Now it happened in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled … .” Chapter 2, verses 1 through 5 of the Gospel according to Luke historically document one of the earliest known censuses. But it was not the first. There are ancient Egyptian population records dating to 3,000 B.C. But it was the United States that became the first nation to make the census mandatory in its constitution in 1787. Article One, Section Two states that “Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states … according to their respective numbers … .” It also indicates how those “numbers” would be counted, and how often, resulting in the decennial census.
The first U.S. census takers (or enumerators) were federal marshals who visited every home, farm, and estate over 18 months. The results (population 3,929,326) were given to President George Washington in 1792.
The 1790 census had only six questions, four less than the 2010 census. It asked the name of the head of the household; number residing in the household; number of free white males age 16 or older (for the purpose of conscription into the wars—note that only free white males were counted); how many males could work in some form of industry (remember, there was an Industrial as well as an American Revolution); number of free white males younger than 16; and only the genders and colors of all of the other persons.
As our country’s interests grew, the census changed. In 1810, manufacturing, quantity, and value of products were considered, and fisheries were added in 1840. By the end of the century, agriculture was included, providing a window on the nation’s economy. Mortality schedules from the 1850 to 1880 censuses indicated life spans and causes of death.
The 1850 census also recorded information about taxation, churches, pauperism, and crime. It was the first census to record women, children, and slaves, giving rise to the slave schedules of 1850 and 1860. Slaves were not listed by name. Rather, the slave owner’s name appears, followed by a description of each slave by age, gender, and color. Fugitive and manumitted slaves, as well as those who were deaf, blind, insane, or “idiotic” (mentally handicapped) were also listed.
American Indians were officially counted in 1860, but only those who had “renounced tribal rules.” The 1880 census was the first time women were permitted to be enumerators. By 1890, the western frontier was considered officially extinct and so westward migration was no longer tabulated. Unfortunately, the original records for the 1890 census were destroyed in a fire in 1921 (one of three censuses to have lost data—the others are 1800 and 1810).
The 1920 census is the first to record a population of more than 100 million, and the 1930 census is the most recent to be released to the public. Many who have researched their family history have found invaluable information in past census records. (A privacy law keeps census records sealed for 72 years, so you’ll have to wait until April 1, 2082, to have a peek at the 2010 census. My grandson will be 90 years old before he can see them!)
The 1950 census entered the computer age when the UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) was used to tabulate the results. In 1960, the census went postal when the U.S. Postal Service delivered census forms to the population.
For the first time since 1940, the 2010 Census is a short-form-only census, as the decennial long form has been replaced by the American Community Survey. Amy Allen-Lopez, local census office manager, has been working with the 2010 decennial census since 2008, at the regional office in Santa Maria. That office is now closing up shop, having fulfilled its function for the region covering Ventura to Monterey, especially Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, and about 250,000 housing units. Lopez said that this office has locally employed about 3,500 people since it opened in October 2008.
The census employed a diverse pool of workers to represent the dynamics of each community. Census employees ranged in age from 19 to 85 and came from various backgrounds and experiences. The Santa Maria office staff included a crafty grandmother of 12 who hosts an autumn craft show in Cambria, a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars, an industrious father working a second job to help cover his son’s college tuition, and a hard-working baker for a local restaurant. Several held college degrees in fields from physics and structural engineering to art history. Now that they’ve completed their work, local census workers aren’t going to Disneyland. Rather, many will return to their prior status and fill the ranks of the unemployed seeking jobs.
The faces of the 2010 Census were the faces of your neighbors, not the CIA or FBI or KAOS. Yet, as Lopez revealed, in spite of grass roots efforts and national branding—from newspaper articles to radio and television spots, and even Twitter and Facebook accounts—many people viewed the census and its employees with suspicion, fear, and even hostility.
“If they knew how important the census was to their community, that it could resolve that pothole they drive over every day, they would have filled out the form,” Lopez said.
She explained that the U.S. Census prides itself on protecting the privacy of residents and doesn’t share any of its information with other private or government agencies: “We are not interested in the private goings-on in peoples’ homes, but only in as accurate a count as possible of the diverse socio, cultural, and economic backgrounds in our local community.”
Lopez also explained that some residents may have confused the Decennial 2010 Census with the annual American Community Survey (both under the aegis of the U.S. Department of Commerce). Each year, 10 percent of the population is selected to complete a longer form and, by the end of a decade, everyone will hopefully have been counted. Caesar Augustus and ancient Egyptians aside, why bother counting every person residing in the U. S. of A. every 10 years?
The Census accounts for the number of state representatives and how much federal funding communities receive.
“Many forget it impacts their local community first and foremost,” Lopez said. “Roughly every person in each county is eligible for $600 to $2,000 in federal funds for their local community. This money is used for roads, stoplights, police officers, bridge work, fire fighters, emergency response vehicles, equipment, and schools, and identifies where schools need to be located.”
Once the final audits are done, all information for the nation will be given to President Barack Obama for final review.
The Santa Maria Office is preparing to close by mid-September. As well as employment, this office supported local merchants by renting space, furniture, and equipment used; purchasing office supplies (the unused remainder to be donated to local non-profit groups); and patronizing local eateries and stores.
Lopez summarized, “We have accomplished what we set out to do while staying under budget. Our accuracy has been given a very high rating for the Central Coast. We are very proud of that.”
The efforts of the local census workers will now be a part of U.S. history and will benefit their communities. In the end, that is what really counts.
Ariel Waterman worked on the Decennial 2010 Census and thinks everyone counts, but people who were mean or rude to census-takers are of no account. Send conspiracy theories via her editor, Ryan Miller, at rmiller@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jul 29 – Aug 5, 2010.