1820 United States census facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 1820 United States census
Seal of the United States Marshals Service, which administered the Census
General information
Country	United States
Date taken	August 7, 1820 (1820-08-07)
Total population	9,638,453
Percent change	33.1%
Most populous state	New York 1,532,981
Least populous state	Illinois 55,211

The 1820 United States census was the fourth time the United States counted all its people. This important count happened on August 7, 1820. A census helps the government understand how many people live in the country and where they are.

This census was special because it included six new states: Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi, Illinois, Alabama, and Maine. Sadly, some records from this census for Arkansas Territory, Missouri Territory, and New Jersey have been lost over time.

The total population counted was 9,638,453 people. This number included 1,538,022 enslaved people. The population had grown by about 33.1% since the last census in 1810.

For the first time, some states had over one million people. These were New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Also, for the first time, a city had over 100,000 people: New York. Baltimore became the second-largest city in the country. New York remained the most populated state until 1970, when California took its place.

What Did the 1820 Census Ask?

The 1820 census collected much more information than earlier ones. The people counting (called enumerators) wrote down details in columns. They asked about:

• The name of the head of the family.
• How many free white males and females were in different age groups (like under 10, 10 to under 16, etc.).
• How many male and female slaves were in different age groups.
• How many free male and female people of color were in different age groups.
• How many foreigners had not yet become citizens.
• How many people worked in farming (agriculture).
• How many people worked in trade (commerce).
• How many people worked in making things (manufacture).
• How many other people there were, not including Native Americans who were not taxed.

Some of these questions were for special counts. For example, people aged 16 to 18 were counted separately, but they were also part of the larger group of males aged 16 to under 26. This meant some people were counted twice for different reasons. Census takers had to be careful to show these special counts clearly, so they wouldn't accidentally double-count people in the total population.

They also made sure to count each person in only one job category. If someone worked in farming, trade, and manufacturing, the census taker had to decide which job was their main one.

Understanding Old Census Records

Counting people in 1820 was not as organized as it is today. Before 1830, census takers didn't have pre-printed forms. They had to draw their own forms. This sometimes meant pages were missing headings or totals. Because of this, old census records can look different from town to town. They are still helpful, but they might take more effort to read and understand.

States by Population in 1820

This table shows how many people lived in each state during the 1820 census.

Top Cities by Population in 1820

This table shows the largest cities in the U.S. during the 1820 census.

See also

In Spanish: Censo de los Estados Unidos de 1820 para niños