5. The figures for Virginia do not include the population of Kentucky. Though Kentucky was then a part of Virginia, the Kentucky figures were compiled separately, and are shown on the line for Kentucky. The Virginia figures do include the portion of Virginia that later became the state of West Virginia.

City rankings
Commemorative pitcher with census results
Rank City State Population[26][27] Region (2016)[28] Population (2020)
1 New YorkNew York33,131Northeast1,694,251 [Manhattan only]
2 PhiladelphiaPennsylvania28,522Northeast69,433 [Center City only]
3 BostonMassachusetts18,320Northeast675,647
4 CharlestonSouth Carolina16,359South150,227
5 BaltimoreMaryland13,503South585,708
6 NorwalkConnecticut11,942Northeast91,184
7 Northern LibertiesPennsylvania9,913Northeast—
8 RensselaerswyckNew York8,318Northeast—
9 SalemMassachusetts7,921Northeast44,480
10 WatervlietNew York7,419Northeast10,375
11 BallstonNew York7,333Northeast11,831
12 StephentownNew York6,795Northeast2,888 (2016)
13 NewportRhode Island6,716Northeast25,163
14 CanaanNew York6,692Northeast1,570
15 ProvidenceRhode Island6,380Northeast190,934
16 CanajoharieNew York6,156Northeast3,613 (2016)
17 FishkillNew York5,941Northeast24,226
18 FrederickstownNew York5,932Northeast11,541
19 MarbleheadMassachusetts5,661Northeast20,441
19 SouthwarkPennsylvania5,661Northeast—
21 MiddletownConnecticut5,375Northeast47,717
22 GloucesterMassachusetts5,317Northeast29,729
23 AmwellNew Jersey5,201Northeast—
24 WashingtonNew York5,189Northeast4,522
25 CambridgeNew York4,996Northeast1,953 (2016)
26 BridgewaterMassachusetts4,975Northeast28,633
27 NewburyportMassachusetts4,837Northeast18,289
28 HaverstrawNew York4,826Northeast39,087
29 PortsmouthNew Hampshire4,720Northeast21,956
30 RehobothMassachusetts4,710Northeast12,502
31 ShrewsburyNew Jersey4,673Northeast1,076
32 KinderhookNew York4,661Northeast8,330
33 ClintonNew York4,607Northeast4,037
34 LivingstonNew York4,594Northeast3,628
35 IpswichMassachusetts4,562Northeast13,785
36 HillsdaleNew York4,556Northeast1,831
37 SherburneMassachusetts4,555Northeast14,255
38 MiddleboroughMassachusetts4,526Northeast24,245
39 New HavenConnecticut4,484Northeast135,081
40 MohawkNew York4,440Northeast4,925 (2017)
41 PawlingNew York4,330Northeast8,012
42 CaughnawagaNew York4,261Northeast—
43 New CornwallNew York4,225Northeast12,884
44 LebanonConnecticut4,166Northeast7,142
45 South KingstownRhode Island4,131Northeast31,913
46 Oyster BayNew York4,097Northeast301,332
47 HartfordConnecticut4,090Northeast121,054
48 GlocesterRhode Island4,025Northeast9,974
49 FairfieldConnecticut4,009Northeast61,512
50 NewburyMassachusetts3,972Northeast6,716
51 KingstonNew York3,929Northeast24,069
52 BerwickMassachusetts[29]3,894Northeast7,950
53 South HempsteadNew York3,828Northeast793,409
54 WethersfieldConnecticut3,806Northeast27,298
55 TauntonMassachusetts3,804Northeast59,408
56 Lower FreeholdNew Jersey3,785Northeast35,369
57 LancasterPennsylvania3,773Northeast58,039
58 RichmondVirginia3,761South226,610
59 RhinebeckNew York3,662Northeast7,548
60 WarwickNew York3,603Northeast32,027
61 HalfmoonNew York3,602Northeast25,662
62 BeekmanNew York3,597Northeast14,172
63 MontgomeryNew York3,563Northeast23,322
64 WoodbridgeNew Jersey3,520Northeast103,639
65 AlbanyNew York3,498Northeast99,224
66 SchenectadyNew York3,472Northeast67,047
67 GuilfordConnecticut3,460Northeast22,073
68 Upper FreeholdNew Jersey3,442Northeast7,273
69 SouthamptonNew York3,408Northeast69,036
70 CoxsackieNew York3,406Northeast8,382
71 PalatineNew York3,404Northeast3,240
72 North EastNew York3,401Northeast2,971
73 WallingfordConnecticut3,375Northeast44,396
74 New BedfordMassachusetts3,313Northeast102,882
75 BeverlyMassachusetts3,290Northeast42,670
76 ClaverackNew York3,262Northeast5,766 (2016)
77 HuntingtonNew York3,260Northeast204,127
78 KitteryMassachusetts[29]3,259Northeast10,070
79 StratfordConnecticut3,241Northeast52,355
80 SaybrookConnecticut3,233Northeast4,415
81 East HamptonConnecticut3,230Northeast12,717
82 MiddletownNew Jersey3,225Northeast67,106
83 BrookhavenNew York3,224Northeast485,773
84 SoutholdNew York3,219Northeast23,732
85 SmithfieldRhode Island3,171Northeast22,118
86 WatertownConnecticut3,170Northeast22,105
87 New MilfordConnecticut3,167Northeast28,115
88 GreenwichConnecticut3,132Northeast63,518
89 BrookfieldMassachusetts3,100Northeast3,439
90 AmeniaNew York3,078Northeast3,769
91 SaratogaNew York3,071Northeast5,646 (2016)
91 StillwaterNew York3,071Northeast8,547 (2018)
93 WellsMassachusetts[29]3,070Northeast11,314
94 HoosickNew York3,035Northeast6,824 (2016)
95 DanburyConnecticut3,030Northeast86,518
96 East HartfordConnecticut3,016Northeast51,045
97 PlymouthMassachusetts2,995Northeast61,217
98 DerbyConnecticut2,994Northeast12,325
98 FalmouthMassachusetts[29]2,994Northeast12,444
100 NorfolkVirginia2,959South238,005

References
  1. US Census Bureau, Census History Staff. "1790 Fast Facts - History - U.S. Census Bureau". www.census.gov. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  2. Bureau, US Census. "1790 Census: Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790". Census.gov. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  3. US Census Bureau, Census History Staff. "1790 Overview - History - U.S. Census Bureau". www.census.gov. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  4. US Census Bureau, Census History Staff. "1790 Overview - History - U.S. Census Bureau". www.census.gov. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  5. Bureau, US Census. "U.S. Marshals Overcame Hardships and Challenges to Count 3,929,214 People in a Young America". Census.gov. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  6. "1790 Census: Heads of Families". U.S. Census Bureau.
  7. Dollarhide, William (2001). The Census Book: A Genealogists Guide to Federal Census Facts, Schedules and Indexes. North Salt Lake, Utah: HeritageQuest. p. 7.
  8. "1790 Census". 1930 Census Resources for Genealogists.
  9. "About IPUMS NHGIS | IPUMS NHGIS". www.nhgis.org. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  10. "Slave, Free Black, and White Population, 1780-1830". userpages.umbc.edu. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  11. Census, United States Bureau of the (1907). Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Vermont. U.S. Government Printing Office. ISBN 978-0-87152-015-9.
  12. "Free and Slave Populations by State (1790)". Teaching American History. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  13. "Slavery in Vermont". slavenorth.com. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  14. Census, United States Bureau of the (1907). Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: New Hampshire. Clearfield Company, Incorporated.
  15. Census, United States Bureau of the (1908). Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Maine. U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  16. Census, United States Bureau of the (1908). Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Massachusetts. U.S. Government Printing Office. ISBN 978-0-87152-021-0. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  17. Census, United States Bureau of the (1907). Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Rhode Island. U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  18. Census, United States Bureau of the (1908). Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Connecticut. U.S. Government Printing Office. ISBN 978-0-87152-362-4. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  19. Census, United States Bureau of the (1908). Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: New York. U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  20. Heads of families at the first census of the United States taken in the year 1790: New York . Washington, Govt. Print. Off. 1907.
  21. Census, United States Bureau of the (1908). Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Pennsylvania. U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  22. Census, United States Bureau of the (1907). Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Maryland. U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  23. Census, United States Bureau of the (1908). Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Virginia. U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  24. Census Office, United States (1909). "A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900". p. 47.
  25. Census, United States Bureau of the (1908). Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: North Carolina. U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  26. Population of the 100 Largest Cities and Other Urban Places in the United States: 1790 to 1990, U.S. Census Bureau, 1998
  27. "Population of Connecticut Towns 1756–1820". Connecticut Secretary of the State. State of Connecticut. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  28. "Regions and Divisions". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 3, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  29. In present day Maine.

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